Breaking

Politics

Will Russians topple Putin as the West hopes?

———

I will say that is impossible. Let me explain:

1. Like in classic Democracies where leaders are not taken out by coups or popular dissent, so too are Communists states. Russia is a classic example of a communist state. Never in the history of communist states has a president been taken out through coups and protests. That only happens in weak states that have no stable governing ideology.

2. You may call it a dictatorship and detest it. But understand that communism is also a stable ideology just like democracy. Communists believe in their leader and don’t mind keeping him there for decades. In classic African tradition, for example, when did you ever hear that a traditional ruler was toppled? Yet, villagers are extremely proud of their leader and could let him die in power.

3. Russians and Chinese, for example, have a strong sense of national solidarity and pride. External wars to them is historically viewed as a leadership strength rather than a leadership failure. Today, a few could protest because of Western exposure, but that is not the case now in those communist states that shut down alternative media in times like now.

4. On the flip side, every leader is also concerned about gaining absolute power. Alternative media and platforms were shutdown in America because of the fear of an insurrection in a democracy. It happens too in the communist world. Canada passed a draconian law to suppress its popular Truckers’ protests. That is a democracy. It happens too in a globalized communist world.

5. If approval ratings are anything to consider, then Biden could be toppled instead because he has the lowest approval rating of any African president. Putin, however, has maintained a high approval rating. Russians have endured absolute pain in their recent history. These sanctions are nothing new, especially as they have alternative willing Eastern partners.

Do I think Putin could be toppled? That is wishful thinking, I would say.

Tapang | Freethinker

Details: Tapang Ivo; 12.Mar.2022; Hits: 2323

Anglophone separatists in Cameroon have claimed responsibility for an attack Wednesday that killed seven people, including a senior official and a mayor. Cameroon’s military says the officials were on a tour to raise support against the rebels when a homemade bomb hit their car.

The government said the explosive device hit the officials' car in Bekora village in the Ekondo Titi district of Cameroon's English-speaking South-West region. The government says six officials, including Timothee Aboloa, highest government official in Ekondo Titi, Nanji Kenneth, mayor of Ekondo Titi and Ebeku William, the Ekondo Titi president of Cameroon’s ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement party, died on the spot.

Cameroon's military said after the device exploded, separatist fighters hiding in a nearby bush started shooting.

Bernard Okalia Bilai is the governor of the South-West region. Bilai said several government troops sustained injuries, and a military official died while being rushed to a local hospital by the military. Bilai spoke during a press conference broadcast by local media including Cameroon state broadcaster CRTV.

"All the six occupants of the car died. The other forces of law and order [military] who were in the pickup following the [officials'] car was wounded. One young officer, a lieutenant, was wounded, and he too passed away. So, in that attack we have lost seven persons,” he said.

Bilai said the officials were on a meet-the-people tour of Ekondo Titi. He said during the tour, the officials were expected to educate civilians on braving separatists and relaunch economic activities in their towns and villages. Bilai said the officials were also asking civilians to report suspected fighters hiding in their towns and villages.

Cameroon’s military on Thursday said troops were deployed to Ekondo Titi shortly after the explosion. The military said the troops will track and arrest or kill the fighters should government troops face any resistance from the rebels.

Capo Daniel is the deputy defense chief of staff for the Ambazonia Defense Forces, said to be the largest separatist group in Cameroon.

Capo said separatists regret that one fighter has been missing since Wednesday’s attack. He said no fighter was wounded and none were killed by government troops in the Ekondo Titi attack, as reported by Cameroon military. Capo spoke to VOA via a messaging app.

“This operation is part of our liberation operations to end the Cameroon occupation and rule of Ambazonia territory. The divisional officer is in charge of coordinating Cameroon’s military operations and Cameroon’s occupation of Ambazonia territory. We will continue to battle and resist Cameroon rule of Ambazonia until the last Cameroon military is booted out of our territory,” he said.

Cameroon separatists have been fighting since 2017 to carve out an independent English-speaking state in the majority French-speaking Cameroon. The separatists say their state will be called Ambazonia.

Fighters have vowed to attack any worker sent by the central government in Yaounde to the English-speaking western regions. The separatists say they will continue attacking government offices and staff until the central government withdraws its troops from the troubled Anglophone regions.

The United Nations says the conflict has left more than 3,500 people dead and 750,000 displaced.

VOA

Details: Ayuk Divine; 04.Mar.2022; Hits: 4503

Far from the Russian bombardments on Ukraine, the fear of a popular uprising is gradually spreading to the intelligence services in Cameroon. Indeed, specialized agencies are concerned about the likely fallout from the Ukrainian crisis in Cameroon in a context of socio-political tensions. Indeed, information and analysis notes have been prepared for transmission to the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon in order to warn of the security risks weighing on Cameroon. More particularly a popular uprising like what happened in February 2008.
At the heart of the concerns of intelligence agencies, the increase in the cost of wheat which will have an impact on the prices of basic necessities, namely; flour, rice, and others. An increase that will bring with it inflation, making people's lives even more difficult.
Indeed, the wheat sold in Cameroon, which is used to make a staple food like bread, is mainly imported from Russia (1st world producer) and Ukraine. Although it produces only 30 to 32 million tonnes of wheat per year, or 4% of world production, Ukraine exports more than 60% of the quantities produced on its soil. As a result, the country is the world's fourth largest wheat exporter. Last week, the costs of wheat, which have been increasing since the COVID 19 pandemic, experienced a new acceleration last week with the first attacks by Russia against Ukraine.
The Matif, which is the essential benchmark for the wheat market on the stock exchange, increased by 40 euros between Wednesday and last Thursday. The price of a sack of wheat rose to 390 dollars (217,800 FCFA) including 80 dollars of freight. For a total of 470 dollars or 258,000 CFA francs. Yet a year ago, prices already on the rise hovered around 165,000 CFA francs. With the war, ships can no longer go to Ukraine to load cargo. International sanctions reduce or prevent companies from doing business with Russia.
In this context, Cameroonian millers who for months have been warning the government about the risks of a wheat shortage are forced to increase prices to maintain their supplies. A solution envisaged on the side of Côte d'Ivoire. The imminent risk in Cameroon is a shortage of wheat. The stocks that currently remain can only last for a period of one and a half months.
Should this be a surprise for the Cameroonian government? No. Because, as early as October 2021, GICAM warned the Minister of Commerce, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana about the chaotic situation in which Cameroonian wheat importers find themselves. But a few weeks before, IFACO, the main Swiss supplier of wheat to Cameroon, met Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana on September 14, 2021 to tell him about the state of the wheat market in the world and the problems facing Cameroonian businessmen.
Unfortunately, no serious government action has been taken. At the risk of expecting chaos. Now it is the intelligence agencies that are stepping up to prevent a popular uprising.

Details: Ayuk Divine; 28.Feb.2022; Hits: 2139

Here's a summary of what's happening in Ukraine/Russia
In 2010, Ukraine elected Viktor Yakunovych as president. The West (US & EU) were not happy with these events as they saw the new president as too aligned to Russia.
Before Yakunovych's election, Ukraine had a free trade deal in the pipeline with the EU. But in 2013, Yakunovych did a 180° and refused to sign the deal, favouring closer ties with Russia.
In November 2013, led by Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, the US fomented a Colour Revolution (called Euromaidan) which led to a coup in Ukraine. Yakunovych was overthrown.
Leaders in eastern Ukraine declared allegiance to Yakunovych. This led to anti-government protests in February in 2014 and a referendum in Crimea where 97% of respondents voted to Return Crimea to Russia. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014.
Meanwhile, the new post-coup Ukrainian government proposed a Bill to remove Russian as an official language. Russian speakers in East Ukraine were angered about this saying ethnic Russians were in imminent danger.
In early 2014, Russia started sending support to Russians in the eastern regions of Ukraine (Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, and Odessa) who now demanded independence from Ukraine.
In April 2014, the mainly Russian-speaking regions of Donetsk and Luhansk broke away from Ukraine and proclaimed themselves as separate Republics.
Also in early 2014, Russia started performing military exercises on the eastern Ukrainian border just as NATO was doing the same in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, who share borders with Russia.
In September 2014, Ukraine and Russia signed ceasefire agreements in Minsk, Belarus, to end hostilities in east Ukraine.
Despite the Minsk agreements, from 2014 to date, continuous battles have been waged between Ukrainian forces and Luhansk and Donetsk separatists over territory in the Donbas region in violation of the agreements.
Along with the armed conflict, the EU and US imposed International sanctions against Russia. The sanctions led to the collapse of the Russian currency and caused economic damage to EU countries. By 2016, Russia had lost an estimated $600 billion.
In 2017, the UN published a report stating that the EU countries were losing about "3.2 billion dollars a month" due to the Russian sanctions.
In March 2021, President Putin ordered the Russian military to mobilise troops near its border with Ukraine and in Crimea. In November, Russia deployed vessels to the Black Sea to "observe" US warships. Putin said the US ships were "a serious challenge"
In November 2021, the Russian Ministry of Defence said "The real goal behind the US activities in the Black Sea region is exploring the theater of operations in case Kyiv attempts to settle the conflict in the southeast by force".
From mid-January, 2022, the US started announcing that Russia would invade Ukraine, stating that an attack could begin before the conclusion of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in February.
In January 2022, NATO began providing weapons including anti-armor missiles and other US-made weapons to Ukraine. On 22 January, the US delivered 90 000 kg of lethal weapons to Ukraine. The Netherlands and Spain also deployed forces to the region in support of NATO.
In February, the US sent soldiers to Germany and Poland to boost NATO's presence in Europe, along with F-15 fighter jets to Romania. Britain also deployed soldiers, warships and jets to eastern Europe.
On 21 February, the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, requested Putin to officially recognize the republics' independence. Putin agreed and signed Russia's recognition of the republics and ordered troops to be sent there.
On 22 February, Boris Johnson announced sanctions on Russian banks and individuals. Germany announced suspending the certification process of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. EU foreign ministers blacklisted all Russians who voted in favour of the recognition of the breakaway regions.
On 24 February 2022, President Putin announced the beginning of a "special military operation" in the Donbass region. Thus is where we are now.

Details: Ayuk Divine; 25.Feb.2022; Hits: 1951

With his incursion into Donetsk and Luhansk, Vladimir Putin has broken international law and destroyed the best negotiating track, the Minsk agreement. That is clear. What is also clear is why he did it.

Details: Jonathan Steele; 25.Feb.2022; Hits: 2366

This is worth reading for a better understanding of how security policy should work under the risk of nuclear annihilation. After Henry Kissinger's warning in 2014, another former US Secretary of State offered this sober analysis again in 2016.

Former US defense secretary, Bill Perry in 2016 told a conference of The Guardian newspaper:

“In the last few years, most of the blame can be pointed at the actions that Putin has taken. But in the early years, I have to say that the United States deserves much of the blame. The first action that set us off in a bad direction was when NATO started to expand, bringing in Eastern European nations, some of them bordering Russia.

“At that time, we were working closely with Russia and they were beginning to get used to the idea that NATO could be a friend rather than an enemy … but they were very uncomfortable about having NATO right up on their border and they made a strong appeal for us not to go ahead with that.”

On May 2, 1998, immediately after the Senate ratified NATO expansion, I called George Kennan, the architect of America’s successful containment of the Soviet Union. Having joined the State Department in 1926 and served as U.S. ambassador to Moscow in 1952, Kennan was arguably America’s greatest expert on Russia. Though 94 at the time and frail of voice, he was sharp of mind when I asked for his opinion of NATO expansion.

I am going to share Kennan’s whole answer:

“I think it is the beginning of a new cold war. I think the Russians will gradually react quite adversely and it will affect their policies. I think it is a tragic mistake. There was no reason for this whatsoever. No one was threatening anybody else. This expansion would make the founding fathers of this country turn over in their graves.

“We have signed up to protect a whole series of countries, even though we have neither the resources nor the intention to do so in any serious way. [NATO expansion] was simply a lighthearted action by a Senate that has no real interest in foreign affairs. What bothers me is how superficial and ill-informed the whole Senate debate was. I was particularly bothered by the references to Russia as a country dying to attack Western Europe.

Details: Ayuk Divine; 25.Feb.2022; Hits: 2599

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.

Editorial Article Count: 885

# Opinion

Get insights and perspectives on the issues that matter to Cameroon and the world with our opinion section. We feature opinions from our editors, columnists, and guest writers, who share their views and analysis on various topics, such as politics, economy, culture, and society. Our opinion section also welcomes contributions from our readers, who can submit their own opinions and comments. Join the conversation and express your opinions with our opinion section.

Boko Haram Article Count: 498

Page 95 of 489