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What assessment can you make of the twenty-one years of the Biya regime at the helm of Cameroon

The performance has been globally positive 21 years is a long time. But in the life of a nation 21 years is not long enough. These are many things you can do in 21 years and there are still many things you cannot do in 21 years.

In 1982 when Biya came to power, it was also then that I joined the civil service. Judging Biya would thus be like judging myself. What have I achieved during these past 21 years?

Has everything been positive? Are there difficulties, which I could have been somounted? And what are plans for the future?

I can say with assurance that the Cameroonian society has witnessed a positive change. And this is a continuous process. There is no time we would say that we have achieved all the goals which were set.

What concretely are the indicators of this positive change you talk about?

We have democracy in Cameroon now, though it is not perfect yet. We have achieved a high level of development, though we have not attained the goal, if I may put it like that. Our development is a process. The Biya regime has done a lot and a lot still has to be done.

Democratically there are burning issues and reforms such as electoral reforms that Cameroonians are longing for. Don’t you think the regime has been a failure to Cameroonians in these area?

The Biya regime is not a failure in the area of democracy. Let’s go back.

In 1986, during the single party era, Biya instituted a form of democracy in the party. That was like initiating Cameroonians into democracy. The party was renewing its leadership that year and there was competition among members of the same party.

In 1988 during parliamentary elections, there were primaries within the CPDM.

It has always been Biya’s wish to institute democracy in Cameroon. I know that the speed of implementation is not good enough for many people but we are making some progress. You recall that during the last ministerial council he gave instructions that text for decentralisation and putting in place of visions as prescribed by the constitution be made ready.

We started a race for a democratic society but we have not yet reached the end of the race and thus can not talk of total success or failure.

As you say, it is only a race. But when we see the reluctance with which government treat, certain burning issues like electoral reforms, it appears it now thinks embracing democracy was the wrong option . Isn’t it?

I don’t know what you mean when you say the government is reluctant.

International pressure has always been on government before it could undertake certain reforms and it is now heightened especially with electoral reforms.

As I said, the pace with which these things are carried out does not soothe everybody. We are a government and an indepdent country. We don’t need to be presurised to put in place our institutions. The president decided every thing and he knows what pace is good enough for Cameroonians. And I don’t think at any moment we have ever succumbed to international pressure.

At 21, is the Biya regime still any useful to Cameroon?

The regime is still very useful. So far no body has proposed any thing better. The type of society proposed by the Biya regime is still the best. And as time goes on, with the putting in place of institutions foreseen by our constitution, things are going to improve. And as far as I am concerned there is no other regime that can implement those policies better than the Biya regime.

But it has taken 21 years and not much has been achieved. What else can the Biya regime offer.

When you start a process there are elements that you put in place and in the course of putting in place the polices, you may have changes. And this will prompt you to readapt your thinking.

The society is not like a machine. There are some parameters which come that can not be controlled by the government. When such situations occur the government tries to adapt.

The Biya regime still has a lot to offer because the society which the Biya regime wants to put in place, has not been put in place completely. This is a process. You cannot stop midway and give a final judgement. We are on the good footing and things are moving according to plans.

As an Anglophone do you not think this part of Cameroon is not given its due share of the political and economic resources of this country?

I don’t know what parameters we could use to say whether or not that part of the country is not having its due share. However, it is normal that in a country where you have several groups each group fights to get as much as possible from the central government. And that is why it is not only the Anglophones who complain.

There are complaints from the East and Northern provinces, all saying they are not having a fair share of the resources. These provinces are not Anglphone provinces. Even here in Yaounde there are complains and I am well placed to say some of the complaints are founded.

It is time that Anglophones say they have a problem. But to me the problem has not been really defined. There is a problem, but what problem? If we knew exactly what was the problem as law makers we could initiate a private member’s bill to correct the situation.

But the people have to come out clearly and tell us what the problem is. I have told people that I can’t say I am marginalised in Yaounde that is, taking an individual case. If there is talk about marginalisation, there is need to say what form it takes: so they prevent you from going to school for instance?

How did CPDM militants of your constituency celebrate the 21 anniversary?

Last year we celebrated the 20th anniversary very hecticly. And the celebration of the 21st anniversary this year was peculiar. Perculier in the sense that it is the last anniversary for this first seven year mandate and comes before next year’s (presidential) election.

Militants of my constituency used the celebration to demonstrate their support for Biya and that he stands as their natural candidate because they are going to vote for him. That is why the turn out was massive.

We also demonstrated to the entire Cameroonians society that Biya is still the only person who can implement the policies that are best for them. An the next being his last seven year mandate he would probably want to finalise all that he initiated.

What chances does he has to win the next election to «finalise» as you say?

It is definitely going to be a land slide victory because so far there is no other candidates who could match Biya.

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