Politicians, civil society actors and Cameroonians as a whole are yet to settle over a warning issued the Biya regime by MRC president, Maurice Kamto.
The opposition leader has once more taken the stage, warning president Biya further over upcoming elections. In an address to members of the civil society, intellectuals and academics in Cameroon, on August 24th, Kamto says there is the need for a common republican front to save
the Cameroonian people from disaster.
Citing the major national dialogue, Kamto believes nearly a year later, it has failed to achieve its objectives.
“Almost a year after it was held, everyone can see that the regime has once again abused the trust of those like you who believed it was intended to end the killings and create the conditions of the return to peace in the North-West and South-West regions of our country. Since the end of this Major National Dialogue, the security situation has continued to deteriorate,” he says.
In the municipal and legislative twin elections of 9 February 2020 and the 2018 presidential election which Kamto has always claimed he won, he says Cameroonians in general and the populations of the North-West and South-West regions in particular did not feel concerned.
Most elected representatives from these regions, he notes, are living in other parts of the country for fear of their lives.
To him, “the regime is trying to display a semblance of normalcy to deceive the international community, but anyone can see that our country is falling apart… Our compatriots in the English-speaking regions and those victims of the fight against Boko Haram are going through hell … Public finances are in trouble. The social situation is catastrophic, extreme poverty continues to gain ground.”
The politician goes on to make mention of the COVID-19 management by government, which he says demonstrates Biya’s mediocre leadership.
“The situation is at a standstill and the country is on the verge of collapse.”
Referring to these issues as an emergency, Kamto reiterates that Cameroonians should rise up against any elections to be held without resolving the issues raised.
“I would humbly point out that my wish to see our two political movements, which have in common to place mankind at the centre of all action, work together to change the current regime by removing Mr Biya from power, if he ventures to initiate new elections without first satisfying the two requirements mentioned above. The Cameroonian people, exhausted by the irresponsible governance of Mr Biya for nearly forty years, are in demand for this union of action. They do not understand the value of increasing participation in elections in a country weakened in terms of security, in economic and social ruin and where the results of the elections are known in advance,” he notes.
“The situation is serious!” He adds. “Cameroon civil society, intellectuals and academics, the CRM and all progressive forces must unite to deliver our people from a dictatorial, incompetent and irresponsible regime of nearly forty years.”
Kamto had earlier threatened to call for nationwide protests against the Biya regime if the president fails to provide a solution to the crisis in the North West and South West regions.
The MRC leader has been a thorn in the flesh of the Biya regime, and was jailed alongside some of his collaborators for protests contest in results of the October 2018 elections.
Mimi Mefo Info
