Politics
African Union Commission Chairperson speaks out, condemns violence and arbitrary arrests in English speaking regions of Cameroon. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma says she is following the situation in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon with concern.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — 18 January 2017: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. is following with concern the evolving situation in the Northwest and Southwest Regions in the Republic of Cameroon.
The Chairperson regrets the loss of lives and destruction of property that have taken place in some cities and towns in the two regions of Cameroon. She notes with concern the closing of schools and medical facilities, as well as all acts of violence, arbitrary arrests and detention of individuals suspected of participating in the demonstrations.
The Chairperson of the AU Commission calls for restraint and encourages a continuation of the dialogue initiated by the Government in order to find a solution to the social, political and economic issues motivating the protests. She reiterates the AU's support for the respect of the rule of law, and the right to peaceful demonstrations which are critical tenets of democracy.
The AU Commission stands ready to assist the parties in this endeavour.
I call for restraint & encourage the #Cameroon Gov't to continue with the dialogue to find solutions to the issues motivating the protests.
— Dr Dlamini Zuma (@DlaminiZuma) 18. Januar 2017
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Dozens of Common law lawyers have issued a commique today demanding the unconditional and immediate release of Barrister Agbor Balla and Dr Fontem Neba who were arrested yesterday in Buea.
After meeting with the South West Attorney General and the Governor, the lawyers were told that the president of FAKLA and SG of SYNES UB where taken to Yaounde.
In the meantime, the Consortium leaders are in good shape as Barristers Ben, Akere Muna and battery of about 30 other lawyers will be assisting Lawyer Balla, Dr Fontem and two others in their place of custody in Yaounde.
"Good to know non were tortured. Are very relaxed and showing no signs of psychological weakness and are very positive of the outcome and where they took the struggle to," a close friend of Balla reveals.
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The Chairman of the Peoples Action Party, PAP has slammed the arrest of Barrister Felix Agbor BALLA and Dr Fontem NEBA who were whisked off yesterday to the GMI in Buea. Ayah Paul Abine who is also Deputy Attorney General at the Supreme Court believes that Consortium members can not be held for acts committed before a law is passed.
This is his argument
"It is an elementary principle of law that a law, especially a piece of criminal legislation, has no retrospective effect. To put it otherwise, a law that comes into effect today, for instance, does not apply to conduct perpetrated before today – before the first moment the law came into force (the law became law).
To contextualize, the order by the Minister of Territorial Administration is applicable only to conduct subsequent to the moment of its publication. It follows that the arrest of two of the leaders of the Consortium, namely, Barrister Kongho Felix and Dr Fontem, is inconsistent with the law. Keeping them against their will, therefore, amounts to false imprisonment.
WE DEMAND THEIR IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE!"
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After reading through this post elsewhere by Ndi Ngam i thought it worthy of sharing here, have a read.
Teachers, whom a few months ago in Cameroon were dismissed as an inconsequential bunch at the fringes of society, have made a name in the historical annals of our country by proving to the world that “small no be sick”. The battle these gentlemen and ladies, alongside the Common Law lawyers of West Cameroon, waged against an insensitive government has been sanctioned with an unprecedented victory.
However, sight should not be lost to the fact that this success was, to a large extent, due to the massive and unflinching support they got from the quasi totality of West Cameroonians because of the soundness and legitimacy of their claims. In fact, the teachers’ and lawyers’ cause tore open the cosmetic scar that veiled the festering wound of discontent born of the marginalization of Anglophones.
Now that the teachers have scored this major victory it will be suicidal for West Cameroonians to abandon them to themselves at this critical moment when the cause has to be pursued to its logical conclusion. We have to stand by them especially at a moment they are grappling with a hot, very hot potato in their hands – what it takes to call off their strike action.
Nature abhors a vacuum and at a time when the only credible advocate, the Consortium, has been outlawed in Cameroon, it is high time an organ speedily set up to champion the cause. Since it is claimed that the Consortium was acting out of the ambit of the law, who else can constitute such an organ other than… the LAW MAKERS??!!
Yes, I think that this is the ideal moment for the peoples’ representatives to stand up like one man, irrespective of party affiliation, discipline, lines or whatever, and speak for the peoples of West Cameroon! (After all, they displayed such solidarity a couple of years ago when they disregarded party leanings to fight for and defend their rights and PECUNIARY advantages in Parliament!) Yes, this is a golden opportunity for all West Cameroon Senators and Parliamentarians to spearhead the fight through a (Wirba-led?) umbrella organization which will, among other concerns:
1. defend and follow-up the gains made by the teachers (for a brighter future of West Cameroon’s youth through a sound system of education) by ensuring that ALL the items examined and approved by the Ghogomu Committee are fully implemented and within the agreed time frame;
2. press for the release of the young people arrested during the strike action or failing this, seek their transfer from the Yaoundé prison cells to the jurisdictional area of their origins;
3. make a strong statement in defense of the constitutional provisions that give West Cameroonians full rights as citizens of this country and not a people reduced to playing second fiddle to their Francophone counterparts;
4. engage government in a continuous process of frank, open and sincere dialogue on the other burning issues of West Cameroon like the equitable distribution of the national cake with West Cameroon having its fair share;
5. persuade the government to live up to its several failed promises and commitments of infrastructural development in West Cameroon;
6. spearhead the fight for the establishment of the TRUE history of Cameroon based on facts like the Bishop’s memorandum, the Abouèm à Tchoyi write-up and the several informed write-ups on the issue;
7. impress on the government, through every intellectual and legal argument available, that a federal form of government for Cameroon will not only make the country strong and united in its diversity but will accelerate development and speedup the attainment of the much talked-about Vision 2035.
If the parliamentarians fail to act accordingly, they should bear in mind that elections are around the corner and ONLY those with our cause in heart will represent us come 2018!
I think it is high time for the government to realize that it is bad politics to always sweep the dirt under the carpet or play the ostrich. It should be brave enough to incise the abscess now instead of waiting to amputate the limb when things get out of control. It should be bold enough to call the people together and present a mea culpa so as to right the wrongs of the past. FACTS are STUBBORN! Its arm-twisting tactics are ill-timed and uncalled for: banning the Consortium and the SCNC now is just giving the two organizations even more exposure and popularity…
God save the Cameroons!
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Following the recent tragic arrest of the legitimate anglophone consortium leaders, Dr. Barrister Agbor Balla and Dr. Fontem Neba by security forces of president Paul Biya, Mark Bara and Tapang Ivo both anglophone activist residing out of Cameroon, where assigned by the consortium to coordinate the actions for the winning West Cameroon struggle.
In this regard, we are tasked with the following:
1. To ensure the most effective month-long ghost town from Jan 23rd to Feb 23rd, 2017, every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the entire West Cameroon.
2. To ensure the strict respect of peace in all our actions as we fight to promote democratic accountability, the rule of law, and good governance among the peaceful people of West Cameroon under colonial pressure from the brutal and barbaric regime of President Paul Biya.
3. To propose, coordinate, endorse, and implement any other strategy meant to attain the goals of the legitimate consortium.
We call on the public to give us the leadership trust and remain strong for the big win. We must remain united. We succeeded to UNITE West Cameroon this week.
Creation of the Consortium
When lawyers and teachers finally went on strike in October and November 2016 respectively, after several months of government inaction, government ministers of the Departments of Higher Education, Justice, Communication and Secondary Education, in keeping with the policy of disregard and disdain for Southern Cameroons flooded the public media with invectives and disparaging comments.
Perhaps, the most incendiary incident was the repeated outings of Mr. Atanga Nji (Minister without Portfolio) who demonized his fellow Southern Cameroonians, threatening them with fire and brimstone. They denied the existence of ‘An Anglophone Problem’ and their remarks inflamed public passions.
In the midst of the furore and the multiplicity of groups which emerged from the embroglio caused by the Government ministers, it became necessary to create an umbrella organization which will canalize, constructively, the desires, the demands and the aspirations of the people which have found legitimate expression in the on-going strike actions.
In this regard, on 5 December 2016, Civil Society organizations, trade unions and professional groups came together and created a platform which would henceforth articulate their interests, advocate, advise, speak for and on behalf of the marginalized people of Southern Cameroons by identifying and making known these problems and providing policy alternatives that can better the lives of our indigenous people.
The Consortium shall work to rebuild our unity which had been fractured by half a century of divide and rule, political greed and selfishness.
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It was Lenin who advocated, in language worthy of Machiavelli, that one must embrace one’s enemy so as to easily suffocate him. The government’s pig-headed decision to arrest leaders of the Consortium after failing to reach a compromise with them at the negotiating table is an act of desperation, or worse still, a product of bad advice that serves no purpose, other than deliver the most embarrassing verdict on the government’s credibility and poor democratic credentials.
The gov’t should stop chasing shadows because you cannot conquer or defeat the quest for freedom with intimidation and brute force. The Consortium is a resilient spirit that is deeply embedded in the resolve by Anglophones to free themselves from the yoke of 55 years of Francophone bondage. Arresting Anglophone leaders is a meaningless show of crude power and a tragedy that raises fundamental questions about the President’s judgment and character. It is unacceptable and even less than honorable for the regime to resort to such executive lawlessness, which will do nothing, but close the door on dialogue and harden Anglophone resolve for independence.
The message must therefore be conveyed to Paul Biya in whatever language he understands, that Cameroon is a disaster waiting to happen and time is running out for the regime to figure out why the load on the head of a man with crooked legs remains permanently unbalanced. Mr. President, read my lips!
Ekinneh Agbaw-Ebai
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Subcategories
Biya Article Count: 73
# Paul Biya and his regime
Explore the political landscape of Cameroon under the rule of Paul Biya, the longest-serving president in Africa who has been in power since 1982. Our Paul Biya and his regime section examines the policies, actions, and controversies of his government, as well as the opposition movements, civil society groups, and international actors that challenge or support his leadership. You'll also find profiles, interviews, and opinions on the key figures and events that shape the political dynamics of Cameroon.
Southern Cameroons Article Count: 549
.# Southern Cameroons, Ambazonia
Learn more about the history, culture, and politics of Ambazonia, the Anglophone regions of Cameroon that have been seeking self-determination and independence from the Francophone-dominated central government. Our Southern Cameroons section covers the ongoing conflict, the humanitarian crisis, the human rights violations, and the peace efforts in the region. You'll also find stories that highlight the rich and diverse heritage, traditions, and aspirations of the Southern Cameroonian people.
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