Political violence has defined post-independence African politics for over half a century. It has been used by different governments in order to achieve tailored agendas, which are millions of miles away from providing solutions to the problems of the people. In national politics, sit-tight dictators and traitors have included it as part of their political DNA to intimidate and even liquidate opponents, in order to prop their leadership against the wishes and aspirations of the people.
The New African Charter International (NACI) has been following with deep sadness and alarm over the news of the the violence following announcement of the election results in Cameroon. which gave victory to the incumbent President Paul Biya. With the situation fast deteriorating and ordinary people’s lives being disrupted over all communities in the African nation, NACI calls on the civilised international community to stand up in solidarity with the Cameroonian people. Ignoring this call would mean a betrayal of the principles of humanity; and the silence and inaction to save Cameroon from sliding into a humanitarian crisis would do more harm than good to the Africa continent.
The Cameroonian people already are suffering under a system that militates against human rights, justice, and the rule of law, freedom and dignity. What is going on in the African nation today is shocking by reports of an increasing level of violence, killings, intimidation and harassment being suffered by ordinary Cameroonian people, including opposition leaders and their supporters, human rights defenders, union organisers, farmers and their family members, and killings of innocent citizens across the country. NACI calls for an international independent investigation into these complaints and bring the perpetrators to justice.
It is also disappointing to see that France is not the only foreign power behind the sad situation where the Cameroonian people have found themselves today. The African Union seems to bid the Paris neo-colonial agenda in the Africa nation. The inactions of the AU and its subservient to France’s neo-colonial agenda in Africa is just further evidence of the problematic structure of the organization, which has lost the confidence and trust of the African people.
History teaches us that mistrust can lead to violence, if it is left to germinate. As the Cameroonian deteriorates rapidly, we want to remind the global community that if the situation is not address immediately with a solution accepted by the people, Cameroon will become Libya’s next stop for another France-led genocide campaign in Africa. Irresponsible leadership very rarely gets affected by the disputes they consciously sow, and this goes a long way to tell us that a very dangerous situation is fast developing in Cameroon.
Today, we add our voice to statements of concern already made, and call upon the international community, through the ongoing 80th Annual Summit of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to issue out a statement condemning France’s destructive role in Cameroon, and call for peace and an end to the ongoing post-election violence in that country. Further, we call on President Paul Biya to quit power for the sake of peace and love for the Cameroonian people. Besides the fact that the president has outlived the age of continuity, he is not healthy and strong enough to continue ruling Cameroon. He has ruled the African nation for over forty and more years, which is enough to have rebranded his country’s political narrative.
When in 2011, France and its NATO allies in Europe and the United States and proxy armed groups invaded Libya, they defended their military aggression as the only option to end Muammar Gaddafi’s 40 years rule. They also claimed that they were in Libya to help the Libyan people restore their lost freedom. Gaddafi was 69 years at the time of NATO genocide and ruled for forty years, before he was brutally murdered. What is wrong at the age of 92 and being in power for 43 years that Paul Biya should not step down for another crop of leaders to manage the affairs of the Cameroonian nation?
While we applaud the massive turnouts in the October 12 election, we demand that the will of the Cameroonian people, as expressed at the ballot box, be respected. The Constitutional Court in Cameroon is under obligation by law to answer to the calls, both in and out of Cameroon, to do a noble service to Cameroon by telling the public the whole truth about the October 12 polls. The good thing is that the international observers are present on the ground, and this makes it possible for them to evaluate any claims of evidence of illegality in the elections process and to bring these to light, without compromising the will and aspirations of the Cameroonian people.
NACI advocates inclusive, free, fair and peaceful electoral process; and believes illegalities in elections must be condemned by umpires. In the current situation in Cameroon, we condemn any attempts by participants in the election process, who speak about the rule of law, while they engage in disruptive tactics to enforce their will. All these actions, as well as alleged misconduct by authorized officials, contribute to divisions and ongoing violence in Cameroon.
As a Pan-African advocacy organ, NACI remains gravely concerned by the widespread and ongoing repression as well as reported human rights abuses and violations following the election. These abuses include arbitrary arrests and detentions (including of children), deaths, denials of release of political prisoners held incommunicado, and intimidation tactics against the democratic opposition and other members of civil society.
In the context of this genocide campaign against the Cameroonian people, we call for the immediate release of those arbitrarily detained without respect for fair trial guarantees. It is critical that the people of Cameroon be allowed to express their political opinions peacefully, including through the exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, without fear of reprisal. We call for an end to the use of excessive force, political violence, and harassment against the opposition and the Cameroonian civil society.
We also call for France to seek the exit of Paul Biya in Cameroon’s national body politics. The African Union can also do something to rebrand its image, by asking Paul Biya to step down immediately and unconditionally. This call is mooted out of the belief that the Cameroonian leader has outlived his relevance and should rather go and live in France where he can enjoy his loot from poor Cameroonians. In addition, we stand with the millions of Cameroonians, both at home and the diasporas, who continue to risk their lives and well-being to demand a more democratic, prosperous, and secure future for themselves and their country.
Concluding, we call upon the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to shoulder its responsibility, to speak out against the genocide on the people of Cameroon. No country anywhere in this 21st century will accept the likes of Paul Biya to lead them as their President and Commander-In-Chief, especially after he had ruled for over four decades and still wants to continue, while his people linger in abject poverty.
Surely, the UN must step in Cameroon to ensure effective protection of individuals and groups who may be subject to extra-legal, arbitrary or summary executions, or those who received death threats. Concluding, the United Nations must also be seen acting without yielding to France’s pressure, to also prevent incitement to violence or killings against the Cameroonian opposition and its supporters, communities perceived as enemies to the ruling Biya-France dynasty, human rights defenders and other stakeholders.
Cameroon must live!
Sender:
Alimamy Bakarr Sankoh
Founder and Co-president
The New African Charter International
NACI
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