Posts

Showing posts from 2014

Anglophone Lessons from Ferguson or Anglophones, seen from Yaounde.

The goings on in Ferguson where the wanton murder by a White policeman of an unarmed Black youth and the establishment’s refusal to indict the White policeman sparked riots in the USA (coupled with the feeling of wonder expressed by the White community there) had me drawing parallels with Cameroon and the cold shoulder our Francophone partners turn to us when massive arbitrary arrests, event disruptions, murders and other human rights abuses go on in Cameroon against “SCNC militants” and we expect them to take up our defence against an oppressive regime. In Ferguson for example, we see some Whites supporting the cause of the Blacks, helping to remind authorities that Black lives matter too, perhaps out of intellectual honesty. But when Anglophones receive such shabby treatment, can we expect any liberty loving Francophone voices to take up their defence? Never, if what we have seen so far is to be depended on. Francophone intellectuals are simply ignorant (by ignorant I mean “to ig
Grinding an axe with the armed forces Where are our famous BIRS and others now that life in Northern Cameroon has become more insecure than in Northern Afghanistan? Busy preparing a 20th May Parade?! What do they make of all the kidnaps and killings going on? One of them said over the radio that they  Do soldiers in Cameroon today enjoy showing off instead of doing the military work of defending their fatherland? If not, someone tell me, why does Boko Haram have the leeway to stroll into Cameroon, kill, kidnap and stroll out without the least disturbance? Do our overpaid military officers enjoy their salary and the good things money can buy so much so that they forget their duty to fatherland? Do they know why they are paid? Or do sinecures from Biya's regime make them to believe that their only duty to Cameroon is to bind their hands from conducting a military coup? If, as they claim, they are still aware that the army was not only made to protect the regime against its d

Indomitable Lions Attacked in Yaounde

What a shameful reaction from an ungrateful public. Stephane Mbia was attacked in Yaounde on June 26 as soon as they returned from the world cup. Someone recognised him and within seconds at the central town, street hawkers and idlers surrounded his car and trapped him inside for more than 30 minutes, hurling insults and threats at him before the forces of law and order could intervene. I am tempted to say, "No, not Mbia because he happened to be our best player at the world cup" but this too is very foolish reasoning. No player, even the worst, should be attacked back in country, they made their best efforts given the conditions they found themselves in. Then, some of them were nursing minor injuries and the coach could not dare unselect them because their replacements were not nearly good enough. We refuse to see that this time was weak from the onset, could not qualify on the pitch and worst of all, had very strong opponents. Yes, sometimes you can prepare well, do your

Cameroon's Chances against Brazil

Image
Yes, the picture says it all. This is how some Cameroonians feel about our match against Brazil. However, the history of our 3 confrontations in recent football history does not support this view. Cameroon was severely thrashed by Brazil who went ahead to win the USA 1994 World Cup during their first round encounter 3-0. It was a terrible year for Cameroon football, coinciding with organised stealing by the government: "Operation Coup de Coeur" in which the public contributed money to support the Lions but have never been told where the money went till date. The team was poorly managed by Frenchman Henri Michel and there was a lot of nepotism and corruption. However, a new charismatic player then made his entry into the National Team: Rigobert Song Bahanag. The second encounter came during the 2000 Olympic games, though many prefer to omit this. They claim that Cameroon was playing with almost all of its first team while Brazil had truly selected youths and amateurs for

On Boko Haram attacks in North Cameroon

Grinding an axe with the armed forces Multiple Boko Haram attacks and the Cameroon Army's inability to secure the country are the price to pay for years wasted concentrating on defending a regime against political and social dissent instead of developing a full fledged security strategy for decisive action against any serious external threat. Where are our famous BIRS and others now that life in Northern Cameroon has become more insecure than in Northern Afghanistan? Busy preparing a 20th May Parade?! What do they make of all the kidnaps and killings going on? One of them said over the radio that they are unhappy when the public criticizes them, that is in reaction to the Boko Haram attack on a military target to rescue one of their previously captured members. But let us ask a few questions. Do soldiers in Cameroon today enjoy showing off instead of doing the military work of defending their fatherland? If not, someone tell me, why does Boko Haram have the leeway to strol

Cameroon: Begging for Investors Instead of Selling?

So Prime Minister, Yang, is spending billions of CFA Francs on a mission to beg Britain to come and invest in Cameroon? After Biya has gone to Turkey on the same mission and returned virtually empty handed. It makes me wonder, are these our rulers merely creating opportunities to enjoy a European holiday or do they truly think what they do is the best way to encourage foreign direct investment in Cameroon? To achieve a feat like this, is it not advisable to emulate others, in line with Longue Longue who says "one should not be ashamed of copying a good example"? My example here being China. Here the government concentrated on economic reforms at home to create an enabling environment, and neighbouring countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong and S. Korea were early adopters, signalling to European and American multi-nationals that investment in China was safe and profitable.                                             No amount of trumpet blowing will attract foreign investors to Ca
Ndedi Eyango Nationality Saga: What Next for the Cameroon Nationality Debate? Brother, this matter worry. All the same, Eyango be get all the time for renounce yi American identity, for ensure we say he will not have conflict of interest in the post he di hold. Meanwhile, no man be dong ever complain about Eto, Adolf Moudiki, etc. But some people complain about Eyango, and their complaint came after the elections . It is the law's role, or the minister's, to take a decision. If no one had complained after the SOCAM elections, Eyango will have remained, like the Eto's et al you rightly cited. However, the law itself is not clear on this issue. If man get two passport does he lose his Cameroonian passport? If so, why Thierry Michel Atangana (Titus Edzoa co-detainee) whey get French passport and ask to be judged as French citizen no be recognized as French man? If it is the other way round, and law say if you get two passport then Cameroon ignore that your other nationality a