New Book on Cameroon for Critical Understanding of Its Crises !

 Title: THE PAST AS PROLOGUE. Essays on Cameroon, 1980-1995

Author: Ndiva Kofele Kale (Emeritus Professor of law)

Publishers: Nyaa Publishers, Yaoundé-Cameroon

 Edition: First Published in 2022     Pages: 117    Chapters: 14

Book Cover: Paperback    Price: 5000 Fcfa

 Sales point: Ngassa Book Shop, Buea-Cameroon

 By Christopher Ambe.

The book, The PAST AS PROLOGUE. Essays on Cameroon, 1980-1995 qualifies as a must-read for everyone interested in a critical understanding of the historical and political evolution of Cameroon. The book has been published in the midst of the on-going Anglophone Crisis, which erupted in October 2016.

The book is a collection of special but polemical newspaper and magazine essays penned between 1980 and 1995, a period when fundamental freedoms were a scarcity in Cameroon, imposed by the authorities that wielded power then.

In a foreword to the book, Sam Bokuba, a critical senior  journalist with the state-owned Cameroon Radio & Television Corporation(CRTV),notes, “The articles are high-minded, sometimes pedantic, bringing with them  the cold-blooded analytical depth, intellectual erudition and a matter-of-factness approach of the author who has been gazing the crystal  ball for  a long time. The issues addressed are as topical yesterday as they are today.

“They touch on the one-party oligarchy in Cameroon, power alternance, bad governance, multiparty politics, election management and constitutional and institutional reform”

In his remarks to Cameroonian journalists on March 12,2022 in Buea during a press briefing,  the author, Prof. Ndiva Kofele Kale noted,  “The Past as Prologue” is a collection of 14 critical essays (“essays” for lack of a better term because they include interviews, speeches, commentaries as well as letters to the editor) written between 1980 and 1995.

 The first three essays, he disclosed, were written in the waning days of President Ahidjo’s reign while the other eleven appeared in the first decade of Mr. Biya’s presidency (Mr. Biya became President of Cameroon in November 1982)

In the essays, the author raises and confronts some of the burning issues of our time: fundamental cleavages in our society, most notably the Anglophone-Francophone divide; official corruption; one-party hegemony; constitutional and institutional reform and so on.

“The essays were sufficiently controversial and not all were well[1]received by the respective regimes and their apologists. It would be interesting to see what reaction they evoke today!” the author pointed out during his press briefingin Buea.

Professor Kofele kale revealed that the book title “The Past as Prologue” is borrowed from the phrase “what’s past is prologue” in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Act 2, Scene 1, where Shakespeare’s character, Antonio, uses the phrase to suggest that all that has happened before that time, i.e., the “past”, has led Sebastian and himself to this opportunity to do what they are about to do which is commit the murder of Sebastian’s sleeping father, King Alfonso of Naples.

“This idea that history sets the context for the present was very much in my mind when I decided to republish these essays in book form. But my appropriation of Shakespeare’s “what’s past is prologue” metaphor in the book’s title is not only intended to mean that the past is predictor of the future. But to suggest also that though the past is already written, the future remains ours to mold, subject to the choices we decide to make. Our past merely sets the stage for the story that is yet to come. In this sense, Cameroon’s future is a blank page on which the real story is yet to be written.”

Author  Kofele Kale  talking to reporters in Buea about the book "The Past as Prologue..."

The author continued, “On this point, Franz Fanon’s challenge to successive generations of the youths of Africa, in general, and those of Cameroon in particular, inviting them to emerge from their relative obscurity, discover their mission in life, fulfill or betray it, is so apt.

According to the author, “The generation that will read this collection of essays will most likely be the one to write the next chapter of Cameroon’s history! I hope and pray that as they undertake this herculean task, they do so mindful of the Spanish-American philosopher, George Santayana’s ominous warning that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

If forgetting our past condemns us to repeating history’s mistakes is the first takeaway from The Past as Prologue, then the other is the sad reminder that the more things change, the more they stay the same. For better or for worse? This Hegelian paradox of history repeating itself, to which Marx added that the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce, is ubiquitous in this collection”

About The Author

Until he was conferred professor emeritus status, following his retirement in 2017, Cameoonian-born Ndiva Kofele Kale was the University Distinguished Professor and Professor of Law at Southern Methodist University(SMU) Dedman School of Law In Dallas Texas,where for almost three decades he taught courses on Corporate Law, International Law, International Human Rights, and International Litigation and Arbitrations.

Prior to coming to SMU,Professor Kofele Kale was for three years  on the faculty of the University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville,Tennessee and before that,he taught Political Science for ten years at Governors State University in Illinois,USA

He is admitted to practice before the U.S Supreme Court, the U.S Court of Appeal for the 7^th Circuit, the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and is a member of the Illinois and Cameroon bars.

He has authored eight books and over forty refereed articles in academic/professional journals, some of which address the socio-political and economic situation in Cameroon.

 

Facilitating Cameroonians’ Admission into Foreign Universities is my Contribution to Nation-building

-Says Macellous Mbameg, Managing Director, Globus Education Systems

Macellous  Mbameg,Managing Director of Globus Education Systems

Macellous  Mbameg, 48, is the Managing Director of Globus Education Systems (GES), a company that facilitates the admission of students into top-world universities in 12 countries.

Headquartered in Douala, GES has already facilitated the admission of more than five hundred students abroad for further studies.  Mr.Mbameg, who recently ended a two-week admission campaign in Buea,sat down for an interview with Horizon Contributing Editor, Christopher Ambe. 

The Managing Director urges Cameroonian graduates to increasingly strive to be self-reliant instead of looking up to the State for employment.

Excerpts:

Sir, you are the Managing Director of Globus Education Systems. Could you present your company to our readers?

Globus Education Systems (GES) is a network of universities around the globe that we represent in Sub-Sahara Africa.

We represent universities in 12 different countries-the US,Canada,UK,Ireland ,France,Switzerland ,India etc

Basically, we assist students who want to study in our partner universities to gain admission.

GES is a company, which was founded in Cameroon in October2020.It has its headquarters in Douala-Cameroon and   a country office in Lagos, Nigeria.

What prompted the creation of GES?

I previously worked for a London-based company called Global University Systems, which owns about 35 universities world-wide. I worked there as the Sales and Marketing Director for Sub-Sahara Africa in charge of Recruitment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, my position was furlough

With COVID-19 things were slow and I said, “This is an opportunity for me to explore.”

Global University Systems had not resumed work due to COVID-19 and I reasoned that with my wide experience why not create something and start working on my own?’ That is how I created GES.

At the same time, I had an international job as Sales Director for Africa and Middle East for Nello Corporation, a telecommunication tower manufacturer in the US .I worked with them for eight years, but due to COVID-19 restrictions my position also was on hold.  Temporarily jobless but already knowledgeable in international students recruitment, I decided to engage myself while waiting.

In how many countries does GES operate?

For now we are only in Cameroon and Nigeria. But we take advantage of ICT/Internet to advertise our services. Recently, we recruited students from all over Africa.  We  treat students ‘files from Ghana,Kenya,Uganda etc ;I tell my colleagues that if we are still to go visit other countries and applications are already coming from all over, “What will happen if we starting visiting these countries?”

We plan to expand within Sub Sahara Africa. This year alone, we plan to open seven country offices in the continent.

We will soon go to Liberia. We have invitations from institutions out of Cameroon. Once we go to these countries we will create offices there.

You just ended a two-week admission campaign in Buea, do you have plans to do same in Bamenda where education is its major industry?

We have a roadmap for Cameroon. Our next destination is Yaounde; then back to Douala for an event. While the event in Douala will be going on, I will dispatch delegations to other cities like Bamenda,Dchang,Bafoussam,Nkongsamba  to organize similar events.

 How far has GES realized its goals and objectives?

I must say we are marveled at what we have achieved in less than two years of operation. We have sent at least five hundred students overseas already for study. We also have a large number of students admitted but who have not been able to travel because of COVID-19 restrictions. We have students with visas but who cannot travel now because of these restrictions.

 We have achieved a lot within a short period. The  country office in Nigeria is a great achievement

You just ended in Buea a two-week or so campaign for rapid admission into top-world universities. How would you assess the response of the Buea student community to the initiative?

We had wonderful exchange with the students in Buea. The turnout was very impressive. Within the two weeks in Buea, we received over 1200 students.

Were you counseling students free of charge?

Yes, counseling was for free. Students read a variety of courses in school, but many do not know what to pursue in the future, so we gave them orientation about the job market. We also did visa counseling and guidance. We talked to them about visa attractive programs.

How does GES facilitate study loans for students?

Being a study loan facilitator means that I am not the one providing the loans to students. The way the world is structured now is  that organizations work in partnerships with others. I am in partnership with universities. And certain universities are in partnership with financial institutions that provide loans. As representative of these universities, those that have partnership with financial institutions mandate me to look for admitted students in need of financial assistance. At the same time I have a direct partnership with funding organizations. I apply to them for study loans. MPower is the largest students’ loan provider in the world, giving out loans without collateral and co-signers.

 Can you boast that you have already facilitated access to study loans, which some students have obtained?

This loan initiative is new .We just launched it last February.

Anybody can get the loan but there are certain areas that are attractive to the funding organizations .We call them the STEM program. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Anyone pursuing further study in these areas can easily get a loan. If students come to us and want the study loan and they aren’t in the STEM area -especially when they have a Bachelor’s degree, we can redirect them to the STEM area, where it is easy to get the loan. If they don’t want to be flexible, that is where we have the challenge.

Why are you interested seeing students further their studies?

Education is what drives an economy and brings about development. If people are not educated, their country cannot develop.

I have been to 72 countries word-wide and I have seen how educated people enhance the development of their nations.

 One of my contributions to building Cameroon is to get Cameroonians travel abroad for further studies, so that upon completion, they can come and help develop the country.

With your globe-trotting experiences, you have created a company. There are hundreds of thousands of graduates without jobs in Cameroon. What advice would you give them?

 My fervent appeal to them is: they should stop counting on the government. Government is already doing a lot .Why should university graduates without jobs blame the government? While studying in the universities, it is the State that pays their tuition and almost everything. When counseling students I tell them that to study in a foreign university is about ten to twenty million Fcfa and they are surprised at the high amount. I don’t blame them because many have studied in state-owned universities like University of Buea, where a student pays registration fee of 50,000 Fcfa per year. That 50,000 Fcfa is not school fees! Their university education is being subsidized by the State. And if the State has provided you with “free education’ and you graduate, you have to learn how to create jobs; to be self-emeployed.You must not be employed by somebody. When invited somewhere to give a business talk,I always tell my audiences that they can create and build  businesses in any area. We have so many opportunities in Cameroon that people don’t exploit. You don’t need much money to begin. I have more than a hundred business ideas that someone  could take one  and start with  say 500,000fcfa and grow. People must be self-reliant and not always think that to gain employment you must be employed by someone or the state.

Could you tell our readers much more about who Macellous  Mbameg really is?

I was born 48 years ago in Tiko.I attended schools in several subdivisions of the Southwest region because my father was a CDC estate manager .I grew up in the plantations. I always tell people I am a son of a farmer.

I attended Primary school in Mutengene before proceeding to Bilingual Gramm
ar School in Molyko-Buea,from there to PHS Batibo and PHS kumba. After my high education, I worked at the Chinese Embassy in Yaounde as Consultant incharge of Bilateral Trade Cooperation ;later I worked with a Chinese company called WholeSwitch telecom and I was appointed its pioneer Africa Director; I proceeded to the US where I did an MBA in Marketing Management at the European School of Economics in New York .Upon my return to Cameroon, I did some consultancy and later got a job with Nello corporation with headquarters in the USA.I was its  director for West Africa, then appointed  Sales Director,Africa,Sales Director for Africa & Middle East where I worked till 2020.I still occupy the position, which has simply be put on hold because of the COVID 19 pandemic restrictions.

I am a native of Batibo in the Northwest Region of Cameroon; a Presbyterian married and have four children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cameroon: Globus Education Systems Launches Campaign for Rapid Admission into Top World Universities.

Macellous Mbameg,Managing Dircetor of  Globus Education Systems, talking to reporters in
Molyko -Buea at launch of rapid admission into top world universities 

 By Christopher Ambe

Since February 15, the Conference hall of the Presbyterian Church Molylo-Buea has been busy with students who are interested in furthering their studies in renowned universities word-wide.

These students have been seeking and getting information on how to  get admitted into some  top foreign universities  for Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programmes ,as well as get funded,  from   Globus Education Systems(GES), which is a network of international educational institutions.

Officials of Globus Education Systems, led by its Managing Director, Cameroonian-born Macellous Mbameg, on February 15 , launched  a sensitization and admission  campaign to that effect  in Buea ,which will ends on February 26.

 Globus Education Systems, whose goal is facilitating direct admission into top world universities, has its headquarters in Douala -Cameroon and a country office in Lagos ,Nigeria. It plans to open  branches in other countries.

 GES was incorporated in Cameroon in 2020, according to the General Manager

Mbameg disclosed that Globus Education Systems does not only facilitate direct admission of students into top world universities, but also facilitates study loans to admitted students.

 “This loan is given without collateral and no co-signer”, he told the assembly of students who on February 15 attended the admission campaign launch in Molyko –Buea.

On whether Globus Education Systems can facilitate visas for students admitted into the top universities, Mbameg quipped: “We have partnership with some embassies like India …but we cannot guarantee that we can facilitate the obtaining  of visa to the US and Canada.”   

He disclosed that since the incorporation of Globus Education Systems in Cameroon in 2020, over 500 students gained admission into foreign universities but because of COVID-19 restrictions many could not travel to study.

According to the Managing Director, “Not travelling after the students gained admission was neither the problem of Globus Education Systems nor that of the universities that admitted them.

“Hundreds of students are studying in India, where we have two partner universities”

Students applying for admission into top world varsities through Globus Education Systems are required to pay a service charge (application fee).

The Managing Director insisted that admission through GES is 100% guaranteed.

“We are university representatives (not agents).We make decisions for admission on the spot. We have gone further to get this partnership whereby students will not only be admitted but can also get funding to cover their cost of study,”Mbameg pointed out.

He added that being a Cameroonian he decided to bring this opportunity to Cameroon whereby “students can apply for admission abroad and secure a study loan for the entire duration of their study”.

Mbameg said GES is also a loan facilitator for students who have secured admission but are incapable of sponsoring themselves “The study loan is made available to the students (by a banking institution) upon arrival on campuses of the chosen universities,”Mbameg noted.

Once admitted, GES-recommended students are allowed to work while studying, the Managing Director said, noting that the costs of visa and flight are the responsibility of admitted students

GES, it emerged, is also committed to counseling students on different life options.

The Managing Director was accompanied to the launch in Buea by Shufor Zita.F, Head of Admissions and Lahmu Sandrine, its Country Manager, among other colleagues.

GES partner universities are found in : the USA,Switzerland,Australia,UK, Canada,Germany, Greece, Ireland,India ,France etc.

 

 

 

Cameroon Anglophone Crisis: Bullets Will Not Solve The Problem, Dialogue Will

 By Dr. Amos Namanga  Ngongi *

Dr. A mos Namanga. Ngongi

The months of October, November and December were in many ways a great disappointment for Cameroonians. October 1^st that should have been a day of great joy and celebration of the 60^th Anniversary of the unification of Cameroon, a diamond jubilee worthy of pomp and pageantry, was not marked in any way or form. I remember with fondness the celebration of the first anniversary on 1 October, 1962.

However, considering the fact that the date has been all but wiped out of the country’s political calendar and in the face of the ongoing socio-political crisis and being a Monday, that day was marked by deafening silence in the North West and South West Regions. I remember the great enthusiasm and hope of the population of Buea on 1 October, 1961 and the mammoth crowd that gathered at the Buea Town Green for the historic occasion. The guard of honour led by Inspector of Police Boniface Patcha, now of blessed memory, was inspected by President Ahmadou Ahidjo and the Vice President and Prime Minister of West Cameroon, John Ngu Foncha. Even the early morning drizzle did not dampen the spirits of the population. There must be hundreds alive who witnessed that ceremony and who like me were disappointed at the non-recognition of such an important event 60 years later.

Then came the 14^th of October and the gruesome killing of little Carolis by a Gendarme. The spontaneous reaction of the crowd was a powerful demonstration of the pent-up anger of the population that is living under the weight of hardships -imposed by the sociopolitical crisis. It is a pity that the little girl lost her life in such a brutal manner. I visited Caro’s grave on 1^st November and prayed that her soul be received in heaven. Of equal pity was the mob justice imposed on the Gendarme by the angry crowd. Caro’s death brought back bad memories of the Kumba massacre of 24^th October, 2020 in which seven children were killed at Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy and 13 others injured.

However, as the saying goes, every dark cloud has a silver lining. The silver lining on the 14^th of October, 2021 was the unveiling of the Governor of the South West Region. He spoke as a Governor and a father, using words of empathy that would calm any angry crowd. One can only wonder what would have happened had he addressed the crowds in 2016 and 2017 in similar manner. May be we could have avoided the extremes of the current sociopolitical crisis.

The killing machine that has been unleashed on the population of the North West and South West Regions marches on. The social media is full of horrible images of heaps of dead bodies, armored cars blown up by improvised explosive devices, houses torched to the ground and villages that have been destroyed. To this carnage is added the million or so Cameroonians who have been displaced and are roaming from place to place. One only needs to visit Buea and see how crowded it has become because of its relative security. The resulting unplanned population growth and taxis, both regular and clandestine, have made life difficult for the resident population. The limited infrastructure (roads, water and electricity) has been stretched to the limits. The cost of living has skyrocketed. All of these inconveniencies are no match for the loss of life, torture and wanton arrests and imprisonment without trial that the population endures on a daily basis. As if October was not bad enough, November started with a bang.

Another young girl of 7 was killed by a Policeman in Bamenda and a school attacked in Ekondo Titi resulting in the death of four students and a teacher. These killings are in addition to the continued killing of soldiers, separatists and civilians, most of which are unreported. Then followed the explosions of IEDs in Buea. Two taxis bombed resulting in one death and the bombing of the Trade Fair Grounds that resulted in the wounding of twelve persons. The population of Buea that has lived in some security is now in shock

The only way to stop the killings, restore human rights and dignity, encourage displaced persons to return to their homes, ease the pressure on infrastructure, launch a credible reconstruction programme and revive the crippled economy in both regions is to stop the war.

The National Assembly, recently in session, did not have on its agenda an item on the sociopolitical crisis. Apparently, the crisis is not yet considered serious enough to merit a debate. However, advantage was taken during the discussion on the reconstruction programme for the North West and South West regions to express views on the Anglophone crisis. Is this case even one of “putting a cart before the horse”? The two regions are in a state of emergency and insecurity in which people are losing their lives and there is massive involuntary migration of the population to urban areas within and out of the two English-speaking regions. Instead of seeking avenues to put a stop to the emergency situation caused by the war, the talk is about reconstruction. It is amazing that organizations and countries that should be exerting pressure on the warring parties to make peace are pledging resources for reconstruction. The goodwill is appreciated but evidence from other warring countries does not support such planning. At best, it is to comfort the government to maintaining a wrong strategy.

As long as the war rages on, all plans for reconstruction and reviving the economy are fraught with failure. The Anglophone crisis has been analyzed and proposals for a solution made by many well informed persons, Cameroonians and others. What is now needed is the convening of a national conference or dialogue to discuss various options to save the people of the  North West and South West Regions and the country. There is no need for Cameroonians, be they members of security forces, separatists or civilians to be dying in a war that did not have to occur. Five years into the war it is incumbent on the government to initiate action to end it. Separatists should respond positively to invitations from the government for dialogue. Bullets will not solve the problems and end the war, dialogue will. A mediated dialogue without preconditions will chart a path to peace.

At the end of October, representatives of some of the warring factions and other stakeholders convened in Toronto, Canada, to discuss the Anglophone crisis. The stated objective was to work towards coordinated positions. Although all parties concerned were not represented, that was a step in the right direction. If there is common understanding among the various non-state actors it would make future discussions with the government much easier. It was a welcome effort on the part of the Coalition for Dialogue and Negotiations (CDN). Hopefully future sessions will broaden participation and fine-tune positions and options that can be tabled at a Dialogue. The essence should be to identify, discuss and agree on options that would allow the populations of the North West and South West Regions to have a true sense of belonging and live in harmony with the rest of the country, if possible.

Having missed the 60^th anniversary of unification for peace to return to the North West and South West Regions, I hope we will not wait until the 61^st anniversary to start the process. Let us start now with a ceasefire. At least a truce that permits discussions on modalities for a ceasefire should be declared. Borrowing from the Greeks and the truces they used to institute in respect of the Olympic Games, let a football truce be declared from 1^st January to 15^th February, 2022. It will be a bold step towards creating conditions for peace. Peace @60 is still possible. We have 9 months to the 61^st anniversary of unification. That is enough time to silence the guns and breathe the fresh air of peace.

 *Dr.Namanga Ngongi is a former Under-Secretary General and Special Representative of the UN to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Head of the Peacekeeping Mission (MONUC).

 

 

 

Cameroon President in 2022 New Year message vows to fish out "terrorists' in the country.

 Paul Biya ,the President of the Republic of Cameroon ,has in his New Year 2022  message to Cameroonians delivered on December 31,2021,vowed to  track down   perpetrators and sponsors  of criminal activities  in the country wherever they  are hiding  and prosecute them. Criminal activities such as murders, kidnappings, arson  are rife in the Northwest and Southwest regions since  the ongoing Anglophone Crisis erupted in 2016. 

************************** Read full speech below:

Fellow Cameroonians,

My Dear Compatriots,

This year, the coronavirus pandemic has yet again featured among the major causes for concern worldwide.

The disease has not been eradicated despite significant efforts by the scientific community and governments.

It is noted that the virus tends to adapt to our environment over time, as evidenced by the emergence of new variants, thus making control of the pandemic particularly challenging.

Unfortunately, it continues to plunge families into mourning, disrupt social life and create economic distortions.

Should we then despair and yield to pessimism? Obviously NO.

We learn from history that this is not humanity’s first epidemic, and it is undoubtedly far from being its last.

By the way, I am confident that we will overcome the coronavirus in the same manner as previous epidemics.

For my part, I will spare no effort in ensuring that the requisite measures to stem its spread in our country are actually implemented.

The response strategy implemented by the Government is yielding excellent results. Over the past two years, it has helped to save lives and to curb the spread of COVID-19 in our country.

Accordingly, it should be continued and, as appropriate, improved to better adapt to the mutations of this dangerous virus.

Hence, the need to stay alert and to continue observing the rules of hygiene and preventive measures such as wearing a mask in all public places or physical distancing.

However, given the virulence of the virus, vaccination is definitely an additional preventive measure.

In many cases, a full vaccination course helps to avert severe complications of the disease, which are generally fatal.

That is why I urge each and every one to get vaccinated and not to pay heed to the conspiracy theories that abound on social media about the coronavirus vaccine.

Indeed, combining preventive measures with vaccination will enable us to break the chain of contamination of this virus and return to normal life more speedily.

My Dear Compatriots,

Notwithstanding the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic-related health crisis, we have remained focused on the target we set within the framework of our National Development Strategy for the 2020–2030 period.

Despite its adverse impact on the economic fabric, we have relentlessly continued implementing our transformational projects, thanks to the sustained mobilization of non-oil revenue, the implementation of domestic budget consolidation measures and support from our development partners.

Fiscal reforms, particularly in the taxation and customs sectors, have boosted our capacity to mobilize funds from the international financial market.

 

The credibility of Cameroon’s signature thus helped to successfully refinance the Eurobond and to conclude a new Economic and Financial Programme with the International Monetary Fund.

Thanks to financial resources mobilized both within and outside the country, substantial investments have been made to complete the first- generation transformational projects.

These include:

completion of the first phase of the Yaounde-Nsimalen, Yaounde-Douala and Kribi-Lolabe motorways. They have been operationalized under public-private partnerships;

construction of 914 kilometres of asphalted roads;

extension of the health map with the commissioning of the Ebolowa and Bafoussam referral hospitals, as well as the completion of that of Garoua;

implementation of projects to achieve energy self-sufficiency through continuation of construction work on the Nachtigal dam and completion of the hydropower transmission line from the Memve’elé dam.

Works are ongoing to interconnect the Northern and Southern electrical grids. The implementation of this project will contribute to a sustainable reduction of the energy deficit in our country’s northern regions. 

At the same time, there was a need to continue ensuring private sector competitiveness in a macro-economic environment severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is common knowledge that the pandemic has led to rising sea freight costs, thus directly increasing the price of essential goods.

Aware of the huge sacrifices made by national economic operators to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic, I instructed the Government to reduce by 80% the sea freight transportation cost to be included in calculating customs duties.

The Government must also continue discussions with the private sector to identify further measures that can be implemented.

By the way, if we have to meet the growth challenge, we must strive to reduce our imports and increase the volume of our exports by boosting domestic production.

In any case, it behoves us to create conditions for more robust, sustainable, inclusive and employment-generating growth, particularly for our youths who are and will remain the primary beneficiaries of ongoing reforms in various areas.

Considering the measures taken, we have reason to be optimistic about economic recovery and an uptick in our growth rate to 4.2% in 2022, from 3.6% in 2021. This positive outlook is consistent with that of a global return to   growth as announced by the relevant international bodies. Our country has the capacity to make the most of this situation.

My Dear Compatriots,

Despite the challenges faced by our country, we continue to be respected on a global scale.

The trust Cameroon enjoys among our partners is the result of our constant efforts to ensure that the country remains the haven of peace and stability that it has always been.   

To this end, we have stepped up our efforts to maintain peace and security nationwide. 

Boko Haram’s sporadic incursions into the Far-North Region in recent months have been met with stiff resistance from our defence forces. Once more, I wish to pay them a well-deserved tribute for their courage, commitment and professionalism.

I take this opportunity to commend the full mobilization of the nation’s lifeblood, the population and vigilante committees, that are contributing decisively to the success of our popular defence strategy.

I am pleased to note that a large number of our compatriots who had joined armed groups have accepted my peace overture.

Many Boko Haram members have laid down their arms and are being catered for in Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Centres in the Far-North Region. The same holds true in the North-West and South-West Regions where many members of armed groups continue to surrender.

However, many of our compatriots remain within the ranks of armed groups. They continue to engage in criminal activities, increasing attacks with improvised explosive devices and murders of unarmed civilians.

The recent assassination of three students and a teacher of Bilingual High School Ekondo Titi added to their long list of abuses and atrocities.

I would like, once again, to reiterate Government’s firm determination to restore peace in the regions that are under security threats.

It should be clearly understood that wherever the perpetrators and sponsors of such acts are hiding, they will be relentlessly tracked down and will face the full force of the law.

In this fierce fight against barbarism, I urge the Cameroonian people to step up collaboration with our defence and security forces in order to neutralize the fanatics of armed violence and to preserve the integrity of our territory.

Many of our compatriots have fallen in battle while engaged in this lofty civil and military defence task. May our determination to keep up the fight bring solace to them as their sacrifice for the Republic will not be in vain.

They are role models for our youths, whom I urge to shun indoctrination attempts by secessionist groups.

In this fight against terrorism, we plan to enlist the support of a wide range of partner States by debunking falsehoods about our country’s human rights situation propagated within international circles by some of Cameroon’s detractors.

My Dear Compatriots,

True to our commitment to peace and tolerance, we have continued to demonstrate openness and readiness for dialogue in order to call a halt to this crisis that has wreaked far too much suffering on our populations.

 

Thus, after holding the Major National Dialogue, we have continued to accelerate and deepen decentralization.

 

Regions, as regional and local authorities, were set up this year and are beginning to find their feet.

 

The North-West and South-West Regions have been granted special status to reflect their cultural and language specificities.

 

Overall, regionalization is being implemented countrywide and contributes towards increasing our fellow citizens’ participation in the management of local affairs.

 

These democratic strides very clearly demonstrate that our country is irreversibly and resolutely engaged in the methodical perfection of its democratic process, in order to further meet the legitimate aspirations of the Cameroonian people.

I am fully aware that some people would prefer that we move faster in this area. However, we must avoid any kind of haste that may undermine our country’s unity and our republican ideal. Surely, we will carefully and patiently do whatever needs to be done.

In all circumstances, we must promote constructive and regular dialogue between the various sociological components of the Republic in order to mobilize them for our country’s emergence.

My Dear Compatriots,

Lately, we have witnessed an upsurge in unpatriotic behaviour, the proliferation of hate speech and the posting of violent, obscene and shameful videotapes which have shocked the nation’s collective conscience.

 

The persistent publication of “fake-news” in the mainstream or social media has contributed towards sustaining falsehood, thus preventing many of our fellow citizens from getting the right information on key issues.

Therefore, I appeal to your sense of individual responsibility and urge each of you to promote the culture of peace.

I call on the Government to step up efforts to raise awareness on the responsible use of social media by all social classes.

We must remain a patriotic, united and supportive people.

We must cherish peace and seek harmony at all times.

Let us resolve to actively ensure that these values promote living together to which our people as a whole deeply aspire.

Fellow Cameroonians,

My Dear Compatriots,

We are faced with specific challenges at the dawn of the new year. Our country will host the Africa Cup of Nations from 9 January to 6 February 2022.

 

In the run-up to the tournament, we have all witnessed the profound transformation that has taken place in the cities that will host AFCON 2021 matches.

The preparation of the tournament has helped to accelerate the infrastructural development of many of our cities.

Urban roads have been constructed or rehabilitated.

The technical capacity of existing health facilities has been upgraded. New hospitals with state-of-the-art equipment have been built in our regional capitals.

Ultramodern hotels have been built to accommodate official delegations, special guests and tourists who will visit Cameroon during the tournament.

We will continue implementing this investment programme by reducing the infrastructure disparities existing between the regions of our country in various areas.

It is unacceptable that some regions should feel forsaken, while others are progressing.

That is why I decided to create State universities in the three regions of our country that do not yet have one, namely the East, North and South Regions. Other infrastructure will follow, particularly in the airport, industrial and road sectors, in order to make each region a real development hub.

To that end, we must enhance public finance management governance by fighting corruption and embezzlement of public funds.

Therefore, all those found guilty of financial malpractice or illicit enrichment will face the consequences before the competent courts.

My Dear Compatriots,

As we prepare to celebrate African football, I urge Cameroonians to mobilize massively to make AFCON 2021 the most beautiful football jamboree ever organized on our continent.

We want it to be a great moment of brotherhood. It therefore behoves us to extend a warm welcome to the 24 sports delegations, officials and all those who will be staying in our country during the tournament.

 

Let us offer our guests the rich cultural diversity that has earned our country the nickname “Africa in miniature”. Let us extend to them the hospitality they rightfully expect from us, and which is part and parcel of our traditions.

Thanks to the virtues of our people, particularly their courage and selflessness, we have not only overcome the ordeals encountered during this year that is ending, but we have also continued to forge ahead.

As a Nation, we have the duty and opportunity to remind the world that we are a united and indomitable people, capable of displaying this fighting spirit that has enabled us in the past to win great battles.

Before I conclude, I would like to call on our Beloved Indomitable Lions to do their utmost to ensure that they end this festival in grand style on the evening of 6 February 2022.

Let us rise to the challenge and remind the world that we are a great Nation.

Happy and prosperous New Year 2022.

Long live the Republic!

Long live Cameroon!