Controversial Afrobarometer Survey on Military Coup in Cameroon

The Accra, Ghana-based Afrobarometer, which prides itself as the world’s leading source of high-quality data and analysis on what Africans are thinking, has published its findings on a military coup in Cameroon.

On September 10, the Post Newspaper’s lead story read “66 percent of Cameroonians want a military coup, Afrobarometer survey”. They later changed the lead story to “Lockdown Imposes a Reign of Terror.”

The first front page, purportedly leaked by staff of the Post, was already receiving a lot of attention, with the political class of Cameroon seeing it as an incitement to violence in the country.

Other opinions say that if the survey existed, then the Post is right, while others argue that the timing of the article is wrong, given that it comes in the wake of military coups sweeping across Africa against long-serving presidents.

What the Survey says.

The Afrobarometer survey on military coups was carried out in 2021–2022. The survey suggests that 53% of Africans are willing to endorse military intervention if elected leaders abuse their power.

According to the survey, 66 percent of Cameroonian respondents are for a military coup should elected officials abuse power, 31 percent will not endorse a military coup, and 3 percent are neutral towards a military coup.

According to the survey, 19 African countries will quickly endorse a military coup, while 17 other countries will most likely not endorse a military coup.

Why is Cameroon panicking?

Cameroonians who are 40 years old and younger have only seen Paul Biya as head of state. He has been in power since 1982, though the opposition Social Democratic Front Party claims their Victory in 1992 was stolen by Biya.

In 1984, presidential guards unsuccessfully tried to overthrow Biya.

The Biya regime has been marked by corruption, embezzlement, and crackdowns on those with contrary ideas about the Biya system of governance.

Under Biya, the country has acquired more debt, with basic social amenities like water, electricity, health care, and transportation lacking.

It is obvious the Biya regime is in panic because their long stay in power has benefited just a few.

The Post Newspaper has since been banned from operating in the South West Region and has also been summoned before the National Communication Council.