Politics

Across many African countries, the transitions from autocracies to democracies have come at gunpoint. And most often, the political change born out of disputed elections, end up transiting on bloody conflicts that last several decades. Among 49 sub-Saharan African countries, fewer than 10 are democracies.

Evidence show that several political changes occurred in all of the African democracies, Botswana being the exception. Then newest democracy, Benin -- a west African country -- experienced eight coups between 1963 and 1972. Not only that but adopted 10 constitutions and had 10 presidents in less than 10 years. In fact, Benin was the “sick child of Africa,” some scholars describe.

Take it or leave it, guns in the hands of citizens (electorates) have facilitated the transition from autocratic to democratic rule, and not the moral nature of the leader. After all, they say nothing good comes easy and no food for lazy man.

The Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes and The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli, form the foundation for politics and are political Bibles for every worthy security scholar. Hobbes notes that " the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short." Machiavelli suggests that it is best for any rational leader to be "feared than loved."

I am a critic of democracy but an advocate of political evolution because I argue that politics is planted, it grows, it dies and decays. Cameroon since 1961, has had only two presidents who had their peaks when they came to power but troughed years later. And because nothing lasts forever, Cameroon should be debating change as the regime fades out. But here is Tapang's puzzle.

Empirical evidence has proven that some conflicts are initiated in regime types that are not transparent about a "successful transition." A power vacuum is left open. Hence, there is "war of all against all," to borrow from Hobbes. Also, with a record of two presidents since 1961, it is logical to argue that the next president in Cameroon could be in power for the next 30 years too. Let me explain.

Sir John Dalberg-Acton, an 18th century English politician, is best known for his phrase "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." He was absolutely right. Everyone loves power because in the "state of nature" -- the world without an external enforcer, leaders will not leave power because they enjoy it. The choice to glue to power or leave it is purely a rational choice and not irrational. And without any external enforcer, holding everything constant, it would be rationally irrational for any leader to leave power. So do we need external enforcers? Yes, we do.

The electorate in Cameroon is a very weak enforcer whose threat is not credible and capable to force a leader out of power. A threat can only be credible if it believable, and capable it can hurt. Apart from wasting votes in ballot boxes, there is nothing else they can do. They have no military nor tooth to bite the regime's silver bullets.

So forget it, and take my advice. The next leader in Cameroon will stay for another 30 years in power under citeris paribus conditions. Every regime would keep the military under its control and use the executive to override the legislative. It would certainly play to the Western gallery and avoid some external force from ripping it off in the Libyan fashion.

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Tapang Ivo

25.Oct.2016

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According to Pew Research study, Cameroon, a West African nation, has 65 percent of Christians – approximately 14 million of its 24 million citizens. The U.S. Department of State estimates that Muslims comprise roughly 24 percent. In nearly two decades, the doors of several Christian churches have been widening, as employers narrow theirs at the same time. About 80 percent of youths are unemployed in the French and English-speaking country, opposition and regime figures show. And while the grievances of youths swell due to high corruption rates, unemployment, bribery, social and political inequalities, most Imams, priests and pastors are not helping out either. Disgruntled families are now seeking solace in churches, the only place where they can at least absorb the Good News, receive signs and wonders, and listen to prosperity promises for families in an ailing regime. But are religious leaders in Cameroon rescuing the nation from bad governance? I disagree. I will explain.

For clarity, let me bring in Botswana, a tiny African nation. Cameroon and Botswana share stark similarities in their colonial pasts under the British rule. Both have the enormous amount of natural resources, with Cameroon gaining the upper hand as it is part of Gulf of Guinea, one of the richest oil Gulfs in the world with the lowest Sulfur content, according to the American Petroleum Index. At independence, Botswana was one of the poorest nations in the world – with a per capita GNP of $97 and almost no middle class or working class. Comparatively, Cameroon wasn’t bad at that time.

But Botswana’s turnaround has been sudden and remarkable since its independence. Little Botswana has had one of the highest average growth rates in the world, a high rule of law, political rights and civil liberties. All these transformations have taken place under a single-party system that has won every single election since independence. Why should Cameroon be different? There is no need to belabor the point that unlike Cameroon, Botswana, a leading world producer of valuable diamonds, and has never suffered from the “resource curse.” Why?

Scholars have substantiated claims that the political, economic and social successes in Botswana are thanks to protestant missionaries. When not supported by the state, these missions act independently and initiate mass education, printing, media, and civil society. And they also inculcated democratic skills through churches, church synods, and ecumenical conferences. Kindly recall that I once did a write-up on ecumenical services in which I advanced reasons why it contributes to promoting peace, stability and social cohesion for nations. So where does Cameroon square in?

Politics and religion are two concepts which can never be romance partners. But in Cameroon, they marry even in church, and some pastors and priests bless their union. Transparency International has twice ranked Cameroon as the most corrupt nation on earth. In 2013, when Cameroon’s President Paul Biya ordered the closure of nearly 100 Christian churches in key cities, citing criminal practices organized by Pentecostal pastors that threaten the country’s security, that was only political posturing to me. The order worked only for a month and quickly died as I predicted. I documented evidence of pastors bribing government officials to stay in the business. Nearly 500 Pentecostal churches operate in Cameroon, but fewer than 50 are legal, state authorities claim.

Unlike the Catholics, Presbyterian, Muslims, and Baptists, Pentecostal churches have never built schools for the children, hospitals for the sick, or even rolled out sustainable development projects. Instead, they build ultra-modern churches, the size of a basketball stadium. Most pastors make a huge amount of money from exploiting their poor followers, and even sell blessed objects like “holy water.” I was once a seminarian and this is wrong.

The politicians, ministers, sanctioned state thieves, take the first few pews in most churches. Others lead Christian followership movements like the Catholic Men’s Fellowship, Catholic Women’s Fellowship, etc. It is no coincidence. The church has been monetized and politicized. Religious leaders fear to speak against bad governance and calling a spade a spade. Most poor people who feel intimidated in public offices when applying for a job or seeking a service, also feel intimidated by the rich in churches when praying to their God.

Failing the nation

When Biya closed down some churches in 2013, he did so because the churches were already preaching against the regime and telling their followers to stand firm against political, civil, social and economic vices. A Christian would listen to a pastor or priest more than a policeman working for the “eternal regime.” Biya had predicted doom for his 33-year rule if he did not quickly cripple the truth in churches, and choke the voices of religious leaders. Activities in churches in Cameroon are heavily monitored by spies of the regime, and only a pocket of religious leaders are fearless in telling their follower the truth.

Registering a church under the law in Cameroon is complex and cumbersome. It is a deliberate ploy by the regime to jail religion or keep it at its beck and call. That way, religion will be malleable under Biya’s rule. If churches followed the example of Botswana, religious leaders will contribute enormously in holding the government accountable on many fronts.

Last year, Clinton Health Initiative (CHI), a charity organization run by Hilary Clinton, received up to $10 million USD from Cameroon Baptist Convention's health board to fund the campaign of the U.S. Democrat, according to investigations revealed by the Daily Mail in the UK. Wikileaks has proven that the Clinton NGO is dubious. We are talking about the same Cameroon Baptist Convention that cannot admit sick persons into its hospitals if they do not have the money to foot their bills. What they can do best is receiving alms from the poor and giving back to their master – donors like the CHI.

So who is fooling whom? Tell the pastors and priests to stop feeding the souls and failing the nation.

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Tapang Ivo

24.Oct.2016

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Cameroonian security forces have arrested three militants of the Limbe Electoral District of the opposition Social Democratic Front, SDF party in the South West Region of Cameroon.

They are said to have been whisked off to the Limbe police station. The police had earlier besieged the house of the chairman of the Limbe electoral district, Godden Zama for hours, in an attempt to arrest him. Reports say Zama remained in his locked house after which elements of the Rapid intervention Police unit Esir were called in for reinforcement.

After a failed attempt at arresting Zama, the towing truck of the Limbe City Council, LCC, was called in. In the reported presence of the LCC Secretary General, Zama’s car was towed away.

Concordant reports say the origins of the standoff was the reorganization and installation of executives of the Bimbia ward of the SDF party.

Witnesses said when the Divisional Officer for Limbe III prevented the SDF members, on grounds that they had no authorization they are said to have converged on their chairman’s residence for a rescheduling of their gathering when security forces stepped in to halt them.

Several attempts at getting to the SDO for Fako, Zang III, whose administrative unit is at the center of the incident have been futile. His phone rang and was not picked up. “I will eventually seek legal redress. We have to ensure the release of our members. We see the ruling party holding spontaneous meetings without any intervention. We would not give into any intimidation by the administration. Our lawyers would advise,” Godden Zama said.

Godden Zama had been detained earlier this year for organizing a protest demonstration to demand the Limbe City Council to put up a befitting market for the petroleum producing city.

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Solomon Amabo

24.Oct.2016

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Brenda Biya has been thrown again into the limelight, not because of her weird lifestyle or extravagance at the detriment of Cameroonian taxpayers, but because of circulating images on social media showing her in tight grip in the hands of an individual who calls her "My love" The images speak for themselves, more can be seen on the individual's Facebook page here attached to thei article

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Mbi James

23.Oct.2016

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It is with tears in our eyes and with profound grief in our hearts that we address sincere condolences to the families and friends of all those who lost their lives today in the train accident at Eseka. The Cameroon People’s Party grieves with you. We grieve for the loved ones you have lost, we grieve for the senselessness of their deaths, and we grieve for ourselves as a nation that can no longer ensure the basic safety of its citizens. To those who are wounded and in pain, the Cameroon People’s Party sends you thoughts and prayers for courage, healing and strength. Our entire nation is with you at this difficult moment and it is our sincere hope that each and every one who is affected will find their health and vitality restored.

To the rest of our fellow citizens, the CPP raises its voice to ask of you solidarity and action. Now is the time when we must stand for our nation. Now is the time when we must define what it means to be Cameroonian. Every woman, man and child who was wounded or died in that accident is our sister, brother, child and compatriot! Cameroonians, let us STAND UP! Let us STAND UP for our families, let us STAND UP for our children, let us STAND UP for Cameroon! It is enough. How many people must die? How many must be wounded? How many are we going to sacrifice at the altar of our government’s incompetence? Hundreds have died in Cameroon this year alone, simply trying to get from one part of the country to the other.

Hundreds have been wounded, maimed. We cannot as citizens of this beloved country allow this to continue! It is you and I, our children, our families and our friends who are in danger. There is no question that we have lost dozens of Cameroonian lives today because:

• The current regime is unable to provide basic, safe and secure transportation services to its citizens between its two largest cities.

• Cameroonians pay billions of francs cfa in road tolls and taxes which have been used to create road funds and other facilities. Despite this, the regime is unable to carry out basic maintenance and upkeep, let alone upgrade of our roads to guarantee our safety.

• The officials of this regime whose salaries are paid for by you and I will always seek to protect themselves and their power rather than our well-being. The Minister of Transport, who should have been conducting emergency response since the early hours of this morning when the road collapsed was either uninformed or lying when he denied the derailing of the train after it had occurred. Ministers managed to find a helicopter to transport them to the site, but no helicopter to transport the wounded or the dead.

• In a crisis situation, the regime has absolutely no emergency response system.

The overflow of passengers at the train station today was predictable, due to the collapse of the Douala-Yaoundé road. No system was put into place to manage it. Risks appear to have been taken to board almost double the number of passengers the train usually carries. A private, profit-making corporation was left on its own to manage this crisis.

As a result over 50 Cameroonians are dead and over 500 have suffered injuries. Once the accident occurred, the complete lack of emergency health services in our country was once again most painfully brought to light. No ambulances, no emergency response teams, no one. As Cameroonian citizens today, we have no one.

No functional government that in any way protects our rights and well-being as citizens. We do not need another death. We do not need another crisis. We do not need any further proof that this government has reached the end of its abilities and possibilities. The Cameroon People’s Party is asking YOU as a Cameroonian to stand up! Stand up and let us take control of our welfare as citizens and our future as a nation. We can only count on ourselves and we will have only ourselves to blame if we do not stand up now. As a member of the Stand Up for Cameroon movement the Cameroon People’s Party will be joining other political parties and civil society organizations to take action with regard to this train accident in particular and the state of our nation in general. We ask you to join us. Join us to say enough is enough and to take action that will transition our country to a new system of governance.

It is important to sound the alarm on Facebook and on Twitter. It is important to write newspaper articles, it is important that we talk with our friends and console one another in our families. However, it is time to follow talk with action. It is time to take action as a citizen, to take responsibility as a Cameroonian. We must refuse to keep dying as a people. We must choose life. Join us at the Stand Up For Cameroon movement as we organize and prepare for legal and protest action. We will be demanding:

1. That the rights to emergency services and healthcare of those who were wounded in this accident be respected. That the families of those who have lost their lives receive all they are due.

2. Basic services for Cameroonians: water, electricity, healthcare, SAFE AND SECURE ROADS and more.

3. Political transition for Cameroon. It is time for a new political system for our country. If these are your objectives for our country, do not let these Cameroonians die for nothing. Take action today. Call 694 693 463 to join those who are standing up for Cameroun. The Stand Up For Cameroon movement will be communicating specific actions for Cameroonians to take within Cameroon and outside of Cameroon to protest this complete lack of responsibility for our safety and security as citizens that our government continues to demonstrate; as well as to take the first steps in taking the destiny of our country into our own hands. The Time Is NOW !!! Kah Walla National President

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Rita Akana

23.Oct.2016

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Yesterday's headlines reported two major collapses in Cameroon, a poor West African nation ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world. A portion of the only major highway linking the economic port city of Douala and the political capital of Yaounde caved in, leaving thousands of travelers confused.

Hours later, at least 53 people died and nearly 300 were injured when an overloaded passenger train traveling between Douala and Yaounde derailed and overturned, according to Aljazeera reports. Basically, every direct access point between Yaounde and Douala has collapsed. Only the rich can afford flying with the country's ailing airline company, CAMAIRCO.

Well, the Biya administration's national policy has failed, and every sector sustaining the country's economy is waning. I will explain.

Data from the CIA World Factbook revealed that among other countries in the world, Cameroon ranks 112 for its airports, 87 for its railways, and 76 for its roadways. Its railway connections are generally "efficient but limited," linking only four in 10 regional capitals. No English-speaking regional capital is linked.

Roadways total about 51,000 km, but only slightly over 4,000 km is tarred. A 2011 study finds that there is nearly 29,000 km of national roads. Take a deeper look at the transport system again. Most of Cameroon's roads were paved by former president Amadou Ahidjo who ruled between 1961 and 1982.

No major quality road construction work has taken place ever since President Paul Biya took office. Instead, the 34-year-old regime has been hawking from one foreign bank to the other, begging for loans like a 19th-century gangster. Many of its citizens and supporters are unaware of the dangers of international debt. Perhaps, I could better clarify this once and for all.

In International Political Economy, we often use a term "bad luck." It basically means that money is borrowed in huge sums in response to external factors, particularly the oil price shocks, high-interest rates, recessions and weak commodity prices. Also, political factors play a major role too. Cameroon borrows and spends more than it receives as revenues.

Estimated revenues in 2015 hit nearly $5 billion USD. But expenditures that same year were over $6 billion USD. We owe more than $4 billion dollars of international debt, roughly 28 percent of GDP. So ever since Heavily Indebted Poor Countries' Initiative canceled off Cameroon's loans in 2006, living standards even became worse.

Debts have been accumulating once again from 9 percent in 2008 to 19 percent in 2014 and 28 percent in 2015. And no one is stopping it? What in the world! Here are the big questions: What have we been doing with the borrowed money? Who has been taking how much for what project?

Spending FCFA75 billion to supply laptops to some favored students instead of building laptop manufacturing factories or tarring roads across major cities. With the absence of the rule of law, weak institutional checks and balances, bad democratic governance, opaque public accountability, the danger is that if Cameroon foreign debt exceeds 50 percent of its total revenues, it would be time to say goodbye.

Here is Tapang's take.

Halt the unwanted borrowing and stop relying on oil revenues. The oil wells are drying up and are unsustainable. In fact, as of 2007, a Correlates of War (COW) study revealed that all of Cameroon's oil would have been depleted in 7.1 years if it continued extracting it at that same rate COW recorded. Cameroon should diversity to agriculture. Investing more in that sector would not only pull back the country from teetering on the brink of an economic collapse but also from a conflict trap.

Oil has caused unresolved wars in most of Africa ever since sovereign states began producing the back gold. Cameroon has been saved from oil-related violence because of its heavily divided ethnicity. Paul Collier, an economist and conflict researcher argues along my lines. It takes decades for oil-related conflicts to be resolved but it takes hours for food-related conflicts to be resolved. And ever since Cameroon started oil production in 1979, there has been no oil-related violence. The first violent was food related in 2008. And that claimed over 100 lives, according to some media reports.

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Tapang Ivo

22.Oct.2016

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