Last Friday’s installation ceremony of the governor of the Center region was a complete mess as frequent power outage at the ceremonial ground disrupted activities at the event as politicians, security chiefs and officials of the ruling CPDM party met to announce to the world that President Biya has once again appointed another Anglophone as governor.

The first session, chaired by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Rene Sadi was punctuated by a five minute power outage, forcing the announcer to scramble for an apology to the audience after electricity was restored. A few minutes later, there was another power cut which lasted ten minutes. The third power cut within the hour lasted almost 30 minutes, given the ceremony the Francophoness that it deserved and forcing the high powered government delegation to make a momentary exit.

Some of the participants joked that the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium was responsible for the disruptions. René Emmanuel Sadi, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization (MINATD), said “I urge you to move forward to build a new city. You have the skills and experience to meet the many challenges that lie ahead. Among them, those related to security, the follow-up of “close” construction projects of the Yaounde-Douala motorway, but also Yaounde-Nsimalen.” Governor Naseri Paul Bea was appointed 13 March 2017 by presidential decree.

By Sonne Peter