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Blog posts : "Cameroon"

2013: President Biya, 80, to "preside" over 80% unemployment rate. Biya New Year Speech

 Here is the New Year Message of Paul Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroon.  Biya has been in power since November 06, 1982.  He has "won"    every allegedly heavily rigged election since then. Biya, 80, presides over 20 million people with unofficial unemployment rate at 80%. The economy of…

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“Less focus and rambling, chatting without a purpose of direction, tired and uninformed of events in his country” US Diplomat qualifies Paul Biya of Cameroon

In a recent Wikileaks cable released in September 20011, the former US diplomat to Cameroon says he discussed with president Paul Biya for over an hour on vital issues. The chat which took place in April 2009 focused Cameroon politics, security forces, corruption and the impact of the economic crisis. According to the US diplomat, “Biya was less focused and more rambling than in previous meetings and did not seem fully seized with the numerous pressing challenges his government faces”. He further states that Paul Biya look tired and was visibly not informed about what is happening in his own country, Cameroon. He chatted “unhurriedly and without purpose of direction”.

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Final list of 2011 Presidential candidates in Cameroon: Old wine in old bottles

Below is the full list of candidates who have been selected by Cameroon’s Electoral body ELECAM, for the October 9, 2011 presidential elections. A total of 52 postulants submitted their files and 21 were retained including incumbent Paul Biya, who has been in office since November 6, 1982. 31 postulants were rejected with reasons ranging from the none legalisation of copies of documents, late submission of files, fake receipts or non payment of payment of the FCFA 5 million caution among others.

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WikiLeaks Cameroon: CONFIDENTIAL and EXPLOSIVE; The Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization confesses

 In another confidential and  explosive WikiLeaks cable on Cameroon, the  Minister of Territorial Administration (MINAT)  and powerful member of the ruling party polit Bureau , Marafa Hamidou Yaya in a discussion with  Elisabeth Janet Garvey, former US Ambassador to Cameroon, the former  bares his mind about some burning issues in the country.  His disdain for Elections Cameroon-ELECAM, his worries on the fight against corruption among other issues are revealed. It should be noted that the declarations of these ministers, like the case of Amadou Ali of the Justice Department may be considered their personal opinions or views. However, these views are really not different from state policies implemented by them or   their ministries and the government at large. 

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Cameroon: STARTLING REVELATIONS: Vice PM fears Anglo-Bami power, denounces corrupt opposition and military.

In a WikiLeaks cable released on September 1, 2011 Cameroon’s Vice Prime Minister,  Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seal, Amadou Ali, makes startling revelations and declarations in a very confidential chat on February 27, 2009, with the former US Ambassador to Cameroon, Elizabeth Janet Garvey.  After reading through the cable, these are the salient points I have taken for you.  I have divided them under corruption, the military and politics.

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Impunity in Cameroon: When ministers “have not stolen enough to be arrested”

A recent Wikileaks cable on Cameroon has revealed to the bewilderment of Cameroonians that in the course of a discussion with former US ambassador to Cameroon HE Janet Garvey, President Paul Biya literally admitted that inertia and impunity in Cameroon have destroyed the country under his watch for the past 29 years. This is supported when he is quoted in the cable as saying some ministers, and notably Inoni Ephraim “have not stolen enough” to be arrested. The questions are how much, must a minister steal to be arrested. Despite the ongoing selective arrest of suspected embezzlers, corruption continues as before.  

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Financial Scandal: Cameroon's Ambassador to Italy and Swedish PM pay same amount for rents

By Aloysius AGENDIA

Le Jour  newspaper, (one of Cameroon's French language daily) on its website on May 11, 2011 revealed that Cameroon’s Ambassador to Italy, Awono Essama has been living in a rented apartment worth 5000 Euros (FCFA3.250.000)  a month since June 2008.  The revelation was made in…

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WIKILEAKS: The West wary of Sino-Cameroon relations: Links between Communist Party and the ruling CPDM

By Aloysius AGENDIA

 In a recent WikiLeaks cable of the US Embassy in Cameroon revealed on December 08, 2010, the former US Ambassador Cameroon, H E. Janet Elisabeth Garvey expresses worries over increasing Chinese influence in Cameroon and the difficulties the “west” can face with increased Chinese presence in the country.

 The cable dating February 18, 2010 and titled “China’s growing presence in Cameroon” also discloses that the ruling Chinese People Communist Party has strengthened its relations with the ruling Cameroon People Democratic Movement CPDM after the former gave some computer equipment to the latter.

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The Southern Cameroons Affair: Theory versus pragmatism

By Aloysius AGENDIA

 Some of my readers have asked me to write about the SCNC- the secessionist Movement in Cameroon known as The Southern Cameroons National Council. I have never wanted to write about the SCNC and the myriad of derivatives because I do not want to be labelled a secessionist by the Cameroon government  neither do I want to be called a sell-out by my fellow brothers of the former British Southern Cameroons. This does not mean that I cannot opine on this.

What has pushed me to scribble this is the debate on Cameroon Politics chat-group on the “struggle” of Southern Cameroons. The debate has been more useful to me than any history lessons I ever had on the history of Cameroon.

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CONAC reveals the most corrupt ministries and institutions in Cameroon

By Aloysius AGENDIA

The National Commission for the Fight against Corruption in Cameroon, (CONAC), Typical of undeveloped nations. Affluence and misery side by sideon July 26, 2010, revealed names of ministries which its study considers as the most corrupt in the country.  Without any surprise, the Ministry of Finance (25%, Ministry of Justice (12% ),  Police Force (12%) , Public works (9%), Higher Education, Public Health, and Transport all occupy in that order, the list of most corrupt ministries in the country. Photo: Affluence and misery side by side. The fruit of corruption

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Cameroon: Why Participation In 2011 Presidential Elections May Be Poor

By Aloysius AGENDIA

Cameroon has over 200 political parties, with more than three-quarter being mushroom parties  with the sole objective of causing confusion and ensuring current dismal, divide and rule political continuity.
Since 1985, the Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement, CPDM, a transformation of the Cameroon Nation Union has been in power. Current party Chairman Paul Biya, has been the unchallenged ruling party presidential candidate since then. In  2008, he used his absolute majority in the National Assembly to abolish presidential term limits in the constitution. This move has been widely interpreted as his desire to eternalise himself in power.

According to the constitution of Cameroon, and following the electoral calendar, the next presidential election is expected in 2011. Some ruling party militants who claim to  speak for the masses are calling on President Biya to stand and inundating the press with "motions of support" for the president. A semilar thing is happening with some opposition parties though at a much more smaller and insignificant scale.

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Old age and intellectual disservice to Cameroon

It was with mixed feelings that Cameroonians at home and abroad received the news of the death of former Minister of Culture, Ferdinand Leopold Oyono, on June 10, 2010. Ferdinand Leopold Oyono, who died at 81,  worked under Cameroon in different capacities such as Ambassador to the UN, minister, roving ambassador etc. I have deliberately used the phrase “worked under Cameroon” because in my opinion, he did not serve Cameroon or Cameroonians.

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“Independence” celebration: A diagnosis of the two phases and perspectives

By Aloysius AGENDIA

When I visited the website marking what has been described as Cameroon’s “50 years of independence”, I was struck by the apparent paucity of information  on architects like EML Endeley, John Ngu Foncha,  Ahmadou Ahidjo etc . There was practically  no information on others like Um Nyobe,  Ernest Ouandie, Roland Moumie, Ndeh Ntumanza, Martin Paul Samba, Rudolf Douala Manga Bell.

I was also flabbergasted by the no-mention of the achievements during the first “22 years of independence” of Cameroon under Ahidjo whereas; the website is awashed by a myriad of “ambitions” during the second 28 years with President Paul Biya. I was also appalled by the fact that, the home page of the site has just the photo of President Paul Biya as if he was the architect of Cameroon independence.

How can can America celebrate independence without talking of the Washingtons, the Jaffersons etc.  This was the reason why I decided to dig into some archives to make an assessment of the first 22 years of “independence” and the second 28. This was under the framework of us knowing where we are from, and, where we are going to. 

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Enticing the Diaspora: What the Cameroon government should do

Aloysius AGENDIA

In the   months of April and May 2010, various teams from the Cameroon government were despatched to some countries in Europe and America with the hope of enticing Cameroonians in the diaspora return home and participate in the development of the nation. Though the visit coincided and was subsequently overshadowed by the death of a Cameroonian journalist, Bibi Ngota, on April 22, a close analysis of the strategy used by government seems to indicate the latter might have missed the point. There are certain things the government needs to consider before embarking on such a mission.

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Cameroon: 50 years of “independence”: beyond celebrating logos

As the count down to the celebration or call it commemoration of 50 years of Cameroon's independence or better still autonomy narrows, there are many commentaries on what we are actually celebrating. We need to reflect beyond logos, eating and dancing. FCFA 5 billion was set aside to be squandered for the event while basic service delivery remains lacking. While most Cameroonians commemorate 50 years of relayed oppression, this time around not directly by colonial forces but by their own brothers, other Cameroonians are celebrating 50 years of domination.  50 years of just two presidents. 50 years of continuous appointment of the same clan of people ruining the country from sons to daughters, brothers, sisters and uncles and nieces.

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Cameroon: Dancing forward and backward with decentralisation

 

On Wednesday November 12, 2008, President Paul Biya signed a decree dividing Cameroon into regions and thereby replacing the hitherto provinces. This was the application of the 1996 constitution as it had been clearly stated therein. Effectively applying the regions stuff implies, Cameroon will join the ranks of Nigeria, USA, Russia etc which have various states, and regions which are like autonomous, though with a Central / Federal government. But that is not the kind of federation Cameroonians really want.

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CONAC, the New Deal, the Media and PATRIOTISM

 

I was bewildered when I read on various Cameroon online news sites of how the President of toothless bulldog “anti corruption” unit known by its French acronym as CONAC, qualified Cameroonian journalists as unpatriotic because they do not paint a good image of the country abroad.

 

 

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Was there any genocide on the Wouri Bridge on Wednesday February 27, 2008?

Revisiting the February 2008 strike action in Cameroon

Was there any genocide or massacre on the Wouri Bridge on Wednesday February 27, 2008 in Cameroon?

The official dead toll given by the Cameroon government following the February 2008 unrest stood at 40. Government had initially advanced 17 an…

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Cameroonians in the Diaspora, politics, inertia and development

Cameroonians in the Diaspora, politics, inertia and development

Cameroonians in the Diaspora are increasingly alienating themselves from the political life of their country, given the continuously soiled image of the Cameroon and the socio-economic and political hold-up by the regime in power, led b…

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