The Coalition of Cameroon Federalist Groups and Activists (CCFGA) has threatened to take legal action against the government of Cameroon if they are not officially authorised to operate as a civil organisation in the country.
During a press conference on Saturday, December 16, 2023, the group issued a three-month ultimatum to the government to give them legal status or face a lawsuit.
According to a press statement delivered by the executive members of the group, all attempts to have the group registered as a civil society organization are continually being frustrated by the administration.
“The subject is broad. But today, we focus on two administrative challenges. The first is our concrete experience related to attempts to register CCFGA as a civil society organisation focused on federalism and good governance,” said Michael Takie, Chairperson of CCFGA.
Takie added, “We have invited you today to share our experience in relation to our registration process.”
The challenges faced by CCFGA, according to them, “are not just challenges resulting from occasional mistakes; they reflect a pattern of deviation from the law, where the government is in the habit of acting unlawfully by giving out instructions that go against the law.”
While lambasting the government for frequently encroaching into the spheres of the arms of government, the group said they are well prepared to pursue legal action against the administration.
“Although it is well known that the executive branch in Cameroon encroaches into the legislative and judiciary branches of government, we wish to make clear our intention to pursue all legal actions possible until our constitutional freedom of association is acknowledged,” they added.
Law No. 90/053 of December 19, 1990, the group noted, “Regulates the actualization of the freedom of association by any civil society group. It requires that persons intending to form an association declare such an association by submitting relevant documents to the office of the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO).”
Frustration
During the press conference, the group revealed with dismay that the local administration and the Ministry of Territorial Administration are playing ping pong as to who has the legal authority to give them legal status, toasting them ‘like a coin’.
“On October 17th, 2023, our Second Vice Chairperson, Mr. Peter Atemkeng, approached the office of the SDO of Fako in Limbe with the relevant documents for the registration of the CCFGA. Staff in the SDO’s secretariat told him that the type of association we intend to declare is only registered at the Ministry of Territorial Administration,” Jean Carol Zanda, First Vice Chairperson of the group, declared.
He further narrated, “Surprised by the deviation from what the law prescribes, we commissioned a bailiff to deliver the declaration package to the SDO’s office and secure an acknowledgment of receipt. Once more, the staff at the SDO’s secretariat declared that such a declaration can only be done at the Ministry of Territorial Administration in Yaounde.”
“Although we knew that the recommendations of the SDO’s secretariat were at variance with the law, we sent our First Vice Chairperson, Mr. Jean Carol Zanda, to submit the declaration documents to the relevant office at the Ministry of Territorial Administration. He was directed to the office most competent in matters of associations. There, he was informed that the right address for such a declaration is the SDO’s office.”
Returning to the SDO of Fako as directed by the Ministry of Territorial Administration, “The receiving staff, however, declined to acknowledge receipt by signing the bailiff’s act.”
A three-month ultimatum.
After unsuccessful attempts to have the group registered, the Federalist coalition called on the SDO of Fako to do the right thing by acknowledging and registering the association.
“These fundamental rights have already been granted to us by the constitution,” they reminded us.
With determination to pursue the case to its logical end, the group issued a three-month ultimatum for the administration to register the group or face the law.
“IF we do not hear from the SDO within three months starting from November 16, we will consider taking legal action against that unit of the executive branch,” the group threatened, stating that “we shall not allow ourselves to be dribbled from one office to the other.”
What is CCFGA?
CCFGA is a grouping of individuals and associations fronting advocacy for a federal system of government in Cameroon as a way out of the impasse in the crisis-stricken Anglophone regions.
As explained by the chairperson, “CCFGA aspires to make Cameroon better through its fight for federalism and good governance. We want to give hope to and empower Cameroonians to shape their future.”
Accusing the government and separatists of standing against federation, the group blames the two sides for the continuous killings in the two regions where the government wants to maintain a unitary state as opposed to the armed separatists who want to form a state in the two regions at the detriment of civilian lives.
“CCFGA does not lose light of the fact that the extreme anti-extremist position of the unitary state and separatists continue to claim many lives,” they said, regretting that in November 2023, we have lost more than 40 unarmed civilians to this senseless violence.”
“CCFGA is determined to fight until restored Federalism and transitional justice mechanisms bring an end to this violence and killings,” the chairperson reiterated.
