Cameroon on a path which may lead to Biya-free governance

Cameroonians who long ago lost faith that anything will ever change may have cause to reconsider as the ruling party will host in the next coming weeks  a joint ordinary and extra-ordinary congress since the last presidential election in 2007, with a harsh scolding from their leader Paul Biya that the sclerotic habits of a geriatric government and fake decentralised planned economy, impunity and corruption must end.

 As the Cameroon People Democratic Movement ( CPDM) will debate the future and the vision of the country, Paul Biya and his close advisors point to a brave new system. 

According to an insider, the long awaited congress is expected to bring new faces into the top positions of the regime and approve a set of risky reforms first outlined in these informal meetings that the general secretary of the  central committee, Rene Sadi has been organizing around the country.

 Rene Sadi`s difficult and impossible mission is to save the communitarianism revolution brought by Paul Biya and his allies without destroying it. Rene Sadi needs to overcome the inertia of a top heavy bureaucracy not comfortable with the reforms he seeks. The left wing of the ruling party that its considered as reformist group encouraged by the leader himself will propose a system of term limits under which no one could serve in top positions for more than two successive five year term.

 This motion that will be moved by the reformist group during the next congress needs to be approved by the majority of the party member before even been adopted by the congress and endorsed by the leader, Paul Biya.

 The term-limit proposal if agreed implies that Cameroon is approaching a time when Paul Biya will not longer be at the helm. But from what it is been said and taught around members of the party, there are mixed messages.

 What it is true it is that this last congress will be opened on a sad known news about members of the party and ex-government ministers been in prison accused of corruption and embezzlement..

.During the congress it is said that during his speech, Paul Biya will say declare that the changes will come without hurry and fear, but without a pause.

 The promise of change after so many years of stagnation may give Cameroonians hope, but will also unnerve them.

As a reason for his failure, Paul Biya will announce that the government does not have a reserved of well trained replacement with sufficient experience and maturity to replace the current acting members, nearly all of whom are now in their 60s and 70s.

 Laurent Esso, the acting general secretary of the presidency in Cameroon and former justice minister is one of those who are now nearly on retirement age after been shifted in many government positions.

The time had come to instigate systematic rejuvenation of the whole chain of party and administrative posts.