The president of the so-called National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism has issued a political statement after he led a delegation of CPDM elites to the Buea Province in Southern Cameroons. Mafany Musonge said the people of Southern Cameroons are in favour of decentralization not secession.

Former Prime Minister Peter Mafany Musonge made the revelation after he reportedly met some, political intellectuals, traditional leaders, businessmen and leaders of civil society associations.

At the end of the consultations, Musonge and his gang pointed out there “there are localities where access  by roads is a huge problems.”  The CPDM Senator who as Prime Minister Minister did not carry an iota of development to West Cameroon observed that there are the problems of education, infrastructures which can be resolve through the effective implementation of decentralization.

Musonge summarized his findings in four main points: effective implementation of decentralization, construction of basic infrastructure, respect for the regional balance and representation of girls and sons of the two Anglophone regions in decision-making positions in the public administration as well as in the government.

A spokesperson for the Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Governing Council has dismissed the Musonge declarations as “mere political rhetoric”. The Governing Council indicated recently that it has been 23 years ever since Mr Paul Biya spoke of decentralization and nothing has been implemented.

By Rita Akana, CCN

The week-long consultations led by Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang in the North West Region and in the South West Region by former Prime Minister, Peter Mafany Musonge who is the pioneer president of the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism should logically be finalising reports of their findings. According to the announcement by the Director of Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s Office calling for the field trip from 15-24 October, 2017 on instructions of the Head of State, President Paul Biya to commune with the afflicted populations and take the message of peace and fraternity, the delegation members had an opportunity to sample opinion across the both regions.

Although most of the discussions took place behind closed doors, some who cared to give a gist of their exchanges with certain officials evoked the need for all and sundry to be brought on board. Such proposals could simply be a question of commonsense because the unrest in the two localities has for the past one year led to several people drawing conclusions and taking decisions that appear to exclude them from the mainstream reflections in the country. Those who not only insist on the form of the State to be reviewed, but think that nothing good can result from the present peace and stability in Cameroon must have discovered by now that not everybody shares such ideas. Particular attention has been the Diaspora or those who have taken delight in giving instructions from comfort zones abroad acting in complete variance with the situation on the ground. Not only have such persons taken over genuine claims by teachers and Common Law Lawyers in the country to disrupt school programmes and the normal trend of business and social life in the two regions, but they have taken such radical positions in a bite to control a situation that they do not’ master.

Making inordinate use of the social media to create bubble effects of the existence of any real influence among the populations has not always been true. Apart from a few isolated incidence like violence in Lebialem Division in the South West Region, the general consensus has been around providing a favourable environment within Cameroon for sons and daughters of the country to stay in peace and harmony. Prevent children from going to school has proven to be one of the weakest link in the twist that the crisis took. Going down to the divisions, subdivisions and villages must have provided the government-triggered delegation with the possibility to listen to everyone, look for ways to avoid extremism and agree on concrete plans for life to return to normal in both regions. By getting everyone involved, the chances are that those outside the country who have used the social media to derail a noble cause by teachers’ and lawyers’ trade unions will have to reconsider their positions and return to the fold.

Needless recalling that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush and destroying present achievements and hoping that better alternatives could exist in future simply looks irrational. Children can be allowed to go to school; business persons effect their transactions while the politicians play out their differences without holding innocent Cameroonians hostage. The exchange of ideas between members of the delegation and the population equally meant creating room for all those who had any positive proposals for a strong and progressive country to bring them forward. People may disagree to agree, but the bottom-line must not be total disruption of existing values and complete mistrust. There are certainly artificial realities that are being made to conflict with the intrinsic state of affairs in the country but every contribution that can add to enabling the true strength of Cameroon to blossom will be welcome.

Akere Muna, the only opposition figure in Cameroon to have declared his candidature for next year’s presidential polls is pushing for a united opposition front to face Biya.

Muna a top anti-corruption crusader and celebrated lawyer in the country told his supporters earlier this week that he will not mind if the coalition candidate was someone else.

He stressed that he was open to back any candidate whose ideas and vision was superior to his given that the ultimately goal is to end decades of rule by Paul Biya.

Biya, 84, has been president of the Central African country since 1982. He has yet to declare any intentions to contest in the 2018 polls but indications show that it is just a matter of time.

Muna, a former Vice Chairperson of Transparency International has also previously served as president of the Cameroon Bar Association. He recently resigned his post as president of the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) in order to focus on his political ambitions.

The IACC describes itself as the world’s premier forum that brings together Heads of State, Civil Society, the Private Sector and more to tackle the increasingly sophisticated challenges posed by corruption.

Muna announced his presidential bid a week ago via a video address stating that his decision was premised on wanting to give the central African country a fresh start after years under incumbent Paul Biya.

Muna who hails from the Anglophone region, in the address and a statement cited by AFP said it was time for the Central African country to reset its direction hence his decision to enter the race.

“We have to walk to a new Republic”, which will be “based on good governance” and “the rule of law,” he asserted, saying that there would be no “tolerance for corruption, tribalism, nepotism and favoritism,” with him in charge.

Source: African News

Cameroon president, Paul Biya, has underscored the importance of the youth of his country, describing them as a ‘major asset’ for the future.

A message posted on his social media handles – Facebook and Twitter – on Friday read as follows: ‘Our youths constitute a major asset for the nation’s future. They are numerous and full of potential, dynamic and ambitious, conquering and creative.’

The 84-year-old who is currently on vacation since September after participating in the 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York has been sharing messages with the nation.

His message which preceded the latest one bordered on patriotism: “Patriotism is a virtue that some people might wrongly consider outdated. Even today, it remains a mark of responsible and nobly asserted citizenship for the nation.”

A section of the Central African country is in a state of political crisis arising from protests in the English speaking regions of South West and North West. People in the regions are pushing for independence from Cameroon citing marginalization over the years.

Yaounde has depoloyed security personnel to quell any such intents. The clashes of October 1 – when a symbolic independence was slated to be declared led to deaths, injuries and mass arrests. International bodies including the A.U., U.N., and E.U. have called for dialogue.

The president who insists the unity of Cameroon was non-negotiable has also backed talks. The government, however, says security personnel had excercised professionalism in dealing with the protests rubbishing reports by rights group that they were unnecessarily highhanded.

Source: Africa News

A large deployment of police and gendarmes is curremtly going on in Douala, the economic metropolis of La Republique du Cameroun, where the Social Democratic Front (SDF) is keen to organize its march despite a ban by a French Cameroun  sub-prefect, Jean-Marie Tchakui Noundie.

According to security sources, hundreds of police and gendarmes have been deployed to Douala since last night. They will strengthen the security apparatus of the economic metropolis after the decision of the SDF leaders to challenge the administrative authority.

SDF MP, Jean Michel Nintcheu, who is also the president of the SDF for the Littoral region has said the Saturday, October the 21^st event will go on as planned.  He made the declaration on Thursday night via the antennas of a local television channel that the SDF will not obey the decision of the sub-prefect.

Cameroon Concord News understands the SDF is supported by two political parties, which are not represented in the National Assembly. The Biya regime with the support of the political class, has banned the demonstration scheduled for October 21.

By Sama Ernest, CCN