From: shemlon@occlusal.rutgers.edu (Shiyghan Shemlon)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: CAMEROON: Bill Clinton's "coup d'etat"?????????
Keywords: Cameroon, Elections aftermath, US Presidential Inauguration
Date: 4 Jan 93 22:08:41 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.


Biya's political machinery has literally been swept off the ground by
a decisiion of US President elect Bill Clinton to invite John Fru Ndi,
Biya's main political rival whom many consider to be the legitimate
president of Cameroon to his January 20th inauguration in Washington
DC. 

Since the declaration of the results of the October 11th presidential
elections, the main contender for Biya's throne, Mr. John Fru Ndi has
been under house arrest and many of his prominent supporters are
either in jail or have escaped the country. The human right abuses
since the contested results that declared Biya the winner have caused
an outcry from many western organisations and governments many of whom
have suspended all financial aid to Cameroon. Life in Cameroon has
virtually come to a standstill, partly because the government is
strapped for cash and partly because a vast majority of the population
has refused to accept Biya's illegitimate self imposition as the
elected president. Many gov't employees have been going for months
without pay, the economy is in shambles and educational institutions
are barely functional. There is also a widespread boycott of French
goods in Cameroon because the average citizen believes Biya is hanging
on by grace of the French gov't. There are also rumours of widespread
disgruntlement among the Anglophone minority (constitutes about 30% of
the population) who feel they have been short changed since the 1972
"peaceful revolution" that abolished the Federation of two states;
Anglophone west Cameroon and Francophone east Cameroon. Their major
grievance is that the two Anglophone provinces contribute close to 70%
of the GNP and get less than 3% in gov't investment and development
infrastructure. Many Anglophones also strongly believe that the only
reason the French have prevented the legimate president John Fru Ndi
from gaining the Presidency is because he is Anglophone and
potentially anti French interests in Cameroon. The moderate
Anglophone's are calling for a return to the Federal system which
existed from 1961 to 1971, while the more radical are clamouring to
secede and declare Anglophone Cameroon an Independent State (a
potentially very dangerous move that could lead to civil war). Both
the radical and moderate Anglophone groups are currently lobbying at
the UN. Many political observers believe Cameroon is currently sitting
on a powder cake that could explode at any time.

The move by President-elect Clinton to invite Mr. John Fru Ndi to the US
presidential inauguration is widely interpreted in Cameroon as an
American recognition of Fru Ndi as the legitimate President-elect and
a warning to Biya to step down in the name of democracy. Cameroon
political observers however do not see Biya giving up his throne. It
is believed he is currently trapped because there is no possibility
for him to step down gracefully anymore. If he persists only the God's
of Cameroon know what will happen next. The Cameroonian clergy has
called on all brethren to pray for a peaceful conclusion to this
stalemate. Are we looking at another Somalia in the making?????? 
I hope not. I will like to believe my fellow citizens are wiser. However
we shall be keeping close watch of the situation.


SHEMLON WO WAN WAN VIBAN
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Newsgroups: soc.culture.african