Editorial

If there were an organisation higher in rank than the United Nations, maybe the British Southern Cameroonians could sue the UN there.
Africa in her geopolitical structure as we have it today, is the fruit of an arbitrary division by the European Colonisers, mapped out in history as booty in proportion to each one's taste at the time, but for Ethiopia and Liberia.
After the defeat of Germany, whom most Cameroonians still love in the First World War, The League of Nations amongst other penalties seized Kamerun which had hitherto been a German colony and handed her over to the British and the French colonial masters to prepare for independence in spite of their distinct Colonial policies: the British, the policy of Indirect Rule and the French, the infamous policy of Assimilation. Curiously, the League broke up the colony that under the Germans into two distinct parts, each with the definitive goal of independence. This is where the problem starts.

With the rise of the Second World War and the eventual collapse of the League of Nations, the United Nations saw the light of day and amongst her many tasks was that of leading the territories of the British Southern Cameroons, La Republique du Cameroun and and other African Nations there were still under the colonial yoke to independence and self rule. This is not my story. It is history and the UN, the British and the French know this better to say nothing of their documentation on the subject matter.
In the British colonial policy names above, the indegenous people were given the freedom to form political parties and engage in open politicking with one another in their pursuit of self governance. This enabled them to conserve their cultural heritage, retain their institutions and belief systems and to look up to the British just for coaching. Under this framework they raised their national assembly and council of chiefs amongst others and learnt to confront and bring their democratically elected leaders to order when they did not represent the opinion of the the common man, his electorate. "Agere sequitur esse" is a Latin expression which means that as a being is so does it act, for every being acts according to its nature. Freedom of speech therefore has been the lot of the British Southern Cameroonian, and history attests to this. Democratic principles have governed his society from the post First World War days. Calling the leaders for the British Southern Cameroonian is not a taboo topic but a right. According to the legal heritage they picked up from the British, an accused person is still innocent until proven guilty before the law. This is how he was formed. This has been his orientation. And this is why he acts the way he does. And this is just not compatible with the orientation forced through his brother who lived in La Republique du Cameroun under the French.

In La Republique du Cameroun under the French, the policy of Assimilation was practised , not just there, but in all other French colonial territories in the world. How was this colonial policy applied by France and what was their real intention? Since the French did not have any intention to leave her colonies, nor give them any independence, the real objective of assimilation was to destroy the values of the indegenous people and their social structures, teach them to look up only to France as their liberator and exemplar. It aimed at teaching them to believe that a truly civilised person was an assimilated species, assuring them of an eutopia of "fraternité, egalité and liberté". It was not therefore surprising that their cultural heritage was hacked and ruined and the capacity of free and democratic leadership was not enhanced. No wonder then that prior to the independence of La Republique du Cameroun on the First of January 1961, the French colonial despots obliged the local leadership of Yaounde to sign inter alia: to allow France all latitudes on economic policy and monetary matters, the role to chose the government for La Republique du Cameroun, assistance in crushing all rebellion and assistance in her internal security and the recognition that all mineral and natural resources "belonged" to France. No wonder then, that in the wake of her independence the French colonial army descended on the real patriots of the Cameroun masses in order to install a weaker authority in Yaounde which they could manipulate at will. The French know this much more than any African and have better documentation about this than everyone else. And they did not do this only for La Republique du Cameroun, but did so to all her colonies. This may explain why every former French Colonial administration that has tried not to toe the line has met with hardships and sometimes death. Look at what happened to Thomas Sankara! Look at how Ghadaffi ended. Look at how many French backed military junters have ravaged the continent. "Agere sequitur esse" we said. The administrators of the African continent that have been assimilated cannot but act in the same way as is their leadership instinct. They all do everything to serve not just the interests of their people but much more those of the Colonial master that keep them in power. In many cases all over Africa such leaders do need to win elections any longer to keep glued to power. With France behind them, nothing can go wrong.

But how does the UN seem to be responsible for the crisis in the British Southern Cameroons, the nation that was aborted by them when in a surprising ploy she was lured into a union with La Republique du Cameroun with whom they had enjoyed unity under the colonial era of the Germans? How could the UN receive a mandate from the League of Nations to complete the process of self rule for people and later abort the scheme? Was this in good fate or it was only to defend the egoism of France, one of the unmoved movers with veto rights under the UN? Can anyone call this fair business?

I don't fully blame the authorities in Yaounde for acting the way they have done. That is how their orientation is. That is the political vision they have known. France breathes through them and if they change their pace and perspectives, the consequences are obviously going to be a repetition of what has shown up in other French colonies. How can one expect an environment that has never been drilled in listening to the voice and opinion of the masses to act otherwise? Are those who speak English enemies to those who speak French enemies in Africa? No! They live together always and happily, but when talking about democratic principles, it is a different story altogether. And the French know this better as the economic ransack and pillage of Africa has recently been articulated by one of their own Jacques Chirac.

Do I blame the English speaking population that receives authority from Yaounde for their rise and quests? "Agere sequitur esse". They were trained to be democratic. They are a free people in their historical orientation. They call their leaders to order. They demand for accountability as a right to the common man. They like to use their own natural resources and to forment their own Educational Curriculum that is relevant to their course and vision. This is who they are.

From all these analysis there is an inclination to blame to the greatest extent the United Nations for a job started and aborted. To blame them for watching people maimed, raped, tortured, arbitrarily imprisoned according to the civil law module which maintains that everyone is found guilty before the law until proven innocent. Had these protests been centred around the interests of any of the major signatories of the UN would this silence have been the answer? I remember in tears how the UN watched the drama in Rwanda in which French arms almost brought to extinction an entire nation, and I contrast it with the show of solidarity with France by all and sundry when the Islamic terrorists stroke Paris last year.
The uprising in Cameroun looks like two brothers set into a chain reaction by a heartless father who sits somewhere enjoying the show, ready to supply, sell or lend arms.
Can the UN wash her hands clean from this crisis? 

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Ewdwin Boye

14.Feb.2017

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The statement by the Southwest elite forum on the Anglophone problem is a shameless display of crass opportunism and a betrayal of the Anglophone cause for which the verdict of history would be merciless

It would have been enough to dismiss the now infamous Buea Declaration as the ranting of overzealous, self-seeking, and misguided CPDM courtiers, parading themselves as Southwest elite. But against the backdrop of the Anglophone problem and the embarrassing spectacle of political scavengers stumping around the national stage as leaders, the Declaration cannot be allowed to stand without the benefit of a response. Expectations were high that a meeting called and chaired by former Prime Minister, Peter Mafany Musonge would undertake a patriotic, honest and frank diagnosis of the present situation and chart a Pan-Anglophone way forward out of the impasse. To the utter embarrassment of the nation, it turned out to be a spectacle of odium with xenophobic attacks on Northwesterners, who were vilified and blamed for the ongoing teachers and lawyers’ strike that has grounded schools and crippled the justice system in Anglophone Cameroon. By any streak of the imagination, the sycophantic rally was more than disgraceful, unconscionable and irresponsible. This divisive clamor and inflammation of primordial sentiments is unpatriotic and unacceptable and all Southwesterners should feel a sense of outrage at this unbelievable shame that was contemptuously perpetrated in their name.

What happened in Buea was an aberration which fits the pattern of elite impunity in which meetings are goaded and rented crowds are requisitioned to agitate and influence political direction in the name of public engagement. At the risk of overstating what is by now so obvious, the fact that the strikes persist is proof that, these self-appointed guardians of the Southwest estate do not represent Southwesterners; their shameful and sycophantic gratification to the corridors of power notwithstanding. To these self-acclaimed elite, these pertinent questions are just appropriate: who made them leaders? Can they truly claim a mandate of Southwesterners to speak on their behalf? Were these elite unaware of the arrest and detention of Anglophone Consortium leaders; the ongoing abductions, rape, torture and killing of innocent civilians, including university students? Are they so insensitive, so emotionally disconnected and lacking even the basic humanity to empathize? How would any of them feel if their own daughters were abducted and raped? If they truly cherish the interest of the Southwest as they claim, wouldn’t meetings on these issues be a more edifying higher calling than partisan politicking?

In convening the forum, Musonge showed leadership. But by joining the perfidy of playing up primordial sentiments, the former PM; now Senator and Grand Chancellor of National Orders; to whom much has been given; and from who much is expected; misread the political climate and veered off the path of statesmanship into the quagmire of political grandstanding; denigrating beyond measure, his person, the office he holds, the institution of the Senate he represents and all Cameroonians as a people. For a detribalized Cameroonian to have committed such a great blunder and colossal error of judgment, so late in his career, is beyond disbelief.

As if Musonge was not shocking enough, Chief Tabetando boasting that the government-imposed internet shutdown and social media communication blackout in Anglophone regions was at the behest of Southwest elite, was a deeply distressing sight beamed to the world. Coming from a legal luminary and Senator, with the gravitas to have a clear understanding of government and politics, this is unacceptably irresponsible. With his petulance and foul temperament, Chief Atem Ebako set a new low, in what, unfortunately, has become the unedifying trademark of his favorite pastime - graffi-bashing. Chief Ebako obviously lacks Musonge’s urbane disposition and Chief Tabetando’s pedigree and power of elocution. But traditional rulers ought to be wise and profound men, able to sift the fad from the enduring and offer their views with such premium as would distinguish their voices from the rabble. His claim that strikes in the Southwest are perpetrated by Northwesterners is confounding.

But even more embarrassing was Prof. Nalova Lyonga. In a fit of bad judgment, she directed a barrage of condemnable invectives at students of Northwest origin, blaming them for strikes and unrest at Buea University, where she is the vice-chancellor. Lacking in the cultured intonation expected from someone in academia, this perverted kind of politicking is uncomplimentary to her status and beneath her office. In the judgment of an average sense of decorum, her garrulous banter betrayed a moral weakness of asinine proportion which is inexcusable. Certainly, Prof. Lyonga needs to execute her office with greater competence and grace than she has done. 

One of the values of democracy as the people’s government remains its support of, and respect for, free speech in an open decision-making process. In this regard, everyone is entitled to his opinion. Yet this process is verily endowed by the dignified public comportment in deeds and words called decorum. It is a denigration of the collective spirit and a negation of the inviolability of the Cameroonian people, for holders of hold high public office to cheapen their exalted position as leading lights of the people with comments which portray them as imprudent loose cannons and anarchists. In civilized democracies, even just for reasons of decency, of self-respect, of a sense of propriety, and consideration for best practices in public office, these elites would have been relieved of their duties for bringing their public offices, to so much odium. This absence of stately comportment displayed by persons, who by authority and common trust are supposed to be epitome of civility, is highly disturbing as it sends the wrong message to the lower rung of the political ladder. If the sensibilities of law-abiding citizens are assaulted by bigotry and intolerance; does it surprise anyone why there is a high level of official rascality by mediocre politicians like Mayor Ayuk Takunchong in Mamfe and his Buea counterpart, Patrick Ekema, who, willfully and ignorantly, lack the requisite leadership capacity and temperament for governance?

Graffi-bashing is nothing new; it has gone on for so long, and has become something of a political culture for Southwest CPDM elite. True, NW/SW relations have had its challenges, which have been overplayed for propaganda purposes by selfish politicians and elites on both sides. These elite seem blinded by messianic delusions not to realize or accept that times have changed. Fact is, there is much that unites Northwest and Southwest than divides them. And in the context of the Anglophone fight against marginalization, the unhelpful reasoning that the Northwest is responsible for the economic retardation of the Southwest is patently misplaced and has no redeeming political value. It is a claim of crass ineptitude, to see demands for a return to two-state federation as a ploy by Northwesterners to dominate the Southwest in a future Anglophone state, because of their demographic advantage. The present generation of Southwesterners have nothing to fear from Northwesterners and the discord being sown by some Southwest elite suggest crass ignorance or outright mischief and betrays a lack of political sophistication. Anglophones are politically savvy to see through the hypocrisy of those fighting to maintain and expand their private economic and political estates on the back of our collective misery.

Animosity towards citizens from another region of the country is not only wrong and downright divisive; it is a brutal assault on national unity and a violation of the constitution that gives every Cameroonian “the right to settle in any place and to move about freely.” Nation-building is not a task for simpletons or irredentists. Anglophone and Francophone intellectuals and opinion leaders have a responsibility to educate those who pretend or actually do not understand that unity and sovereignty are better when peacefully negotiated than when forcibly foisted. Forced nationhood is not only wrong; it breeds conflict and serves no useful purpose. Within one generation, the forced Soviet empire collapsed like a pack of cards into different entities. Yugoslavia disintegrated into a collection of warring states. Germany once forcibly divided eventually evolved into one country. Eritrea came out of Ethiopia even as Menelik II had sold Djibouti to the French almost 116 years ago to fund the modernization of Addis Ababa. Sudan was forced to let Southern Sudan go after years of war as a result of injustice from centralization. Within just a quarter of a century, India, the world’s largest democracy, evolved from one territory into three countries (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh).

The Southwest elite who met in Buea must understand that Cameroon cannot make progress with the current centralized arrangement which encourages indolence on the part of some while they feed fat on the resources of others. Of course, it appears the only people who do not understand federalism are those cocooned in the corridors of power. And many of them dishonestly interpret federalism to mean a political ploy to break up the country. This divisive and puerile misrepresentation of federalism as secession by politicians and elite is dubious, self-serving and unpatriotic. With all the benefits of federalism, including the fact that all regions in the country have one comparative advantage or the other to exploit in strengthening fiscal federalism, the issue now is how to reform governance institutions to create a true federation with viable, autonomous regions running their own affairs.

It is worth reiterating that elite imperviousness to reason and lessons of history will continue to endanger Cameroon’s unity. And such disposition as seen in the government so far to the issue of federalism will do more damage to the unity of the country than anything else. President Biya should no longer be fooled; the proponents of federalism are the true patriots who want a solid foundation for a united and prosperous Cameroon. The parochial irredentists who interpret federation as secession are the real enemies of the nation.

Ekinneh Agbaw-Ebai

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Ekinneh Agbaw-Ebai

13.Feb.2017

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All those who watched the reception offered in honour of the Indomitable lions today at the unity palace will agree with Cameroon Concord that, the gangster regime is desperately trying to use this victory to make political gains.

The reception was a reunion and  English Speaking Cameroonians were surprised to see the likes of Atanga Paul Nji, Ni John Fru Ndi, Belinga Eboutou etc. These elites have been absent in the spotlight for awhile now amidst the current Anglophone crises. Ni John Fru seized the opportunity to make his voice heard again & told Biya face to face to take his responsibility as the President and solve the current crises because, one part of the country cannot be celebrating while others are being killed, arrested and deprived of internet.

There is no doubt that  Biya's speech was aimed at convincing the Anglophones about his one and indivisible theory. It was a complete failure because he doesn't yet get it right. How can he still think Southern Cameroonians in their majority will celebrate the Indomitable Lions victory?. Mr. Biya, Anglophones whom you called 'extremist' cannot be happy at this moment. Those who love soccer watched the match & wanted the Lions to win because they were a better and young team. What a contrast with the old faces we saw at the unity Palace. If only the president can listen to the cries of Southern Cameroonian youths. 60% have fled the country for greener pastures because of your bad governance Mr. President. What have you and your government done to make them feel part of your one and indivisible Cameroon. Buea was fast becoming the Silicon Valley in Cameroon where talented SC youths were making us proud like Moukanjo, Bassogog, Ondoua, Aboubakar did during the AFCON, but your government decided to frustrate them by cutting the Internet. How can they be happy with the Lions victory Mr. President?

While congratulating the Lions for a wonderful tournament, its important to condemn the regimes attempt to make political gains from this victory. Southern Cameroonians in their majority expect the regime to release all those arrested, a need for renewed round table sincere dialogue void of bad faith and especially not chaired by regime stooges. A neutral mediator should intercede this dialogue and there should be no taboo subject.

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Rita Akana

08.Feb.2017

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You can't win a struggle against a people in their own homeland who are fully committed to massive civil disobedience. It is an unwinnable misadventure.

It is like fighting a guerrilla warfare in a terrain you know nothing about and against a people you have no clue about their resilience and mindsets.

It is now evident that the genotype of the West Cameroonians is so unique and different from their brothers and sisters across the Mongo. These are two different peoples.

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Tapang Ivo

08.Feb.2017

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Editorial The Sun Newspaper: Moving Forward...
In the chequered history of the Cameroon nation state, few crises have rocked and touched its soul like the current Anglophone crisis. A lawyers’ and teachers’ strike has willy-nilly escalated into a full-blown protest by the people of the North West and South West regions with already incalculable consequences.

The two most obvious consequences are the breakdown in the judicial system as courts are paralysed due to the absence of lawyers and the non-functioning of schools from the primary to the tertiary level for the past two months.
Added to the above two negative factors is the steady squeezing of the economy of these regions with crippling ghost towns which are being faithfully respected by the population and exacerbated by the shutdown of internet services in both regions.
The current situation is unprecedented and eerie enough to summon both the authorities and protesting parties to discard might and pride so that level-headedness and wisdom can prevail.  

Reacting to the current crisis in his end-of-year address to the nation on the eve of the New Year, President Paul Biya promised the creation of national supra structure that shall be saddled with the task of diagnosing issues like the Anglophone problem and proffering practical solutions on how it can be whittled down. Last Monday, January 23 that promise became a reality through a presidential decree that created the National Commission on Bilingualism and Multi-culturalism.

Those versed with the workings of our government and who have always criticized it for inertia and slowness, can attest that the time-lapse between the promise and the creation of the commission is very uncharacteristic of our president who likes to take his time on such matters. It is at best an indication that there is fire in the house and that speed and urgency should dictate government actions.

It is satisfying to note the general positive reactions that have greeted the creation of this committee and the call for it to be given a chance. Nonetheless, we are also not oblivious to some genuine reservations that have been raised in some quarters notably on who will sit in it and most importantly, the fear that the Anglophone problem should not be diluted in the multicultural phraseology.

Another reservation is also the sad memories that Cameroonians have about such commissions in the past and we want to believe that this is not just another commission.
These are legitimate concerns which we think should be brought to the attention of the Head of State especially as we think it is the current Anglophone crisis which is the immediate cause that has led to the creation of this committee notwithstanding the fact that other regions of the country have of recent past also bitterly complained in different memorandums to the president.

We in this newspaper think it is time to move on from the current impasse which has led to the instauration of fear and terror in the Anglophone regions. To be candid, we can’t pretend to know the solutions talkless of mastering the modalities and methodology of resolving the current crisis.

However, we think the creation of this committee is a huge factor in the resolution of the ongoing difficult Anglophone equation. There is always a beginning in resolving a problem. If we add this committee to the solutions proposed in solving the specific contentious points raised by Common Law lawyers’ and Anglophone teachers’, we strongly believe the parties must strongly look into the denouement of the current situation. One thing is certain, the Anglophones have cried loud and clear and nothing can be the same again in this country.

The president’s latest action should be appreciated in all its dimension and he has to be encouraged so that he can go on. But this will also depend if he has positive indications from the other side. It is always good to put ourselves in the shoes of rulers during certain situations. Diktats and ultimatums always pushed them on the defensive and produces a backlash.

What we are saying in effect is that the primary rule of negotiating or dialoguing is for both sides to make concessions.
We are aware that the dissolution of the SCNC and especially the Consortium and the continuing arrest and detention of those linked to it has added another dimension to the current crisis. Be that as it may, we believe all parties can still work out a win-win situation so that normalcy return so that our children can go back to school, the courts can be fully functional again and businesses can go on hitch-free.

The Sun Newspaper

 

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Rita Akana

06.Feb.2017

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Since the Anglophone problem started some two months ago, there has been a lot of agitations and  talks about Biya's inner circle. Cameroon Concord noticed with dismay the particular silence of Minister Martin Belinga  Eboutou who is no doubt the most powerful man now in Cameroon besides Biya.

Minister Eboutou, who if a fervent Biya loyalist is a smart diplomat who has a very rich career having served his master for more than 3 decades both nationally & internationally. At 76, (he is 7 years younger than Biya Bi Mvondo) whom he met  in the seminary. A devote Catholic Christian, Belinga Eboutou has built a church in his village & is a friend to most renowned priests and Bishops in the country.

This very power personality has always tried to shy away from the spotlight and only act behind the scenes both in his political life, and in carrying out Machiavelli schemes for the Biya regime. The Chameleon as I will call him can brag of having as close friends a lot of Southern Cameroonians from Fru Ndi to Cardinal Tumi. He has used his Catholic affiliation to penetrate the inner circles of Anglophone Elites while spying on their activities. It's no news that Belinga controls Cameroon today. Nobody gets to Biya without passing through him. Inner circle secrets have it that, Belinga Eboutou is the undeclared 'President' of Cameroon. Chantal Biya reportedly had a feud with him some few days before the presidential couple received new year wishes. Mme Biya's anger is said to have been caused by Belinga's repeated interference into the couple's private life. The Chameleon was chased out of the Mvomeka Palace for some days.

The level of influence Belinga Eboutou has on Biya was very glaring when in a state visit to the French president last year, and answering questions from journalists, Mr. Eboutou rushed to help Biya when the president could not answer a question about the dubious activities of Bollore Group in Cameroon. Belinga Eboutou has positioned his children in major government state owned companies just like all the crook ministers in the Biya regime. His son working in SONARA has the powers of a GM. This smart crook has teamed up with several CPDM loyal business men to acquire shares in most of the privatised Companies in Cameroon and some in Southern Cameroon. They have a network of bogus Consortiums with fake foreign investors who come in as buyers whereas in reality they are the main owners. The case of Ndu Tea Estate is an example. It should be recalled that Mr. Chameleon spent most of his diplomatic career in EU & US where he chaired the UN security council meetings during the deadlock period of the Irak war. He has friends and connections and constantly boast behind the scenes as the negotiator during the Bakassi crises. In fact, no decision is taken in the Country without his knowledge.

He is one of the architects of the unitary state and will never allow Biya to have a dialogue on the form of the state. It is reported that he has thrown or blocked several reports from reaching Biya till he gets a solution which he will always convince the ailing president to accept his opinion. Even other Biya die heart stooges are aware of Belinga's powers and will never dare criticize him in public. His role in the ongoing crises in Cameroon is very primordial. All decisions emanating from the presidency have been scrutinized by The Chameleon. It is very important for Cameroonians especially Southern Cameroonians to know all these old, bad, ugly guys derailing the country so they will be held accountable. They are all responsible for the killings, arrests, rapes & internet black out in the Southern Cameroon.

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Rita Akana

31.Jan.2017

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