WHY CHANGE IS DIFFICULT IN CAMEROON

The Cameroonian society is the most divided and segmented society in the African continent. There are few common traits amongst the multitude of tribes. Talk of a nation is elusive. It is difficult to lay claim to nationhood with this anthropological and historical cacophony. The bipolar colonial heritage too is another problem. This diverse and most often conflicting setup is the most appropriate and enabling environment for an everlasting dictatorship. While tribes battle each other, while political parties battle each other, there is one segment that is demonstrating a remarkable degree of solidarity….. THE BIYA GANG. The unity of the gang is solidly built on two pillars… TRIBE and MONEY…..They may have occasional internal skirmishes of vested interests, but the overriding interest of power ownership ad vitam erternam is paramount. That’s why this gang has survived for 44 years and counting. For at least 15 years, Biya has vacated the throne. The gang has successfully filled the void. Democracy may remain elusive for many more years to come. Each tribe in Cameroon has its own notion of democracy, at variance with the others. The solidarity of the Biya gang definitely excludes any possibility of the opposition ever democratically coming close to power. It is a pipe dream. The gang will never accept an opposition victory in any form presidential, parliamentary or even local elections. They will confiscate the results openly and by force. For as long as Cameroonians (particularly opposition parties) cannot find some common ground of unity, the Biya gang will survive and maybe for a very, very long time. Their survival is assured by one thing: “their remarkable unity and the remarkable disunity amongst Cameroonians”…

Hon. JM Ntam @breakingnews