The passport of French Cameroun CPDM baron who also moonlighted as Minister of Water and Energy, Basile Atangana Kouna has been confiscated by security agents in Yaoundé. Cameroon Intelligence Report understands the former cabinet minister has also been barred from leaving the country.

The decision to keep Basile Atangana Kouna under surveillance was made public via an order signed by the Delegate General for National Security on March the 8^th. The National Police boss hinted in the press release that it was the responsibility of all heads of border posts, airports and the ten Regional Delegates for National Security to ensure that Mr. Basile Atangana remains in Cameroon pending an investigation.

Things are falling apart deep within the ruling CPDM crime syndicate. We understand the former Secretary of State at the Ministry of Public Works, in charge of roads, Louis Max Ohandja Ayina has also been given a travel ban by the Biya regime.

Basile Atangana Kouna’s travel documents were withdrawn a day after he was relieved of his duties as Minister of Water and Energy.  Local media reported that the former minister tried to leave the country on March 7, aboard a Turkish airlines flight when he was restricted by security forces. Recently, a sea of CPDM personality were barred from leaving the country including the General Manager of the Cameroon Telecommunications Company, Camtel, David Nkotto Emane and some of his collaborators.

Pretending to fight corruption and establishing the so-called Special Criminal Court was President Biya’s way of saving himself the embarrassment of being humiliated during his perennial trips abroad as the President of the most corrupt country in the world.  This ranking of the country as the most corrupt or one of the most corrupt countries had a potential to hamper President Biya’s personal pecuniary interests far from the borders of Cameroon.  There was therefore a personal interest need to establish the court.  Another personal interest need was to avail himself of a legal tool under his direct control to consolidate absolute power, blackmail potential rebels and competitors within the system and to stifle any form of institutional opposition. Biya has eventually perceived the anti corruption drive as a tool with which to whitewash his more than thirty years of corrupt governance and the rape of the economy.

By Rita Akana with contributions from Soter Agbaw-Ebai