Former Military Spokesperson Explains Why He is Distant from CPDM

By Njong Shey

Former Cameroon military spokesperson Colonel Didier Badjeck has explained that he has distanced himself from the ruling CPDM party because he likes saying things the way they are, without trying to please people.

After retiring in 2022 following his 33 years of service in the Cameroon military, he joined the CPDM.

“But the communication there is not the kind of communication I do,” he said in a recent interview with Angie Forbin. “I don’t know how to praise people.”

He became a person of interest to the media after an audio went viral online in which he reportedly criticised the CPDM party and the opposition on the recently conducted presidential election.

The purported audio claims Badjeck does not see any reason for a presidential candidate not to declare victory before the official proclamation from the Constitutional Council. He also reportedly condemns the opposition in the audio for not forming a coalition against Paul Biya.

However, Badjeck has debunked the audio, stating that following his retirement and having waited in the reserve, he is now free to say things the way he wants and does not see any reason to be hiding behind an audio to say them.

“I can’t be free like that if I am in a party.”

As a specialist in institutional communication, he says he deals with science and facts.

Badjeck does not understand why someone would want to forge his views through an audio clip, when he does not hide before talking.

Since leaving office, Badjeck has been very open to the media, and has been seen on media platforms analysing issues regarding security and communication in the country.