Politics

A trend has of late been visible in Cameroon with the address of motions of support and calls for the Head of State to stand for another term of office during the next presidential election. The move initiated by supporters of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM party has obviously ignited debate across the country. Some think it is too early given that the next election, according to the Constitution, is supposed to be in 2018. The other argument is that the CPDM needed no such massive mobilisation since the by-laws of the party are clear on the issue with their chair being the natural candidate and as such, they simply ought to call for a congress to enthrone the person they want to represent them at the next presidential election. Of course, the supporters of the CPDM who take the front seat in elaborating the motions have not run out of ideas to defend the option. 

The peace and stability that Mr Biya has ensured in Cameroon over the years, the distribution of the national cake through the appointment of sons and daughters of the various localities in the country to posts of responsibility, his leadership qualities, ambitions for an emergent Cameroon by 2035, the fight against corruption, and the list continuous. The recent imposition of an unjustified war by the Boko Haram extremist group in the Far North Region of Cameroon has not only reinforced the suspicion of a conspiracy theory, but also heightened the resolve by Cameroonians of almost all strata to rally behind President Paul Biya for a stronger and conquering nation. For the past two years that the insurgency started in parts of the Far North Region with the abduction of expatriates and some religious, the Heard of State showed resolve and determination to handle the onslaught making sure that State power prevails. But with the continuous killings of young Cameroonians, innocent citizens and even people in prayer sessions being brutally slaughtered, there has been every reason for unanimous action across the board to let the enemy understood the steadfastness of the entire nation toward peace and stability. Until now, the motions of support have been pouring in from various parts of the nation and people found it as a trendy evolution. That narrative has obviously changed.

Cameroonians in the Diaspora have added their voice to the calls for Mr Biya to stand again as candidate for the next election to the post of President of the Republic of Cameroon. The fact that the justifications given by members of the Diaspora are the same as those of their compatriots back home speaks of the sense of purpose and desire for the establishment to make good certain achievements for Cameroon. CPDM supporters in the United States of America, France, the Great Britain, Belgium and others have now joined the bandwagon. The approach may not be new but the influx from several countries at the same time has been enough to attract attention as to whether it is a sheer coincidence or those involved had to consult each other before writing. It is most likely that their concern for national cohesion and the experiences that they have been witnessing in their countries of residence and at the internal level, in general, guided the foreign influx of motions of support.

The signatories must have analysed the situation of chaos and instability that exist in some countries, especially within the African Continent, and even across the globe before coming to the conclusion that the best risk for Cameroon remains Mr Biya. Also, as members of a given political party it remains their inalienable and democratic right to call for the person they deem fit to be their candidate. The timing may not be an issue and the evident way forward for other political parties in the country should be to also gird their loins and mobilise. Thus, CPDM supporters from the national territory who started the calls for Mr Biya to represent them at the next Presidential election will now feel more comforted that their comrades in the Diaspora have joined hands to ensure that their standard-bearer should not be changed. He has in the past enabled the party to achieve important victories for the party and for Cameroon as a nation and they think the same arguments are valid today for the wellbeing of the CPDM, in general, and the nation as a whole.

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Cameroon Tribune

08.Mar.2016

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Grouped as an enlarged meeting of the people of the South West Region, the local leaders of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), members of Parliament, Government Delegates, Mayors; the elite, traditional rulers and other vital forces have added their voices to the nation-wide call on the Head of State and National President of the party in power, President Paul Biya, to re-stand as candidate for the next presidential election whether anticipated, timely or even postponed. The regional call was read out and handed to the Governor of the South West Region, Bernard Okalia Bilai, for on-ward transmission during a public rally held at the Buea ceremonial ground amidst a crowd estimated beyond 5000.

On the occasion, a public rally graced by public speeches and traditional dances preceded a 200-metre walk from the Bongo Square to the new Buea Council Office. In his address as leader of the South West Permanent Regional Delegation of the CPDM Central Committee, Senator Peter Mafany Musonge said Cameroon was at a crossroads with its security and political agenda, both situations posing challenges on the Nation’s march towards the 2035 emergence plan. Reading the political board at hand, he questioned: “Should a people, so free and living in a Republic, assume silence as a posture in the face of an equation of choice?” The former Prime Minister said it is a “logical, legitimate and befitting response from a people gathered at the foot of Mount Fako to say their choice has a volcanic proportion and pregnant with fortune, hope and promising destiny for the entire South West Region and that choice is President Paul Biya”.

Mafany Musonge stated the convictions of the South West people to include “full knowledge of the man, Paul Biya, his character, vision, policy records, an astute crusader for national unity, peace and security; the man who used statesmanship and diplomatic skills to regain Bakassi from foreign occupation, the man using strategic and tactical defense measures in the fight against Boko Haram terrorism” To state the logic, wisdom and political correctness for the South West choice, Musonge brought in such socio-economic factors as the completed Mutengene–Kumba road, the Mamfe-Ekok road, the on-going Kumba-Mamfe road, the projected Limbe Deep Seaport, the Limbe Omnisport Stadium, the transformation of towns like Buea, and the preservation of CDC and PAMOL.

Hopes for road-axes under study such as Kumba-Tombel-Bangem-Melong and the Bakebe-Menji-Dschang also constitute arguments for the South West to stand as one man in favour of President Paul Biya’s candidacy for the up-coming presidential polls, the speaker underscored. Speaking on behalf of women of the South West Region, Mrs. Emenkeng Aka Thecla, member of the national Bureau of WCPDM and President of Lebialem I WCPDM Section called particularly on women to make Paul Biya their choice because statistics of women empowerment since his accession to power remain self evident. She mentioned amidst thunderous applauses10 women as members of Government today compared to only two at the time Paul Biya became President of the Republic.

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Cameroon Tribune

08.Mar.2016

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Suspected Boko Haram killers gunned down at least 9 people in Cameroon on Monday night in a sustained escalation of mass murder by a group of ruthless terrorists who have killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and kidnapped scores of women in recent years.

Local newspaper, L’Oeil du Sahel, said the four civilians were killed
in the locality of Bame near Kolofata in Cameroon’s far north along the border with Nigeria where the terrorists are based.

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Elangwe Pauline

08.Mar.2016

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Gunmen have killed a dozen villagers in the Central African Republic in the first violent incident since Faustin-Archange Touadera took office as president this week. Local officials said on Sunday the attacks took place in three different villages near the central town of Bambari and were likely linked to livestock theft or inter-ethnic disputes. Bambari has seen numerous attacks in the last year despite the presence of United Nations peacekeepers. The UN designated the city a weapons-free zone last September, but the Seleka rebels and the anti-Balaka militia continue their armed presence in the town. Touadera has pledged to focus on peace and disarmament in his government. 

The constitutional court confirmed former mathematics professor Touadera's victory on Tuesday following a run-off election on February 14, setting the stage for him to be sworn in later on March 25. The CAR has been hit by turmoil since 2013, when Christian armed groups launched coordinated attacks against the mostly Muslim Seleka group that had toppled the government in March that year. In December 2013, France deployed military forces to the CAR, a former French colony, after the UN Security Council gave the go-ahead to sending troops to the country.

However, violence has not ended. According to the latest UN estimates, the conflict in the CAR has internally displaced 399,000 people and forced more than 460,000 to flee to neighboring countries. The UN World Food Program (WFP) announced in late January that the three-year crisis in toll has taken a huge toll with half the total population facing hunger.

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Presstv

07.Mar.2016

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Cardinal Christian Tumi. the former Archbishop of Douala, 85 who retired in 2009 has made a clarion call to President Paul Biya to step down from office. The much respected Cardinal said at 83, President Biya should ask the political bureau of the ruling CPDM party to nominate someone else to take over. 

Since last month,senior government officials and prominent elite deep within the ruling class have been clamoring for President Biya to continue as head of state. Some Biya acolytes have even gone further suggesting that he changes the constitution and demanding early presidential election legally scheduled for 2018.

Asked by the pan African newspaper, Jeune Afrique why the Cardinal was against Biya's candidacy? Cardinal Tumi revealed that: "I am not against the candidacy of the head of state, but you see, we have almost the same age, and that age regardless endurance or physical strength, we are weakened. When one is old, he may be good to play an advisory role. But we can no longer run such a young and complex country".

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Chi Prudence Asong

07.Mar.2016

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Things are reportedly falling apart deep within the ruling Francophone Beti Ewondo regime as former highly placed government officials are making serious revelations on the goings-on in the CPDM government. In his new book depicting the many lies told by some members of the Biya regime, a former Minister of Health, Olanguena Awono has accused two senior personalities to have plotted the demise of Polycarpe Abah Abah and Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara. Both men served as minister of finance and secretary general at the presidency of the republic respectively. 

Olanguena Awono revealed in a frank, candid and thoughtful document to be published soon that Minister Alain Edgar Mebe Ngo’o, Minister of Transport and his brother; Ze Meka Remy concocted the G11 imaginary conspiracy that eventually destroyed the political, administrative and social foundation of the state of Cameroon. Alain Mebe Ngo’o at the time was Director of the Civil cabinet at the presidency of the republic with strong links with the police while his brother Ze Meka Remy was Minister Delegate at the presidency in charge of defense.

The two men are originally from Zoetele, Dja and Lobo Division in the South Region and enjoy a close relationship with the head of state. Olanguena Awono hinted that they invented and popularized the story of G11- a group of top Cameroon government officials who they claimed wanted to seize power in the 2011 presidential election. The so called G11 was created in 2005.

This story is still developing

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Elangwe Pauline

07.Mar.2016

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