Francophone Crisis: Wall of fear crumbles
Despite threats by the government, MRC supporters took to the streets on Saturday in major cities in Cameroon calling for the release of president-elect, Professor Maurice Kamto, who has been imprisoned by Mr. Biya who lost last year’s presidential election.
Mr. Biya has never won any election in Cameroon, but has always used the military to intimidate the population after every major election.
But the wall of fear is gradually coming down as Kamto’s supporters have made up their minds to call for his release and the departure of the ailing Biya who is already losing his mind.
The government, through its violent territorial administration minister, Paul Atanga Nji, an ex convict, has been threatening and arresting MRC supporters across the nation. But those threats are no longer deterring Cameroonians who hold that it is time to kiss goodbye to the Biya regime which is noted for its corruption and incompetence.
Since taking power in 1982, Mr. Biya has been reckless and irresponsible, steering the ship into stormy waters. The country has been facing major challenges, with growth stagnating and unemployment heading for the skies.
Poor policies, corruption and internal conflicts have taken a toll on the economy and the people.
The fighting in the two English-speaking regions of the country has brought the country’s economy to its knees with major state corporations shutting down due to disruptions by separatists.
Yesterday’s fire at the country’s lone oil refinery will surely deal a severe blow to the struggling economy that has been robbed of its energy by the corrupt and inefficient regime.
Things are really getting too complicated for the corrupt government. Boko Haram is still a major threat to the country and CAR rebels in the country’s eastern border have become a nightmare that will not go away anytime soon.
With the ineffective government using violence to address its issues, the international community is gradually abandoning its ally in the fight against terrorism.
Americans, Canadians and the EU have all walked away from Mr. Biya whose penchant for brutality has made him look like a monster in the international political arena.