PCRN affair: between abuse of power and settling of scores?

The Minister of Territorial Administration comes to inform the Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN) that he has not taken note of the definitive exclusion of Robert Kona, one of the founding members of the party. This is a decision that puts the ball back in the center in this affair where Paul Atanga Nji is already accused of serving as a screen for a government that does not want the candidacy of Cabral Libii in 2025.

The brewing war between the Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN) and the Minister of Territorial Administration augurs a new battle. Yesterday at the end of the day Paul Atanga Nji informed Cabral Libii’s party that he did not take note of the exclusion of Robert Kona, one of the founding members of this political formation. Atanga Nji evokes the violation of the PCRN statutes and the lack of quality. This exit of the Minister of Territorial Administration follows a correspondence from Boubakari Massardine, the secretary general of the party who informed him of the decision which had been taken to exclude Robert Kona, one of the founding fathers of the party. Robert Kona is accused of having โ€œcommitted acts of rebellion likely to cause serious confusion within public opinion, thereby undermining the serenity within our political formation, which is more than ever in battle order for face the upcoming electoral deadlines.

If Paul Atanga Nji’s response did not surprise many people, it also constitutes an abuse of power according to some opinions. Cabral Libii, the president of the PCRN denounced relentlessness. โ€œThrough the correspondence that the Minister of Territorial Administration sent to the Secretary General of the PCRN, there is confirmation of two confessions. The first was made by the former president Mr. Kona Robert, the day after the ban on the Kribi congress. Ban that he had fraudulently obtained. He said in a press conference that all measures would be taken to prevent me from being a candidate in the presidential election so it was necessary to deprive me of the control of the PCRN which has elected officials and is likely to be invested in an election presidential. The second confession was on the airwaves of a radio where he said that he was acting with the permission and supervision of the Minister of Territorial Administration,โ€ he said on STV.

Adding that from a legal point of view, the Minister’s correspondence is absurd. โ€œIn the PCRN correspondence, he is only given information of the exclusion of the one who is his sidekick in this low maneuver. The second reason is that no provision of the law of 90 which governs political parties gives power and competence to the Minat to take note of anything that takes place in the daily life of the parties. Otherwise, we would be in an authoritarian country with hindsight of 20 years, 30 years where the Minat decides who is militant and who is not,โ€ explained Cabral Libii.

Reacting to the exit of Paul Atanga Nji, Marc Essomba, lawyer and CPDM activist, thinks that Paul Atanga Nji is in his role. โ€œWhy did the secretary general of the PCRN feel forced to write to the Minister of Territorial Administration? The Minat has the internal skills to produce the relevance of this type of document. In his role and for the respect of public freedoms, he is one of the guarantors of public order. And to issue a notice of conformity, he works with the texts of the political parties which are directed towards him,โ€ he explained.

Long legal battles ahead

At the Kaele Court of First Instance, the legal proceedings initiated by Robert Kona against Cabral Libii are still pending. One of the founding fathers of the PCRN criticizes the current national president for having usurped the quality of the national president of the party. If the outcome of this case remains uncertain, other procedures could follow, especially with the notice of non-compliance issued by the Minister of Territorial Administration, which could give rise to proceedings before the administrative court. Moreover, we learned this morning that a complaint was filed against Robert Kona at the Ekounou first instance court for forgery and use of forgery by the former treasurer Wanfeo Williams Guillaume. In this complaint he is accused of having attributed a false signature to the former treasurer in the emergency memorandum: call for responsibility and integrity within the Pcrn dated November 27, 2023.

A Cabral Libii candidacy in danger

From all this imbroglio it is Cabral Libii who aims to be a presidential candidate in 2025 who has everything to lose. The PCRN deputy tried to respond vigorously to those who would act behind the Minister of Territorial Administration. He estimated that if the Cameroonian people choose him to be a candidate and then president in 2025, his detractors โ€œwill see it with their eyesโ€. But in reality, if the maneuver to put Cabral Libii out of the race in 2025 is firm, the Minister of Territorial Administration has several tricks up his sleeve. He will be able to continue to play trouble within the PCRN and ensure that the party submits two presidential candidacies. Which will simply be rejected as was the case with the UPC during the last local elections. In the event of real threats, Paul Atanga Nji could simply suspend the PCRN on the eve of the presidential election. But right now, we’re not there yet.