Anti-Macron protest in Yaounde, Douala: Manipulation or Patriotism?

Some Cameroonian youth in Douala and Yaounde, economic and political capitals of Cameroon respectively have described protest by some youth in Yaounde Monday, February 24, 2020, against France and anti-Biya Cameroonian activists abroad as pure manipulation and an attempt to hide the truth.

Holding placards in front of French embassies in Yaounde and Douala, the youth brandishing messages of unity and strong Cameroon condemned comments at the weekend by President Emmanuel Macron on Cameroon’s socio-political situation.

During a face-to-face encounter with Calibri in Paris Saturday, President Macron said:
“I put pressure on Paul Biya to deal with the subject of the English-speaking area and its opponents. I told him that I did not want to receive him in Lyon until Maurice KAMTO was not released. And he was released because we put pressure. But the situation continues to deteriorate”.

“I will call President Biya next week and I will put the maximum pressure to end this situation. I am fully aware and fully involved in the violence in Cameroon which is intolerable. I’m doing my maximum best,” President Macron added

To some Douala youths who spoke to Mimi Mefo Info, “the military fighting in the North West and South West regions is a professional one that does not violate the fundamental rights of human beings in the area.” The views of the youth are to counteract a Cameroonian activist, Tiam Abdoulaye popularly known as Calibri Calibro who says genocide is taking place in Cameroon under the supervision of the Yaounde regime and President Paul Biya in particular.

The protest in Yaounde comes a few hours after Cameroon’s minister of communication issued a statement condemning the action of the activist as well as responses given by the president of France Emmanuel Macron.

According to Serge Matip; a young Cameroonian shoe vendor in Akwa Douala “The youth marching in Yaounde must have been paid by members of government to put up a show to appear that Cameroon is a democratic country. We are in a dictatorial regime where president Paul Biya can do and undo without any respect for human life”.

To another, “Youths of the Cameroon people democratic movement ‘CPDM are those protesting just for their selfish interest. The imprisonment of political prisoners as noted by the activist Calibri Calibro is true”.

At it stands, many young people and militants of opposition political parties have saluted what they describe as a brave move by a Cameroon activist in France last Saturday denouncing all the ills committed against the people of Cameroon by President Paul Biya and his government.

Mimi Mefo Info.