Wikileaks explosive cables could spice Cameroon Oct. 9 election

Wikileaks release last week of never before seen unredacted cache of explosive U.S diplomatic cables on Cameroon and Biya's regime could potentially spice Cameroon's October 9 presidential election.

The cables confirms some suspicions Cameroonians have been having on how the country has been governed for nearly three decades by Biya.  They provide an interesting insight into the sad state of Cameroon politics. Examples such as how and why Biya orchestrated the constitutional tweak in 2008 to remove presidential term limits and jostling by potential successors, are detailed in the cables.

Biya meeting U.S. Ambassador Garvey  Source: Cameroononline

A cursory read of the documents could be an emotional roller-coaster for Cameroonians who normally know little or nothing about what is going on in the corridors of power. From sadness and shame on how a misguided group led by an even clueless individual have manage to highjack the destiny of a nation, precipitating it towards an inevitable catastrophic outcome, to sheer incredulity and disgust at the arrogance of some the utterances by top barons of the regime as recorded by U.S. diplomats.

One of the cables succinctly summarised what is wrong in and with Cameroon in a report of the Cameroon government's handling of the Kenyan Airways crash in May 2007 that killed 114.

The cabel, marked confidential and titled  "Keyan Air Crash puts Cameroon's governance problems in stark relief" said:

 "Although the event (the plane crash) would have challenged even a capable government, Cameroon's response was hampered by many of the same factors that impede progress on development and reforms: an aversion to public communication, a stifling regard for hierarchy and protocol, a crippling regard for style over substance, and an inability to react to events in a timely manner.  For the few days when the world's attention was focused on Cameroon, the Government was left looking lost, uncaring, and incompetent," it said.

Under a subheading, Who is in charge? the cable said:

"The GRC's (Government of the Republic of Cameroon) efforts were further crippled before they began by the lack of an effective government spokesperson and the complete absence of the Minister of Transportation."

"President Biya, off in his village, was entirely absent from the public eye (and, as far as we can tell, from internal deliberations as well) for the duration of the crisis and he never made any public statement of condolence (though he did call a day or mourning two weeks later).  Biya's silence appeared even worse as he did find time to congratulate the French and Nigerian presidents-elect."

Prime Minister Inoni wearily recounted having left numerous unanswered messages on Dakole's  (Transport Minister Dakole Diassala) voice mail over the 10 days since the crash informing him of the plane crash and the need for his presence. Given his incompetence, it is unlikely that Dakole's presence would have helped as all levels of the GRC appeared unable to adapt its strict hierarchical style to allow for the necessary decentralized, rapid decision-making for a proper response.  Nonetheless, his evident absence only served to highlight his irrelevance and had Cameroonians -- not to mention foreigners -- openly asking what purpose he serves.

It concluded: The GRC's handling of the Kenya Airways crash is a metaphor for the problems that plague Cameroon's governance more generally and stymie even the best efforts for reform. Even observers steeped in the peccadilloes of African governments professed incredulity at what they perceived to be the GRC's complete disinterest and incompetence in the face of a terrible and enduring disaster.  The characteristics that manifested themselves so starkly in this episode -- an inwardly focused ruling elite, a President who takes all key decisions despite being out of touch, excessive deference to hierarchy and protocol, no sense of urgency.

Perhaps, the cable with a potential to be explosive especially within the ruling CPDM party ahead of the October election and the jockeying to succeed Biya, is the one recounting Vice-Prime Minister Amadou Ali, a northern baron of the regime's candid but frightening admission to the U.S. ambassador what the northerners would do post-Biya. 

Cameroon's Justice Minister says north will support Biya, but not another Beti or Bami.

Vice PM Amadou Ali

"The struggle for Cameroon's future, including President Paul Biya's succession, should be viewed through ethnic and regional lenses, according to Amadou Ali, 

Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Justice.  In a recent, wide-ranging and frank discussion with the Ambassador, Ali said the foundation of Cameroon's stability is the detente between Biya's Beti/Bulu ethnic group, which predominates in Cameroon's South Region, and the populations of Cameroon's three Northern Regions, known as the Septentrion, which are ethnically and culturally distinct from the rest of the 

country," the cable said.

Ali's view augurs a worrisome outlook for Cameroon, which so far has managed a semblance of peaceful cohesion. It is clear that post-Biya's Cameroon holds a lot of danger and could become the latest theatre of bloody succession conflict just like many others that have mired other post-independent African nations.

Missing president notice: where the hell is Paul Biya?

On July 17, Cameroon's president Paul Biya, left the country for three-day state visit to China. While there, China promised more money, Biya promised more resources and contracts were signed. Then Biya disappeared.

Missing President.  Photo. Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

It should be said that this is not Biya's first or last fugue. Among African or one could dare say world leaders, Biya is easily the one who spends the least time actually running his country. In a year, it is reported that he spends about 150 to 200 days outside the country, mostly in Geneva, Switzerland, where is young children school and where he seems to have a permanent residence at the Geneva Intercontinental.  It reached a point early this year when a group of Cameroonian activists in the video below, staged a protest at the hotel.

After every trip abroad, Biya rarely goes home directly. There's always a Geneva stopover for a couple of weeks, but never over 40 days. After a 40-day absence, there is a risk of the presidency being declared vacant and fresh elections called. The state-controlled media describes the trips as "brief short visit" or "brief private visit". However, it is not like him being in Cameroon will make a difference. A resources and manpower-rich nation, which was suppose to be the economic motor of the Central African region has slumped into a miasma of corruption, fainéantisme, state-sponsored sycophancy and economic decay with millions of youths reduced to paupers. In a recent book an AFP colleague, Fanny Pigeaud writes of Cameroon's government under Biya as an authoritative but lax regime that has plunged Cameroon to the bottom of every economic and social indicator since Biya came to power in 1982.

"While maintaining and deepening former president Ahidjo's dictatorial style of governance, Biya has introduced other trends and features such as neglect, inertia, and criminality within state structures. Together, all these has resulted to an unproductive and paradoxical system. For nearly 30 years, Cameroonians are subjected to power wielded by their leaders who are doing everything to stay in power without governing the country," she writes.

"Cameroon is a country where two years could go by without the president presiding a cabinet meeting, where the head of the police can imprison an innocent person for murder to cover a guilty one; or where a citizen could call police emergency to report that they have just witnessed a woman being assaulted and want to make a statement, only to told: "But let the woman come and complain herself! What is your business in it?" before getting hung up on; where the president pays with suitcases stuffed with cash when he buys jet fuel for his plane; ...where it takes two days to find the remains of a Boeing 737-800 that crashed, with 114 passengers, thirty seconds after take-off," Pigeaud added.

Cameroon is expected to hold presidential elections in October, yes in about two months. Though 78-year-old Biya has not said whether he would be seeking another mandate, his sycophantic crowd have been on overdrive in the past months, printing books, pamphlets and holding rallies, urging him to run. Biya had somewhat shown his intentions in 2008 when he orchestrated a constitutional reform which removed presidential term limits, effectively, according to their calculations, clearing the way for him to run again if he wanted. So, two months to elections, there are no campaigning, no primaries. Cameroonians are in suspense, waiting for Biya to decide whether elections will be held and if he would run. Even his own political party is stuck in the limbo. Potential successors cannot openly challenge him or even been seen to be vying for the throne because they'll find themselves in jail so fast on corruption charges, like others before them.

Meanwhile Biya is holed up somewhere in Geneva, no explanations, nothing, nada, while a nation awaits, as it has always done. But for how long? Egypt? Tunisia? Libya? Syria?

Cameroon, Senegal: Miserable old buggers won't quit

Its not ageism. It is just that I have had it with some of these miserable old farts at the helm of some African countries. Merde!. Why do we have to suffer these old fools who continue to cling to power despite decades of spectacular failures as  leaders.

Take the case of Abdoulaye Wade in Senegal, legally about 84-years-old, but rumoured to be on the wrong side of 90. Yes he came to power late in his political life, but has had 11 years to at least lay the foundation for what ever vision he had for Senegal. Instead what does he do? He engages in the old game of tinkering with the constitution to try and prolong is stay in power.

This has served as a catalyst for pent-up anger and anti-government sentiments to explode. We've had a series of riots in the past week alone. First over the proposed constitution change, then over excessive load-shedding that had left some neighbourhood without electricity for over 48 hours. It is clear Wade is not longer energetic to be able to stay on top of the burning issues of poverty, unemployment, corruption etc., that is plaguing the country, but he is insisting only he can bring salvation to the country, pissing off a whole section of the population that can't wait to get him out come presidential elections billed for February next year.

Caricature of Biya saying we are unshakable.  Author unknown

 Another is Cameroon's 78-years-old Paul Biya. This is a guy who is been in power for over 29 years Yes 29, one of Africa's longest-serving presidents. But Cameroon remains one of the world's worst governed country. Corruption is rife in every sector of the country. The economy, albeit with great potentials, has stagnated for decades due to mismanagement, lack of vision, heavy state bureaucracy, and downright theft orchestrated by the ruling class.

Biya himself as an absentee landlord who spends more of his time outside the country. It has been recorded that in a given year, Biya spends over 150 days or more out of the country, particularly in Switzerland where his young children from a second marriage attend school. Early in his regime, he was asked about his prolonged absences from the seat of power and his answer was..."Cameroon was on auto-pilot". Go figure.

In 2008, aided by the sycophants in parliament, he removed presidential term limits from the constitution and is expected run again in elections planned for October this year, meanwhile the country continues its long decay while tensions continues to simmer. It will one day get to the point where it would explode just like in Senegal now and as it started in north Africa early in the year.

Football: Could the Lions put an end to this Senegalese smugness

Senegal vs Cameroon AFCN Qualifier in Dakar

I have had it. Since Senegal manage to earn a die-minute 1-0 victory over Cameroon back in March, every Senegalese I come across put on an air of smugness whenever they find out that I am Cameroonian, like they won the World Cup or something. 

The other day, it was a traffic cup. While doing a routine check I handed over my drivers licence, he had one look and smirked. 

"Tu est Camerounais,?" he asked. "Oui," I replied. 

"Oh je suis désolé pour vous," he said, handing back my licence and then called over a colleague.

"Eh! Diop, hahahah, il est Camerounais, un supporteur des Lions Indomptables," and they both continue to laugh as I drove off.

The same scenario has played out countless of times since the March victory.

The nerve!

You see, to Senegalese fans, beating Cameroon was like winning the World Cup and at the same time delivering them from a long-suffering they have endured for nearly 20 years.

Cameroon has been very mean to Senegal when it comes to football. Back in the 90s when Senegal had good crop of talents, they hosted the African Cup of Nations in 1992, hoping to win it or at at least make it to the semis or the final. Only one team stood in their way, those terrifying Cameroonians.

Before the quarter-final game, some Senegalese players such as legend Jules Bocande, went about boasting that they'll trash Cameroon, that the Cameroonian squad was made up of old players living in past glories and were still in the dream of their epic exploit at the World Cup in Italy, two years before.

Now for those who know the Cameroonian team of the late 80s, 90s and early 2000, that kind of trash-talking enrages the Lions. Go ask the Moroccans, Ivorians, Nigerians and Malians. On the day of the quarter-finale game in front of a packed home crowd against them, the Cameroonians did what they do best in such circumstances; break the heart of a whole nation with a one-nil win.  

The Senegalese were inconsolable. From Bocande bawling on the pitch, to the agonising fans, threatening to throw themselves from the rafters of the stadium.   

Then in 2002, a new generation of Senegalese talents emerged. The team that included El Hadji Diouf, Khalilou Fadiga, Papa Bouba Diop, Ferdinand Coly etc, went to do great things at the World Cup that year, beating France and going on to play the World Cup quarter-final. But before that, they had an old score to settle, they had to beat Cameroon in the African cup of nations that year. 

After disposing the host nation Mali, in display of football master-class in front of a hostile home crowd, Cameroon met Senegal in the final. The talented Senegalese did everything they could but Cameroon held its ground and the final was decided on penalties. Of course Senegal went home heartbroken again. 

So when they finally beat their "bête noire" in March, it is understandable that they should be happy. But I think rubbing it on every opportunity they get on every Cameroonian, and being smug all the time, I think they are asking for it again. We have done it before and we'll start all over just to make it clear that Cameroon is the Indomitable Lion. On this June 4 day in Yaounde, could the Lions please put an end to this smugness.