Roses, thorns of Biya’s 42 years in power.

He ascended to the Supreme Magistracy on November 6, 1982, ushering in a new effervescence within the Statecraft, what he later termed the New Deal.

When President Biya mounted the front seat of the State machinery on November 6, 1982, he was seen as a breath of fresh air, as he stepped in, saying the right things to different groups. He toured the nation, and even referred to Bamenda as his “second home”. 

It was a marked difference from his predecessor, the late Ahmadou Ahidjo, who had ruled the nation with what critics described as an iron fist. 

Biya’s early actions were received with cheers. He pledged a “New Deal” to restore integrity and eliminate corruption. He also announced that although he was of the Beti/Bulu ethnic group, he was born a Cameroonian, would govern as a Cameroonian and will die a Cameroonian.

In his book, Communal Liberalism, Biya emphasised the importance of creating a “more open, more tolerant and more democratic political society”.

But 42 years down the road, pundits aver that while there are some achievements recorded by the Biya regime, there are as well some glaring shortcomings of his long stay in power. 

Thus, while some diehard regime acolytes see Biya’s 42 years in power as simply rosy, other watchers of the socioeconomic and political landscapes also state the thorny side.

Roses of Biya protracted stay in power 

The achievements recorded by President Paul Biya in 42 years are legion, ranging from political pluralism to expanding education, healthcare sector, general freedoms, foreign policy successes, economic resilience, outstanding sports performance, decentralisation, national unity, among others.

Political pluralism 

In the days of Ahmadou Ahidjo, there was frequent clamp down on political decent. But when Biya came in with his policy of Rigour and Moralisation. This was the hallmark of the liberalisation of the Cameroonian society. 

Under Biya’s regime, pundits say, Cameroonians have witnessed peace, liberty and political stability. His supporters say democracy is common and elections are “free, fair and transparent”.  

It was within his policy of liberalisation that when the wind of change blew across Cameroon, in the 90s, President Biya embraced multi-partism, calling on his supporters, who had marched on the streets of Yaounde, against multi-partism, to instead gird their loins and face reality. 

The process of political modernisation, Biya apologists say, is translated by the setting up of institutions that ensure the separation of powers and the security of individual rights through the January 18, 1996, constitutional amendment and the promulgation of the new Criminal Procedure Code, that takes into consideration the rights to defend and to be presumed innocent.

The political freedom is exemplified by the fact that there are now over 350 authorised political parties in the country. 

Meanwhile, in December 2000, the National Elections Observatory, NEO, was created. 

In November 2006, after a series of consultative meetings, many civil society organisations reflected on modernising the new method of conducting elections. This resulted in the creation of Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, in 2008.

Other Biya supporters say his tenure as Head of State has enabled him to consolidate his democratic achievements (pluralist elections, modern constitution) and to carry out reforms of the State. 

In addition, they say peace (despite the raging armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions) and unity, have been maintained or better still reinforced.

Education sector 

Biya’s policies have extended elementary and secondary education to rural areas. At the level of higher education, from the then lone University of Yaounde, when Biya took over, the country can now boost of 11 State Universities. 

All Regions in the country now have a State University. There is also proliferation of private higher institutions of learning.

In the basic, secondary and high school levels, secularisation has improved drastically and several hundreds of schools have been built or upgraded.

President Biya’s policy has been education for all and prioritising proximity of schools to learners. 

Under the Biya regime, all 360 Subdivisions can boost of at least a secondary school, talk less of primary schools. 

Thanks to this, analysts say Cameroon will be able to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Number Two - universal primary education for boys and girls. 

Infrastructure to boost healthcare

Healthcare stands prominent among the achievements of President Paul Biya in 42 years. The government decreed free treatment for complicated malaria for children below five years among others, under the Universal Health Coverage scheme.  

This is an issue of national interest as malaria remains the number one killer disease in Cameroon and the number one enemy of the poor. 

The regime has also been fighting rigorously against diseases like polio, through systemic vaccination of children below five years. It also ran programmes that have reduced the prevalence of HIV/AIDS within many communities. 

In terms of health infrastructure, almost all communities now boost of at least a health centre. All 10 Regions have a Regional Hospital. Majority of the Regions have Reference Hospitals. 

Nonetheless, health experts say much is still to be done to boost the health sector in terms of equipment, infrastructure and staffing. 

Economic resilience 

The economy of the country, in 42 years, has been resilient. Despite the difficult global economic downturn, Cameroon’s economy has been able to adapt to the international situation, showing resilience. 

Its growth rate last year, increased slightly to around 3.8%, compared to 3.6% in 2021. Economic experts say inflation remains moderate, well below the world average. 

Access to inputs has been guaranteed, allowing manufacturing activities to continue and reducing the risk of food insecurity. All this has been made possible by strong measures implemented by the government.

Last year, in addition to the increase in tax and Customs facilities granted as part of the post-COVID-19 recovery plan, the Head of State highlighted that significant subsidies were granted to companies in vulnerable sectors, to support the viability and competitiveness of national economy.

The country remains credible in the financial markets as its treasury bonds are highly sought after. The government has also made it a duty to regularly pay interests on treasury bonds and repay the principal when they mature. Government has also respected its financial engagements with foreign partners and made efforts to settle internal debts. 

Government’s strategic document for National Development Strategy, NDS30, has outlined actions that have to be taken to achieve development objectives by 2030.

General liberties 

To ensure general liberties, freedom of association, freedom of opinion, and freedom of speech, President Biya promulgated the 1990 Liberty Laws. 

Law No. 90/052 of December 19, 1990, ushered in press freedom and suppressed censorship. It affirmed the right to publish by simplifying and eliminating the constraining administrative and financial requirements for setting up a press organ.

No doubt, there are currently over 700 media organs registered in the country. However, the 1990 press freedom law is routinely circumvented by some overzealous government officials, in order to repress journalists. 

Media practitioners say the fact that libel is still a criminal and not a civil offence is still stifling press freedom in Cameroon.   

Foreign policy successes

Meanwhile, analysts say one of President Biya most enduring achievements in 42 years has been in his conduct of foreign policy. He remains influential in the African Union, AU, and maintains good relations with France, the US and China.

Cameroon is part of the Multinational Joint Taskforce conducting military operations to contain Boko Haram. Biya was key in convincing major powers that Boko Haram posed a global threat.

He settled Cameroon’s conflict with Nigeria over the Bakassi Peninsula and placed relations between the nations on a good footing. 

Biya also diversified foreign policy from a focus on France to expanding relations with China and now Russia. He has encouraged American businesses in Cameroon too.

Even after Cameroon was excluded from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA, a programme that allows African nations to export their goods to the US duty free, for human rights violations, US-Cameroon military collaboration remains buoyant.

Outstanding sports performance 

Within 42 years of Biya at the helm of State, Cameroon has recorded an avalanche of achievements in the domain of sports. 

Just two years into his tenure, Cameroon won the African Cup of Nations, AFCON, in 1984. The country followed with a record-breaking performance at the 1990 World Cup, beating the 1996 World Cup holders, Argentina, in the opening encounter of the tournament and going on right to the quarterfinals of the tournament. It was the first time an African country got to that stage of the World Cup. 

During Biya’s tenure in office, Cameroon has won the AFCON five times. The Indomitable Lions also won gold medal at the 2000 Sidney Olympics. 

In other sports domains, Cameroon, under Biya, has been excelling in athletics, volleyball, handball, cycling, boxing, martial arts, among others.

Cameroon also hosted the Women AFCON in 2016, African Nations Championship, CHAN, in 2020, and AFCON in 2021. With these, came a remarkable improvement in sports infrastructures with stadiums built and others renovated. The country has also hosted several international volleyball and basketball competitions. 

Slow, but steady decentralisation 

Decentralisation was enshrined in the 1996 Constitution of Cameroon. However, it remained in doldrums until recently when government began putting in place structures to fast-track the country’s decentralisation process.

President Biya created the Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development, “in charge of drafting, monitoring, implementing and assessing government’s policy on decentralisation and promoting local development”. 

The ministry also plays a key role in providing qualified manpower for local governance in the decentralisation drive.

In speeding decentralisation, the Head of State also created Regional Councils and reinstated the House of Chiefs in the North West and South West Regions. This is gradually moving Cameroon from a highly centralised to a decentralised State.

However, local development actors, such as mayors, are still pushing for the allocation of 15% of the State budget to councils.

Reinforcing national unity, integration

President Biya’s supporters have also been praising him for his efforts to promote national unity and integration. Living together has been one of the mantras of the CPDM regime, despite what observers say are some occurrences that put spanners in the works as far as unity and national integration are concerned.

In the wake of the Anglophone crisis, which, in 2017, morphed into an armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions, Biya created the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, to put forth solutions for consolidating national unity and strengthening the resolve and actions in the pursuit of peaceful coexistence, in the strict respect of the constitution and institutions. 

Thorns of Biya’s over four decades stay in power

Despite some of the aforementioned achievements, ardent critics of the Biya regime say it has nothing to write home about.

Analysts say not too long after ascending the Supreme Magistracy, with all the sweet-talking that attracted accolades from across the board, Biya “reverted to his predecessor’s tactics, a practice which intensified after the attempted coup in 1984”. 

The same analysts say Biya’s modus operandi has made him more like a myth within the national and international scene. Biya is rarely seen in public and operates more like an absentee landlord. 

The Biya regime, for 42 years, has been one of sloganeering and what analysts termed “failed promises”. It has moved from one slogan to another, such as “Grand Ambitions”, “Grand Chantier”, “Grand Realisations”, among others, with nothing to show for.

Other analysts say Cameroonians have continued to wallow in something worse than what can be termed the ‘old deal’ under Ahidjo. For instance, analysts say Biya took over a land over-flowing with milk and honey. But today, a majority of Cameroonians can barely eke a living.

Rising insecurity

Insecurity is heightening all over the country. Even in the nation’s capital, Yaounde, there have been many reported cases of armed gangs attacking citizens in their homes and in taxis. 

Analysts say the Biya regime needs to step up its game as far as securing citizens and their properties are concerned.   

Poor infrastructure development 

For 42 years, Cameroonians have been lamenting over poor state of infrastructure, especially roads. 

Analysts say even structures that were constructed before the Biya regime have been allowed to dilapidate, “because of a poor maintenance culture”. 

The state of roads in many towns and communities in the country are deplorable. Roads in Yaounde, the nation’s capital, are said to be in almost impassable state.  

It should be recalled that during one of his visits to the North West Region in the early 80s, Biya had said he would personally supervise the tarring of the Bamenda Ring Road. But today, over four decades after, the people are still waiting for him to supervise, even remotely, the tarring of the Ring Road, which remains a nightmare to travelers.

Road infrastructure has been a bane to socioeconomic development during Biya’s tenure in office. With most roads, including farm-to-market roads, been unpassable, rural dwellers find it difficult to transport farm produce to markets.

Still in the transportation sector, the few airports in the country, which are functional, have remained a “national shame” since Biya’s ascension to the helm of State.

Just recently, the issue of bad roads in the country came to public spotlight when the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele, subtly hit at the Minister of Public Works, Nganou Djoumessi, describing the ordeal he went through while travelling from Yaounde to Mutengene, in the South West Region.

Mbarga Nguele, speaking during the General Assembly of Nyong and So’o Economic, Social, and Cultural Development Association, which took place in Mbalmayo, said: “I was in Mutenguene in the South West Region on Thursday for the graduation of new police contingents. It was an ordeal traveling from Yaounde to Mutengene. An ordeal to circulate”. 

He added that: “I have never been in that situation before. The President has given directives and instructions. There are members of government in place. What are we doing for the development of our country?”

Lack of social amenities

The lack of social amenities such as electricity, water, domestic gas and other basic necessities have been one of the issues that have pitted the Biya regime against the Cameroonian citizenry. 

In the case of electricity, blackouts have been recurrent, both in rural and urban areas. The neighbourhoods in the nation’s capital, Yaounde, are known to have gone for at least five days without electricity. Households in Yaounde sometimes go for months without a drop of pipe borne water!  

Though with tremendous natural resources, Cameroon’s electricity woes, experts say, has continued, due to aging infrastructure in the sector.

The cost of accessing energy services is perceived as very high by the poor. 

In the case of domestic gas and kerosene, the cost is still very high in relation to the income level of the rural and peri-urban poor. Still for electricity, people complain, among other things, of high tariffs and uncertified metres.

Rising cost of living

Cameroonians have also been bearing the brunt of the rising cost of living. Prices of basic commodities have been on a steady rise. The recent increase in price of fuel has worsened matters, causing an attendant rise in price of transportation.

While the price of commodities are on the rise, the income of Cameroonians is not.  Ordinary Cameroonians are thus struggling to eke out a living.  

High unemployment rate

Unemployment, analysts say, is one of the issues the Biya regime has failed to sufficiently address in 42 years. Youth unemployment, in particular, has been cancerous in the 42 years of the New Deal regime. 

Prior to the 2011 presidential election, the Biya regime launched the massive recruitment of 25,000 Cameroonian youth into public service. Logically, analysts say, it was a political campaign strategy. 

Despite the fact that 25,000+ Cameroonians, the youth inclusive, were recruited into public service, it is important to highlight that the massive recruitment was alleged to have been flawed by irregularities, nepotism and corrupt practices.

Thousands of university graduates are still roaming the streets in search of jobs. Some have resorted to driving taxis, riding commercial motorbikes, washing cars, among other unskilled jobs, to earn a living.   

Deepening corruption

Corruption has been endemic in the country for the 42 years of Biya in power, with State functionaries easily dipping their hands into the public till.

Critics, however, say Biya has selected a few pilferers and put behind bars, while many, suspected of same crime, are still either holding public offices or enjoying their freedoms.

Though Biya has created structures to fight corruption such as the National Anti-Corruption Commission, CONAC; National Agency for Financial Investigation, ANIF; and the Audit Bench of the Supreme Court, embezzlement and corruption continue to be rife within government circles. 

Analysts say Biya’s failure to implement Article 66 of the constitution that compels State functionaries to declare their assets before and after office, is a speed brake to the fight against corruption.

Failure to industrialise country

Well-functioning industries, experts say, are the backbone of a burgeoning economy. 

But for 42 years, the Biya regime has not lived up to its bidding as far as industrialisation is concerned. The regime has been singing on roof tops about second generation agriculture. 

But analysts say the much-trumpeted second generation agriculture will come to naught, if the country cannot effectively transform its farm produce into finish products, but instead continues to export the produce and import finished products.

To do this, pundits insist that the Biya regime’s industrialisation vision should be revised and speeded up.  

Anglophone crisis, armed conflict in NW, SW

Biya’s Achilles heel is the ongoing Anglophone crisis, which has escalated into an armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions.  

The image of Cameroon as an island of peace in a turbulent CEMAC Subregion, was erased when the Anglophone crisis sparked in late 2016.

The Anglophone crisis, which has escalated into armed conflict, is one of the issues that have tainted the image of the Biya regime and made nonsense the regime’s much-trumpeted slogan of “Cameroon being a land of peace in a turbulent CEMAC Subregion.”

The bloodletting in the crisis-hit English-speaking Regions continues, while the government goes on with its measures that have been termed cosmetic by analysts. Government’s measures to end the armed conflict, analysts say, have not yielded palpable results. 

Some analysts say despite the holding of the Major National Dialogue and the institution of Special Status in the two English-speaking Regions, the government must show goodwill for a genuine, inclusive and third party-mediated dialogue to end the imbroglio.

Rising internal, external debts

One of the banes of the Biya regime has been its internal and external debts. In the last two decades, the regime has gone on a borrowing spree.

According to an International Monetary Fund, IMF, publication, dated May 20, 2023, “Cameroon remains at high risk of debt distress while its overall debt sustainability indicators have deteriorated somewhat compared to the previous DSA, mainly due to external shocks including a weaker exchange rate, as well as due to domestic factors such as lower real growth projections. The debt carrying capacity is weaker as suggested by the latest score of the Composite Index (CI), and the bond spread is above the benchmark value”.

IMF said the external debt stock of Cameroon was estimated at 8,766 billion FCFA (32.8 percent of GDP) and domestic debt at 3,908 billion FCFA (14.6 percent of GDP).

Heightening tribalism    

The phenomenon of tribalism, hate speech, exclusion and marginalisation have been on a constant rise in Cameroon for the past 42 years.

In a country with close to 300 ethnic groups, analysts say the government must step up its measures to curb tribalism, nepotism and hate speech, among others.

Some analysts say tribalism in Cameroon is born out of inequities and injustices that generate frustration.

There have been cases where indigenes of some localities have openly attacked non-indigenes, wounding and even killing some. 

This was the case of Sangmelima, Dja and Lobo Division of Biya’s South Region of origin. Those incidents took place in October 2019 and May 2023. Indigenes had attacked non-indigenous Bamouns in the town in bloody clashes.

Observers say given the fact that Biya himself did not personally address the issue, speaks volumes of a regime “incapable of cleaning its own mess”.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3282 of Wednesday November 06, 2024