Edith Kah Walla, a prominent political leader and activist, has issued a blistering open letter to Paul Atanga Nji, Minister of Territorial Administration, accusing him of unlawful actions, intimidation, and failure to address key national issues. The letter, titled “Cease, Desist, and Take Action,” reflects a deeply personal tone, addressing Atanga Nji both as a fellow native of Abakwa and a high-ranking official whose actions, she believes, are damaging Cameroon.
A Personal Yet Public Plea
Kah Walla begins by acknowledging the dual nature of her letter: public due to the minister’s actions and personal because of their shared roots in Bamenda. She expresses frustration with Atanga Nji’s continued use of threats and insults against Cameroonian citizens, urging him to change his approach.
“You must cease to threaten and insult us, citizens of Cameroon,” Kah Walla writes, specifically referencing Atanga Nji’s use of terms like “moulinex” to demean the public.
“We, the people, hold national sovereignty, which we choose to exercise through the President of the Republic. You are appointed by the President. In order of hierarchy, we the people are your boss’s boss,” she said.
This opening statement sets the tone for a broader critique of how Atanga Nji treats citizens, insisting that his role as minister requires professionalism, respect, and adherence to the law.
Illegal Pronouncements and Violations of Rights
Kah Walla goes on to accuse Atanga Nji of making several unconstitutional pronouncements, including his controversial ban on public debates surrounding the health of President Paul Biya. She points out that freedom of expression is enshrined in Cameroon’s constitution, and no minister has the right to restrict it without legal justification.
“Freedom of expression is a constitutional right!” she emphasises. “You cannot, as a Minister of the Republic, ban any Cameroonian from speaking about any subject unless there exists a specific law allowing you to do so.” Kah Walla declares the minister’s directive illegal and a violation of citizens’ fundamental rights.
She also criticises his interference in the functioning of political parties, citing laws that protect political activities from such restrictions. Kah Walla, the leader of the Cameroon People’s Party (CPP), highlights her personal experience of successfully challenging Atanga Nji’s actions in court, adding that other political parties have similarly won cases against his ministry.
“Your communiques of March 12th and May 23rd, 2024, which are also written in a threatening and insulting tone, are illegal,” she said, adding that such actions reflect poorly on his suitability for office.
Failure to Address National Crises
In the letter, Kah Walla highlights the minister’s failure to effectively respond to major crises facing Cameroon, including the floods in the Far North, the rising urban insecurity, and the ongoing Anglophone crisis. She accuses Atanga Nji of leaving his real duties neglected while focusing on illegal bans and inflammatory rhetoric.
“The Directorate of Civil Protection in your ministry has failed on multiple fronts,” she writes regarding the recent floods. “These floods occur annually, and the exceptionally high water levels this year were predicted. Your ministry did nothing to prevent the deaths of Cameroonians and the disastrous situation in which nearly 500,000 of our compatriots find themselves.”
Kah Walla’s critique extends to the minister’s inadequate response to urban insecurity, which she links to youth unemployment and the proliferation of illegal drugs. She stresses that this is part of Atanga Nji’s portfolio as Minister of Territorial Administration, calling for urgent action to address the escalating dangers in the country’s cities.
Anglophone Crisis: A Catalyst for Disaster
Perhaps the harshest part of Kah Walla’s letter is her indictment of Atanga Nji’s role in the Anglophone crisis, which she believes he helped ignite during a CPDM “Peace Meeting” in December 2016. According to her, the event exacerbated tensions, transforming legitimate grievances into a low-grade civil war that has since killed nearly 10,000 Cameroonians.
“I consider you to be one of the main protagonists of a crisis that has killed almost 10,000 Cameroonians,” she states. She criticizes the minister for providing only superficial aid to internally displaced persons (IDPs), such as occasional bags of rice or mattresses, while ignoring the broader need for administrative documents, healthcare, and employment for those displaced by the conflict.
“IDPs need shelter, administrative documents, schools, and jobs. You have occasionally provided them with a mattress or a bag of rice,” she writes, underscoring the inadequacy of the government’s response to the humanitarian disaster.
A Call for Change and Reflection
Kah Walla concludes her letter by urging Atanga Nji to reflect on his responsibilities, not just as a government official but as a fellow Cameroonian. She acknowledges his deep loyalty to President Biya, but warns that this loyalty has come at a great cost to the country.
“Your blinding love for Paul Biya… led you to carry out actions that very directly destroyed the Abakwa we knew and loved, for this generation and the next,” she writes. “Let that be a lesson. Let it not repeat itself across the entire nation.”
Her final words are both a personal appeal and a national call to action: “Cease. Desist. Take Action. So that on that day, we may find the common ground to build again, from these ashes you and your love of Paul Biya have left us.”
Stirring National Debate
Kah Wallah’s letter has quickly sparked national debate, with many seeing it as a bold stand against one of Cameroon’s most powerful ministers. How Paul Atanga Nji will choose to respond remains a matter of speculation. However, the letter’s powerful accusations and appeals for change have certainly placed him under the spotlight. Kah Walla’s words are a reminder of the growing frustration with the government’s handling of key national issues and the call for accountability from those in power.
