Politics

President Biya has revealed to the youths that efforts over the past few years have started paying off despite the fact that government’s capacities to create jobs have been crippled by external factors related to the external environment and some domestic red tape. A beaming head of state noted that the role of the youth in economic development was one of the major concerns of his ruling CPDM party. He urged the entire nation to resolutely mobilize and support the numerous initiatives undertaken by young people in the country in diverse fields. Biya, 83 hinted that  the Yang Philemon Government should systematically and effectively continue setting up appropriate infrastructure, but also cleaning up and properly regulating this key sector in the interest of the national economy and the development of youth employment. President Biya added that public or private training institutions are called upon to fully play their role in identifying new trades. The Cameroonian dictator said large enterprises and other public and private entities should set the example by progressively carrying out their own digital switch over. 

In a speech described by many as empty, Mr Biya also noted that financial institutions definitely stand to benefit by developing specific programs to support youth-initiated projects in this new economy and that it is through such collective commitment that Cameroon will be able to rise to the challenge of digital transition. With age telling on him, President Paul Biya dabbled to defend his failed leadership saying that the agriculture and digital economic sectors requires continues effort which included stepping up the professionalization of secondary education. Mr Biya told the Cameroonian youth that his government has opened three Pilot Centers of Excellence in Douala, Limbe and Sangmelima. The projects that cost about 21 billion CFA francs, will provide retraining and upgrading skills for senior technicians and other skilled workers.

Biya who remained defiant on the failures already recorded by his 2035 Emergence Plan recalled the launching of an extensive industrialization program outlined on 31 December last year which he again observed should create many job opportunities. The youths were told to courageously plunge and become the agricultural entrepreneurs describing it as a noble and rewarding trade in the so-called real economy.

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Elangwe Pauline

12.Feb.2016

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Turkey has summoned the US envoy to the country over Washington’s assertion that Syria's Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) is not a terrorist group. Tuesday’s move by the Turkish foreign ministry followed remarks by US State Department spokesman John Kirby, ruling out the organization as a terrorist one. Ankara considers the group as an ally of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which it has been battling for months, but to the US, PYD is seen as part of the fight against the Daesh terrorists wreaking havoc in the region. Responding to a question regarding the difference between the two states, Kirby said Monday that "This is not a new concern, as I said, that the Turks have proffered. And we don't, as you know, recognize the PYD as a terrorist organization." 

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has previously hinted that military operations may be launched in Syria to tackle the YPG. Ankara has used the chance to fight Takfiris in neighboring Iraq to also attack PKK militants, who have fighting for an autonomous Kurdish region inside Turkey since the 1980s. Ankara has reportedly provided support for militants operating inside Syria along with some other US allies, namely Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The Daesh Takfiri, who have been wreaking havoc in Syria Iraq and miles further in Libya, were initially trained by the CIA in Jordan in 2012 to destabilize the Syrian government.

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Ngwa Bertrand

10.Feb.2016

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The Federal Republic of Germany seeks to assist Cameroon boost economic growth, youth employment, rural development, protect natural resources and diversify energy sources by improving on trade and business relations between both countries. This was reiterated recently at the National Assembly by a visiting delegation of the members of the German Parliament led by the President of the Parliamentary Commission for Economic Cooperation and Development, Mrs Dagmar Wöhrl, during a meeting with Senior Vice Speaker, Honourable Hilarion Etong. 

After the meeting, Dagmar Wöhrl hinted that the “fruitful discussions” aimed at seeking new avenues not only to strengthen trade and economic relations but also to upgrade relations between the two parliaments on the level of commissions and bilateral parliamentary friendship groups. The meeting also provided an opportunity for the guests to reaffirm Germany’s solidarity with Cameroon against the threat of terrorism.

The delegation included the President of the Parliamentary Commission for Economic Affairs and Energy, Dr. Peter Ramssauer who saw a multitude of options and great potential for strengthening relations especially in the domain of renewable energy which his country is progressively adopting to the detriment of nuclear and fossil energy. The German MP hailed historic ties between both countries as well as the speaking and learning of the German language by many Cameroonians. The delegation which was accompanied by German Ambassador to Cameroon, H.E. Holger Mahnicke, ends its five-day visit today February 5, 2016.

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Ngwa Bertrand

09.Feb.2016

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After Reunification there was need to mobilize the youths of the nation across the two banks of the Mungo. It is difficult to fully grasp the concept of Youth Day today without throwing a retrospective eye back into the late forties and the early fifties when Cameroonian students studying at that time in European Universities met regularly, irrespective of where they were studying, to talk about the unity of Cameroon. The recent book published by Senator Victor E. Mukete who, incidentally is also the Paramount Ruler of the Bafaws and a first-hand witness of the early years of Cameroonian nationalism, is very instructive for those interested in early Cameroonian nationalism but, above all, the role of the youth in the process of enhancing the building of the Cameroonian nation of which we are beneficiaries today. The traditional ruler, in his book (“My Odyssey”) vividly recounts the various meetings organized by students studying on the both sides of the English Channel, very often overcoming language difficulties with the ultimate desire being solely to get the fragmented parts of the territory of Cameroon, as it was before the division following the First World War, back together into a united political entity. 

The institution of Youth Day, as a national observance day in Cameroon, is very much predicated on this desire even if events leading to its institutionalization were not necessarily youth-oriented, but political. The Plebiscite organized by the United Nations Organisation on February 11, 1961 to determine the future of the two Cameroonian territories – Southern Cameroons and Northern Cameroons were not of the taste of then President Ahmadou Ahidjo who would have wished that the plebiscite be organized jointly, rather than separately with one plebiscite in Northern Cameroon and the other in Southern Cameroons. The overall result would have given a victory for reunification with Cameroon, the fatherland at the time, but the separate organization produced a result in favour of Reunification with the then La République du Cameroun for Southern Cameroon and integration with Nigeria for the Northern Cameroon. (233, 571 votes for and 97, 741 votes against union with La République du Cameroun in Southern Cameroon and 97 659 for and 146, 296 against union in Northern Cameroon) For Ahidjo, this was a national catastrophe to the extent that the proclamation of the plebiscite results – February 11, 1961 – was a national day of mourning.

For the next few years following Reunification, the evocation of February 11 sent back sad memories until a mission sent to the then West Cameroon from the Youth Service of the Federal Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Popular Education in Yaounde came back with a report, after examining the functioning of youth services in the Federated State of West Cameroon, made proposals as to the need for the creation of a national day devoted to youth. The Federal President acquiesced and thus was formalized; the creation of Youth Day whose 50th anniversary the nation commemorates today. In declaring the day, President Ahmadou Ahidjo had decided to shoot two birds with one stone: on the one hand, keeping the Plebiscite victory alive by observing it from a more positive side rather than only remembering the date from the perspective of the loss of territory.

The plebiscite result could never be revoked as seen from the answer he got following his protest to the United Nations; and on the other hand, consolidating the new-found unity between the two political entities of East and West Cameroon by providing a meeting platform within which youths from the two sides of the Mungo could express themselves. For example, at the very beginnings of the Youth Day, an entire month was devoted to youth activities preceding the Day, but because of the high toll such a long period took on the national economy and the much learning time sacrificed by youths of school going age, the period was brought down to one week as is the case today. Looking back fifty years ago, one must acknowledge that the political gains of Youth Day have been far-reaching even if simply limited to the fact that they have not only brought the nation’s youth closer, but have also provided the opportunity to bring youth problems to the discussion table.

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Ngwa Bertrand

07.Feb.2016

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After Reunification there was need to mobilize the youths of the nation across the two banks of the Mungo. It is difficult to fully grasp the concept of Youth Day today without throwing a retrospective eye back into the late forties and the early fifties when Cameroonian students studying at that time in European Universities met regularly, irrespective of where they were studying, to talk about the unity of Cameroon. The recent book published by Senator Victor E. Mukete who, incidentally is also the Paramount Ruler of the Bafaws and a first-hand witness of the early years of Cameroonian nationalism, is very instructive for those interested in early Cameroonian nationalism but, above all, the role of the youth in the process of enhancing the building of the Cameroonian nation of which we are beneficiaries today. The traditional ruler, in his book (“My Odyssey”) vividly recounts the various meetings organized by students studying on the both sides of the English Channel, very often overcoming language difficulties with the ultimate desire being solely to get the fragmented parts of the territory of Cameroon, as it was before the division following the First World War, back together into a united political entity. 

The institution of Youth Day, as a national observance day in Cameroon, is very much predicated on this desire even if events leading to its institutionalization were not necessarily youth-oriented, but political. The Plebiscite organized by the United Nations Organisation on February 11, 1961 to determine the future of the two Cameroonian territories – Southern Cameroons and Northern Cameroons were not of the taste of then President Ahmadou Ahidjo who would have wished that the plebiscite be organized jointly, rather than separately with one plebiscite in Northern Cameroon and the other in Southern Cameroons. The overall result would have given a victory for reunification with Cameroon, the fatherland at the time, but the separate organization produced a result in favour of Reunification with the then La République du Cameroun for Southern Cameroon and integration with Nigeria for the Northern Cameroon. (233, 571 votes for and 97, 741 votes against union with La République du Cameroun in Southern Cameroon and 97 659 for and 146, 296 against union in Northern Cameroon) For Ahidjo, this was a national catastrophe to the extent that the proclamation of the plebiscite results – February 11, 1961 – was a national day of mourning.

For the next few years following Reunification, the evocation of February 11 sent back sad memories until a mission sent to the then West Cameroon from the Youth Service of the Federal Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Popular Education in Yaounde came back with a report, after examining the functioning of youth services in the Federated State of West Cameroon, made proposals as to the need for the creation of a national day devoted to youth. The Federal President acquiesced and thus was formalized; the creation of Youth Day whose 50th anniversary the nation commemorates today. In declaring the day, President Ahmadou Ahidjo had decided to shoot two birds with one stone: on the one hand, keeping the Plebiscite victory alive by observing it from a more positive side rather than only remembering the date from the perspective of the loss of territory.

The plebiscite result could never be revoked as seen from the answer he got following his protest to the United Nations; and on the other hand, consolidating the new-found unity between the two political entities of East and West Cameroon by providing a meeting platform within which youths from the two sides of the Mungo could express themselves. For example, at the very beginnings of the Youth Day, an entire month was devoted to youth activities preceding the Day, but because of the high toll such a long period took on the national economy and the much learning time sacrificed by youths of school going age, the period was brought down to one week as is the case today. Looking back fifty years ago, one must acknowledge that the political gains of Youth Day have been far-reaching even if simply limited to the fact that they have not only brought the nation’s youth closer, but have also provided the opportunity to bring youth problems to the discussion table.

Details

Elangwe Pauline

07.Feb.2016

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The Cameroon People's Democratic Movement is already in the field campaigning for 2018. Clarion calls have been made for the 83 year old dictator to run again for president. Cameroon Concord can reveal these CPDM outdated gorilla tactics have not gone down well with the international community. As pressure continues to mount on President Biya, the French including the Americans are reportedly preparing a plan B that will see an end to the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime. Recently in Yaounde the nation's capital, mixed reviews and opinions have been expressed by certain political scientists, sociologists, teachers and other academic experts including people on the know. The general feeling remains that anyone who likes Mr Biya can only wish him a happy retirement. 

We of this publication agree that at nearly 83 years of age and 34 years in power, President Biya no longer has the physical and moral capacity to manage the country. His 2035 Emergence Plan is already crumbling in front of his own watchful eyes. Nothing is happening with the roads he announced he was building, nothing is happening to the football stadiums he said will be ready before the female African Cup of Nations, nothing has improved with state pensions, the banking sector, health and the judiciary. Going beyond 2018 is not a priority for a people who do not have even basic needs.

Some have opined that President Biya should reject these calls coming from these political sycophants and cronies of his ruling CPDM claiming it represents an identity that illustrates men and women hungry for power. Cameroon Concord's chief political editor observed that Biya should allow other Cameroonians brave like him to take control. To be sure, President Biya must withdraw to preserve his dignity as one of the greatest statesman the continent ever known.

It will be hard for President Biya at 83 to provide a genuine political solution to the major concern before the elections in 2018 which is to establish the essential devices for credible elections.  Instead of calling on  Mr. Biya to run in 2018 or call for earlier presidential poll, the Francophone Beti Ewondo regime needs to open a transition program, rewrite the constitution and give the country a fair and equitable electoral law as well as strengthen the civil society. Biya and his regime have too many unfinished projects in the last 34 years and everyone Cameroonian including highly placed members of the ruling elites now understand that age is telling on him and these projects will not be realized during the upcoming seven years. We call on President Paul Biya to retire happily.  A word to a wise is sufficient.

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Ngwa Bertrand

06.Feb.2016

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