Free Cameroon Now

This post was originally written in November 2014 but recent events have made it more relevant than ever.  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...

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 ...

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.                                   ...