Regional election: Government instructs vigilance, heightened security

The rising Anglophone crisis, soaring coronavirus, and growing insecurity may disturb the organization of Cameroon’s first regional elections on the 6th of December 2020.

To ensure a hitch-free election and other end-of-year activities, the government of Cameroon has issued instructions to ten governors of the country. Opening a two-day meeting of governors Monday, November 16th, 2020, Cameroon’s minister of territorial administration said the security and health threats facing the country should be given keener attention.
To Paul Atanga Nji “…administrators need to be vigilant and should be on the alert “.

The governor of the Littoral Region Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboa says people entering through the Douala International Airport without knowing their COVID-19 status places the lives of city-dwellers in danger. Just like him, Paul Naseri Bea, governor of the Centre Region said the systematic check of everyone getting into Yaounde is a measure they have taken to maintain safety. To him, a decision taken to prohibit access to restaurants and bars with bags will be reinforced in order to stop the explosion of artisanal bombs that have been frequent in Yaounde.

In the North West and South West regions, the government’s position is obvious – military might to crush people fighting for the separation of Cameroon. This is a similar strategy used in the Far North region of Cameroon to silence the activities of Boko Haram.

As councilors and traditional rulers in Cameroon prepare to elect pioneer regional councilors on the 6th of December 2020, Paul Atanga Nji instructs that regional governors should not give room to any group or individuals to disrupt the polls. He challenges Cameroonians to start by securing themselves, their property while reporting people that cause problems in their quarters.

The Delegate General in charge of National Security and the Secretary of State in charge of the National Gendarmerie attending the meeting are equally contributing to maximize security.

Pundits think the government’s instructions on how to maintain security remain repressive rather than adopting dialogue.

Mbatho Ntan.