Politics
A school in Ngoketunjia division of the North West region of Cameroon has been visited by flames. GBHS Bamessing was set ablaze on Wednesday night by unidentified individuals. The fire is said to have consumed the administrative building of the school. This is just one in a series of arsons on schools in Southern Cameroons in the wake of the Anglophone crisis. Government reports point accusing fingers at Ambazonian separatists, who are campaigning against a smooth flow of the academic year. However, schools are neither completely grounded nor operating effectively in Southern Cameroons.
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- Rita Akana
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Most often lots of fake agents have infiltrated the anti corruption network in a stinkingly corrupt nation like Cameroon.
Today out of desperation people who work with the public have been warned to be so careful against these fake agents who come in sheep cloth but are wolves. Dieudonne' Massi Gamsi, the chairman of the commission has declared that their tactics are well known and can be easily detected. CONAC agents are well known and carry badges that are issued by the Chairman, Rev. Duuedonne Wansi Gams.
Bertoua the Regional Capital of East has become the easiest bait for such con men who have raided the town. Unfortunately it's said that excesses are always the arch heel of most crooks.
The main perpetrator of the scamming deal is now in the drag net of the Bertoua Regional Police who through the Judicial Police napped Mr. Samba René Yesus after thorough scrutiny and meticulous observation.
Tough the cry and hue of the National Anti corruption Observatory is heard loud and clear, the agency is to be blamed as well. The absence of a radar and monitoring mechanism has exposed the agency to such marauders and fraudsters.
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- Rita Akana
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About a few days ago the Cameroonian frontier Police and Gendarmerie orchestrated an arrest of a Chadian General alongside some fifty well armed mercenaries that had intentions to topple the regime of the President of Equatorial Guinea. The President of Chad after being squeezed on the matter, declined responsibility for the coup d'etat and asked that the hardest punishment be meted on the perpetrators of the foiled coup d'etat.
The President of Equatorial Guinea expressed his outmost appreciation to the people of LA Republique Du Cameroun and its government for the great job of preserving peace and serenity in his country.
The tense atmosphere at the borders around Koise forced it to be closed until deemed necessary. However it must be noted with satisfaction that the frontiers with Equatorial Guinea have been opened.
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- Rita Akana
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Two Cameroonian soldiers are reported dead during clashes with the notorious Boko haram terror group. The corpses of the two soldiers were handed to Cameroon on Monday, reports say. They were part of the multinational joint task force actively fighting the terrorists. The incident is believed to have occurred in the Sambisa forest in Nigeria, where the radical group is based.
This comes at a very crucial period in Cameroon. Tensions are mounting between security forces and Ambazonian separatists in Southern Cameroons, as the Anglophone struggle intensifies.
The political atmosphere looks pretty cloudy, with very little certainty over the fate of upcoming elections.
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- Rita Akana
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The President spends much of his time inside his sumptuous palace in Mvomeka, in the South of LA Republique Du Cameroun. This heaven of peace is a no go area for the natives who live in the neighborhood or in the environment. Mvomeka has become the epicenter of power and the fantasy of those who aspire to attend political power.
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- Rita Akana
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There is a prevailing narrative about the role of Western interests in trouble spots around the world, which is often premised on the need to watch out for and protect these interests when conflicts break out. These interests are generally related to resources to fuel industries (including minerals, oil, and gas), raw agricultural materials (coffee, cocoa, tea, rubber, and timber), and access to markets for finished goods (international waters, air space, and enabling governments). Western governments, especially the (former) colonial powers, are ever on the alert for any sign of trouble, so they can jump in and quash any terrorist threats that might surface.
This narrative stands in stark contrast to the crises which have prevailed in most sub-Sahara African nations since independence in the early 1960s—political transitions, ethnic conflicts, tribalism, wars, famine, and coup d’états.
Where does the current Southern Cameroons conflict fit within this prevailing narrative? The two former Anglophone regions (Northwest and Southwest) account for over 60% of the gross domestic product of what was called the Republic of Cameroon prior to the establishment of the new interim government on October 1, 2017. Cameroon’s oil is, therefore, located in the newly established Federal Republic of Ambazonia. A separation of the country would threaten Western interests in various ways: an end to French control of the resources, an attempt by other francophone African countries to replicate Ambazonia’s example, an impoverishment of the Republic of Cameroun (saddled with a public debt of $10.34 billion), an end to the Republic of Cameroun’s membership in the English Commonwealth, Ambazonia’s departure from the franc zone, a likely collapse of the franc zone in Central Africa (where Cameroon has the strongest economy), and more.
We may broaden the scope by also asking, “Where do Nigeria, the Republic of Cameroun, Chad, Niger, and Central African Republic fit within this narrative?” The northern Nigeria-Central African region have been a hotbed of terrorism à la Boko Haram for several years now—beginning in northeastern Nigeria and stretching into northern Cameroun and the other central African states. There’s oil in Chad, which is piped to the Atlantic Ocean through the Republic of Cameroun, so there’s western interest in ensuring its safe passage. Nigeria is an oil giant on the world stage and a member of OPEC (Organization of Oil-Producing Countries), producing 1.484 million barrels per day according to OPEC’s May 2017 Monthly Oil Market Report.
What about the other neighbors? The Central African Republic has been unstable since the overthrow of Jean-Bédel Bokassa in 1996, resulting in over 100,000 refugees fleeing rebel groups and armed gangs to Cameroon. By September 2017, a similar number of refugees had flocked into northern Cameroun from northeastern Nigeria, fleeing Boko Haram insurgents, who are also operating in Chad, Niger, and Mali. Paradoxically, over 70,000 southern Cameroonians have streamed into eastern Nigeria since October 2017 seeking refuge from Cameroun’s military onslaught.
Given these crises and scenarios, what are chances that Western nations would align with Ambazonia, an unknown, untested entity? Would the government be trusted to do the colonialist’s bidding? Would Ambazonia seek reparations from the West for economic dislocation since 1961? Would Ambazonia seek repayment from France of oil and agricultural revenues which have been stowed away in the French treasury as part of a pre-independence treaty with the Republic of Cameroun? Would Ambazonia seek repayment from other Western nations, including Switzerland, where Ahmadou Ahidjo (Cameroun’s first president) deposited money he squirreled away during his twenty-one-year dictatorship (1961-82)? Would Ambazonia go after Western countries for the assets of President Paul Biya and his family?
It has been convenient for the Republic of Cameroun to qualify its departing Southern Cameroons brothers and sisters as secessionists—convenient because the term is a misnomer. The Free Dictionary defines “secede” as follows: “to withdraw formally from membership in a state, union, or other political entity.” Since there was no legal basis for membership in the Republic of Cameroun (or an act of union), Southern Cameroons has merely reasserted its right of self-determination as a people by restoring its independence; it is not seceding. Catalonia, on the other hand, is trying to secede from Spain, as is Kurdistan from Iraq.
Without an act of union, Southern Cameroons is a victim, an orphan of the United Nations, which mismanaged its transition to independence. Following World War II, the United Nations asked Britain and France to guide Southern Cameroons and the Republic of Cameroun, respectively, towards self-government (Article 76, b). While France supposedly “let go” of its territory, Britain claimed Southern Cameroons was too weak to survive as a country. The United Nations, therefore, has an unfinished job of steering Southern Cameroons towards statehood. It is not comparable to Catalonia or Iraqi Kurdistan because SC has had an international personality from WWI through the Trusteeship Agreement and a strong UN independence vote in keeping with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514 on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples.
The consideration of Western interests adversely affected by these conflicts has played a key role in perpetrating the situation in the sub-region and, particularly, in Southern Cameroons. This may be explained by the deafening silence from President Paul Biya of the Republic of Cameroun to incessant calls worldwide to initiate dialogue with the Southern Cameroonians. He does not want to rock the boat or appear to concede sixty percent of Cameroun’s GDP to so-called secessionists who are the rightful owners of the natural resources.
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- Mola Eko
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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.
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.
