Mr Paul BIYA must fully assume by himself the presidential function which he has been usurping since the electoral hold-up of October 2018, or else the Cameroonian people will have to establish his failure and draw all the political consequences
My dear compatriots,
The world is at war against COVID 19, in other words, at war against death!
There can be no political exploitation of a national drama. There is a duty of responsibility. And as with the disastrous situation which still prevails in the North-West and South-West regions, we intend to fully assume ours.
While in all countries around the world the highest level leaders are themselves leading this war in which even the greatest powers on the planet seem literally overwhelmed in light of the provisional toll of infected or deceased victims, Cameroonians are left to their fate by the person who claims to assume the function of Head of State.
One thing is beyond any doubt: since the abuse following the presidential election of October 7th, 2018, Mr Paul BIYA is the de facto president of Cameroon. This status, although special, imposes obligations on him towards the Cameroonian people, especially in this context of serious threat of a terrible pandemic which requires his active presence to galvanise and mobilise his compatriots.
The questions that Cameroonians of all persuasions have been asking for at least two weeks are the following: Where has Mr Paul BIYA gone? Is the country governed? If yes, by whom? Is he simply aware of his responsibility as President of the Republic, even though illegal and illegitimate, in preserving the lives of Cameroonians?
My dear compatriots,
I would not like to dwell here on the personal and continuous involvement and investment of the world’s greatest leaders in this war in order to preserve their populations, as you are witnessing it. However, how can we not evoke the high sense of responsibility of certain leaders of African countries, like Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Gabon and South Africa who took the situation personally and announced substantial financial measures to deal with the health crisis while supporting economic stakeholders!
Everyone can see, without stirring up any controversy, that while these African leaders have already gotten a full grip of this dire health and security situation which prevails in their respective countries because of the coronavirus, in Cameroon, Mr Paul BIYA displays a disconcerting – in any case irresponsible – indifference. In addition to the measures taken, the actions triggered, and the funds released, each of the aforementioned Heads of State is personally, even emotionally, involved in both prevention and risk management.
Mr BIYA who, during the entire 2018 presidential campaign, spoke on September 30th, 2018 in Maroua for less than 15 minutes and whom we saw supported at arm’s length during his reception at the Elysée Palace in France on October 10th, 2019, demonstrates to the Cameroonian people and to the world that he can no longer assume with dignity the responsibilities of President of the Republic of Cameroon, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of our country. The few people, very ambitious, obscurely parachuted without service at the heart of power, who manage the country within the framework of the succession by mutual agreement, must realise that the Cameroonian people no longer intend to accommodate themselves to the sham.
Mr BIYA’s tweets, generally out of phase with the expectations of his fellow citizens, are no illusion. In the war against the Boko Haram sect which has plunged the populations of the Far North in misfortune since May 2014, he has never shown that he is the least affected by the suffering of his compatriots in this Region. After the train accident in Eséka, he showed no empathy for the people in distress. While the civil war has been raging in the English-speaking regions since November 2016, he has never sent either the people or the soldiers who are engaged in this useless war the slightest message of affection and comfort. His courtiers tried to justify his contemptuous distances, incompatible with the presidential office, by speculating with vacuity on what they call “presidential silences”. In the current context of a serious danger for the Nation, his silence is not only irresponsible, it becomes criminal.
Also, drawing the attention of the Cameroonian people and the international community on this unacceptable situation, I urge Mr BIYA, within seven (07) days, from the publication of this statement, to address Cameroonians, by himself, to tell them what his response against COVID-19 is, and above all, to announce the necessary funding, both to households and businesses, to ensure the effectiveness of containment. In the absence of such supporting measures, the containment directives of his government will remain sterile with regard to the decrepitude of the social fabric, poverty and the precariousness of the populations caused by his 40-year-old regime.
Failing to assume the presidential functions which he has granted himself since the last presidential election, I reserve the right to call on the Cameroonian people to draw all the consequences from his serious failure, which could then lead to the ascertainment of his inability to govern.
If such a situation were to arise, I would warn those who shamefully profit from this situation of proxy management in the country, to avoid undertaking anything that could be interpreted by the abandoned people as a provocation.
Our people are at risk of dying. They have the right to defend themselves, especially in case of failure of the person who assumes the highest function within the State, and if the republican institutions competent to ascertain the vacant seat and draw all the consequences are themselves failing.
My dear compatriots,
I have launched an awareness and prevention campaign in our country which is underway. Strictly observe all the measures prescribed to preserve your life, that of your loved ones and of others. We must remain standing despite the extraordinary challenge before us. Let us be disciplined. Let us remain mobilised.
In the same spirit, I call on the Government, particularly on the Minister of Health, to engage with us in a vast fundraising campaign at the national level and in the diaspora, with a view to enabling the country to give an appropriate response to the serious danger to which it is exposed. In order to guarantee efficiency and transparency in the management of the funds collected, these must be managed by a committee composed, in particular of representatives of the Ministry of Health and other government structures, the Order of Doctors, Nurses and Hospital staff, Biomedical Laboratories, the Order of Pharmacists, GICAM, the pharmaceutical industries, the Transporters’ Union, Management bodies for open markets and any other sector of activity deemed relevant.
If within seven days, Mr Paul BIYA does not assume the presidential function that he has granted himself through electoral fraud, then I will indicate to you, via various channels, the course of action to be taken in order for us to take care of ourselves.
Done at Yaounde, this 27th March, 2020
The President-Elect,
Maurice KAMTO
Amplifications
• Secretary General / UN
• President / AU
• President of the Commission / AU
• European Parliament
• USA
• France
• Great Britain
• China
• Russia
• Canada
• Switzerland
• Israel
• UN Commission / Human Rights
Copies
• Presidency of the Republic
• National Human Rights Commission
• National / international NGOs in charge of Human Rights
