Cameroon: John Fru Ndi needs to shape up...

Cameroon Opposition leader, John Fru Ndi`s political project needs to take shape over the next year, said yesterday one of his close political and strategist adviser who has asked not to be named by the media.

The political-strategist adviser said , John Fru Ndi has a project that needs to take shape, become better defined during the course of the coming year.

" ...People want to see more definition of what the new project is all about, perhaps more policy and fewer jokes at  the Government`s questions in the National Assembly.." and also less dictatorship as " the only person who is keeping members of the party from making a decision on whether they want to form a coalition government or not is John Fru Ndi". There is a need of change of policy.

Incumbent John Fru Ndi vowed to re-energise his party as a matter of urgency after the presidential election held on October 9, 2011 ahead of the next general election to be held in 2012..

The number of fully paid-up members and sympathisers has dipped.

There is no official records available at the moment way long after the presidential election to confirm the lost and the diminution of membership.

The smaller a party`s membership, the harder it is to campaign and fight elections. There were too many committee meetings ahead of the presidential election in what it was considered as dirty or draughty halls and a book rule.

John Fru Ndi has recognised after the results of the last presidential election that there is a real need for the party to become more welcoming and also to make it much easier to be an active Social Democratic Front member.

" People are hungry for change" said John Fru Ndi, before recognising that  " there is a real need of reaching out to supporters and bring them back in. The new party`s project wants to make people who have been for long and those who are still sceptical about the Social Democrat to listen to the Social Democrat again."

This is all about rebuilding the trust of the people of Cameroon. The national chairman has recognised that the party has " been badly defeated and people are demoralised and there is a sense in which the party has lost confidence in our voice as a party that can and will bring the change that its needed for a stronger, fairer and developed Cameroon."

Worries as Paul Biya " too tired" for Christmas

Speculation is growing over the future of Biya`s leadership after members of his close entourage have seen him increasingly tired.

The recent cancellation of his national tour after winning the last presidential election and many other meetings are listed as the direct consequence of the general state of health of the Head of State being " questionable".

Worries have been raised in the run up to this year`s gruelling two-weeks Christmas celebrations.

Those who have spent time with 78 year old Paul Biya report in secret and away from the ears of those in charge of the surveillance equipment and the security service, he was weaker than ever before and too fatigued to listen to what they were saying.

Those aware of his health condition have been dispatched from the presidential offices to run ministerial`s departments out of the inner circle of the "Boss" or the "Leader".

 A week ago before the new cabinet was made public, he started according to a source reducing the number of audience and he no longer meets individually with fixed appointment at his office. Others say he has lost his spark and no longer talks off the cuff.

Frail Biya is  expected to attend the Christmas Eve mass with his family and the location is still kept secret by the authorities.

The health worries raise questions about the future of his presidency. Before he became the oldest president ever re-elected age 78 after the last presidential election held in Cameroon in October 9, his close entourage said he has planned to retire to spent more time with his family and write in his native M`vomeka`a.


The President can step down under the constitution if the resignation is " freely made and properly manifested". Biya will then become the second Head of State in Cameroon after his predecessor to respect that.

Officials at the Civil Cabinet and the Communication department have denied a medical condition prompted the decision to cancel the national " Thank You" tour and reduce the number of individual appointment ahead of the festive period.

There are millions around the country waiting " passionately" the visit of the Head of State since his last reelection as the Cameroon`s President for the next 7 years.

Cameroon: Biya "fortifies" his power base

Almost 9 weeks have passed since Paul Biya "won" the last presidential election in Cameroon and has been also "declared" "winner" of the election even observers said there were numerous falsifications and rigging and the results do not reflect the people`s will.

Imperturbable and politically impervious, the national chairman of the main political party in Cameroon, the Cameroon People Democratic Movement has not yet decided who will be working or  will be called to join the cabinet. But according to the latest investigation, there are some movement on the way.

There are preparations on the way for the Cameroon`s ruling party to announce the formation of a new Cabinet which will include a number of new opposition parties.

It is extremely hard to see how in this event, Paul Biya would be able to justify any role of the newcomers in the Cabinet.

The move appeared to be aimed at bolstering support of President Paul Biya`s government in the wake of an unprecedented economic hardships and a growing number of leadershipsceptics in the party.

The shuffle will give ministerial posts to a number of opposition parties that formed the majority for the presidential coalition.

There is enough space here just for Paul Biya and his team to navigate his way through the formation of the new Cabinet that will fortify his power. He has played down losses by his party, CPDM, whose support dropped "sharply" from above 80% to just less than " reality" 75% of the vote.

The opposition will only grow, as will pressure for a real change of direction and improvement of the life of millions who are still leaving in deep poverty in many corners of the country.

Biya and his team will need all the political cover that his coalition with the new opposition parties affords. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said Washington and its allies for foreign Aid wanted Mr Paul Biya to make way for a Government ready to establish the rule of law and protect the right of all citizens.

CPDM in search for a " brave" man to lead the party

Pr Joseph Owona has accused Cameroon People Democratic Movement`s leadership hopefuls of lacking the courage to speak out on big issues.

The former general secretary of the presidency in Cameroon and Education minister has urged those in the secret race to be bolder on topics such as leadership alternative and corruption and to appeal more to the Cameroon public rather than focusing on the people who will choose the new leader.

Many today are battling to replace Paul Biya, who will be standing down following his long and disreputable reign as the national chairman of the party. Pr Maurice Kamto, Gilbert Tsimi Evouna, Laurent Marie Esso, Ibrahim Talba Malla, Rene Emmanuelle Sadi and Philipe Mbarga Mboa are on the race to become the next national chairman of the party.

But Joseph Owona said the contest has yet to attract much public interest and the party constitution should allow militants to express their views and also encourage them to stand for the leadership contest as long as they can show that they are capable of conducting the 26 year old party to a real democratization..

Pr Owona said, the potential candidates don`t have the courage to speak up loudly and boldly about the future of the country.

He then added that the new leader of the party had to be prepared to take on the country future. The constitutional debate has been dominated by the opposition. Paul Biya is bulldozing his way forward with very little resistance from the opposition.Under the leadership of Paul Biya it is like living with a quack doctor selling a miracle cure

Cameroon people want to know who can be the real alternative to Biya departure and also what the party can offer. The public is tired of the party leader just saying no to things.

Pr Joseph Owona declined to back any of the leadership hopefuls but said he believed they could lead the party to victory at the next general election. He added " Paul Biya is a formidable politician but the candidates should stop thinking about  what he has done in the past and focus on what they can bring to the country". The new leader priority should be to reconnect with the real Cameroon people and for a long time Cameroon has needed someone to lay the harsh economic and social facts of life on the table..

Cameroon: A new beginning for the country as Biya`s 29yr rule is nearly ended

President Paul Biya agreed to quit as national leader of the Cameroon People Democratic Movement, (CPDM) after a long 36 months of discussions, negotiations and proposals and directions to end his nearly 30-year forced and unwillingly grip on power.

Paul Biya signed an international backed deal, to open the position of the national chairman of the party to challenges and encourage others members with capacities and abilities to lead the party to the future. It`s understand that young people who are active and involved in political activities around the party have been encouraged to show their intention to be at the top of the party.

Ill-feeling over his high-handed attitude began slowly but over the past few months, has grown.

Now every day brings a demand for the date to be set, to bring it forward and above all to explain precisely what the decision would mean for the party and for the country.

There is also a call for women to come forward and prove that they have what it takes to take control of the vehicle and confront the future challenges for the country. The departure of Mr Biya will led to the implementation of the reforms on the functioning of the Central Committee and the Politburo or the "Bureau Politique" of the party.

 Throughout, the CPDM remains silent except to deliver its usual bluster and tell people everything will be all right on the night.

The international deal has been backed by the Us, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Germany, Japan. Only at the moment China has decided not to join that agreement for his deep knowledge of the country internal affairs.

This disagreement from China for the last 36 months has had a big impact on the country national economy and finances. There are fears the political environment will struggle to regain people confidence after Biya exit from politic. Some investors have been forced to almost halve investment to help generate the cash needed in case there is an instability situation.

 China`s politburo thinks that the forced departure of Paul Biya will lead to a threat to national unity and destroyed what Biya`s regime for the last 29 years has been built in past years.

The news of the deal sparked in Us, UK, Belgium, and France mass celebration from those in opposition. Celestin Ngoa, an exiled journalist based in Us said the departure of Biya will mark a very important beginning that will allow people in Cameroon the much needed hope they can embrace a new future.  Some voters know the country is not that in a too bad situation even it is in an almighty mess by the CPDM. They will probably forgive the failure to achieve one of the big three promises and even tolerate a regime that falls short on two fronts if things are heading in the right direction.

The Us and other world leaders had battled to get the 78 year old " Democrat-Dictator" to agree to the International cooperation deal that will protect the country unity and social stability.

In Scotland, Hugh O`Donnell, a former Liberal Democrat  Member of the Scottish Parliament who quit his party after the alliance signed between the Lib-Dem and Tories coalition government in London, described the deal as one of the " turning of a new page in the history of Cameroon and that those in charge will do everything now to help the country and create a much more lovable and stable country where it will be good to see growth and prosperity and less and less destruction and abuses" before adding that " it will be good to see investors and investments directed to the country where there will be a real democracy".

Biya agreed and backed out three times before finally signing the handover. Alain Bihapap, young leader of the political group based in Birmingham and totally in support of Biya regime do believe that nations that negotiated Paul Biya exit  have arranged that there won`t be any trouble after that.

But for Brice Nitcheu, political and human rights activist based in London, it is understand that, those world leaders are covering for his alleged crimes.

... In US, there are concerns about the military supreme council role and their ability of ruling the country in case there is any disagreement between the government and the opposition parties. For over 28 years the military supreme council had prevented the country to collapse.

Biya who has ruled the country since 1984, will be the second president in the history to be forced to handover the power.

Cameroon leader will step down as coalition deal struck in

Paul Biya, the embattled Cameroon Head of State could resign before the middle of his third term in power after he agreed to form a new national unity government. Mr Biya will lead for a short period of time the new government which could be sworn in within the next couple of weeks before the end of the year.

 According to the Cameroon constitution, the newly appointed Prime Minister will have the duty to form the new government and then will submit his first draft proposal to the Head of State for approval and then the President elected will have to officially confirm the new cabinet team. Philemon Yang,( photo down) was the mastermind of Paul Biya victory for October 9, 2011 presidential elections and there is no guaranteed information or a sign that he will keep his position in the cabinet as  Prime Minister and the Head of the Government.

But in Cameroon, the " luckiest" man is chosen  by a closed team of president`s advisors and then will be " forced" to work with a team of cabinet`members in which " he" has no real power of control on them except the " supervision" power of the daily government business. At the end it is Paul Biya who is the only " accountable" and " responsible" and the one to share and wear the blame of any government policy failure.

 Last week in Yaounde, the capital city of Cameroon, Paul Biya, according to an insider sources, held secret crisis talks with some opposition leaders and  they will meet again next week to discuss the finer details of the new national unity government.

There are new comers in politic that will join the cabinet and some old faces as well to help implement the new government agenda for the next 7 years.

 Some will have to prepare the next year general elections. Acho Bernard Muna could be the next Justice secretary or the Justice minister to join the cabinet and Garga Haman , could make a come back in the government with a secret mandate to rebuild a strong union with the North and the Far North region of the country behind Paul Biya.

 At the moment it is not clear how long the acting Prime Minister Philemon Yang will last as head of the government. A coalition of opposition parties represented in the Parliament is already in discussion to name his replacement. It sounds like a difficult task for them as they have no real power at all in the Parliament and could only " suggest" who could be the " best man" to lead the new national unity government.

 It is believe that France, Us, Britain, China, Japan, Italy and Israel had given Paul Biya until the end of November 2011 to explain how it will form a unity government so it can receive the " financial support that is crucially needed to boost the national level of investment and create growth and wealth in Cameroon for at least the next 5 years..". 

The new government could secure the social and political stability in the country and avoid any organised strike action from the unions and a new year of discontent in Cameroon. 

This year will mark the end of British existing bilateral commitments in Cameroon,but the coalition government in Britain  will continue to support Cameroon through the UK`s increasing share of the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the European Commission  and other multilateral programming. 

The UK still have all eyes on the country forestry sector as it is considered as " vitally" by the government and also for the future generations. Paul Biya insisted last week he has enough support to pass urgent reforms to fight off financial, political and social disaster the country could be heading to in the next couple of months. 

In the Parliament, the Cameroon People Democratic Movement, Paul Biya`s party has the number to " push through measures he promises will rein in new encouraging and decisive initiative for the future of the country". 

The crisis of corruption between members of the " Bureau Politique" and " Central Committee" of the party and the regime, the members of the previous governments, the police, and the Army has brought huge reverses for the entire regime in Cameroon...It is time to act now or there is a real risk that the whole country could be pulled into a social and financial storm.

Cameroon to lose British-Aid for his anti-gay legislation

In Cameroon homosexuality is a criminal offence. Britain now has decided that British aid to Third World countries will be slashed if they persecuted gays.

 Cameroon is at risk of losing dozen of  millions of pounds of taxpayers  cash for the development and improvement of his justice system and its  independence, because it has been funded by the British government under a cooperation program.

David Cameron made the announcement during a meeting last week in Perth with leaders of the Commonwealth. Cameron`s position is that if no reforms are made to the constitution in order to respect people freedom of choice and human rights then no aid to be sent to the country.

The Prime Minister said taxpayers`cash would only be handed out with strings attached in future. The move will help according to some political analysts, to appease Tory backbenchers angry that foreign aid is going up as public services are facing cuts.

In some African countries, homosexuality is a criminal offence. Many gays around African countries members of the Commonwealth where homosexuality is a criminal offence are being persecuted, then prosecuted and jailed under unfair trail and some even killed or burnt alive by a bunch of  so called anti-gays criminals.

In Cameroon  homosexuality is a criminal offence and punished by the law. 

The country still using an old legislation inherited from the French and had never ever decided to bring a real change in that law while in France the same law has been improved and new ideas have been brought in. 

In France with the same law, gay men are allowed to live their live as everybody else and enjoy their life, while in Cameroon they are being persecuted and prosecuted. The English speaking Cameroon side of the country now might have the opportunity to push forward their French  fellow compatriots to rewrite that law in order to keep their relationship and ties with Britain.

The Prime Minister David Cameron said he hoped that withholding financial help would encourage governments to look at ways to bring a real change in their constitution in order to allow people to express their feeling and also to respect the Human rights.

Alice Nkom a female attorney took the lead long time ago in Cameroon to fight and challenge the law in order to protect the rights of the gay men accused by the government of  being in breach of the law. Alice Nkom is pushing for a change of the law that will enable gay men in Cameroon to enjoy their life as millions like them around the world do. She successfully won a legal battle against the government will of keeping in prison 17 gay man accused of breaking the law by practising the homosexuality. 

Recently she launched a Facebook campaign to raise the awareness of the brutality of the behaviour that the government in Cameroon was using to intimidate gay men and also to crack down their activities around the country to the International community. She is looking for a support in order to bring that real change needed in Cameroon in order to change the law.