Cameroon -- President Paul Biya Enjoys Absolute Dictatorship As The Country Crumbles

Going by section 8 of the crook and biased 1996 Constitution, Mr Biya is the president of the republic, head of state, Chief of defence force, Head of the higher judicial council amongst many other prerogatives conferred on him. It is unheard of in modern democracy to know that a president elected by the people, appoint and dismisses top government and military officials at will without any objection from anywhere.

The gerontocratic Yaounde government is 90 percent manned by natives of the Bulu, Ewondo and Etone clans (Beti tribe). The non beti government officials including those from the Anglophone Community are people who swear to defend the interest of the ruling party even if it means jeopardising the well-being of the population.

Cameroon -- President Paul Biya Enjoys Absolute Dictatorship As The Country Crumbles

Shockingly, it has been revealed that for over 30 years of Biya’s reign over Cameroon, he has used over 500 cabinet ministers with southern Cameroons getting just 70 ministers without portfolio out of it. More to that, very important and strategic ministerial positions are being occupied by natives from the Bulu community where Mr. biya originates and most of these persons are his old friends and classmates.

Nonetheless,it wouldn’t be an affront to the Beti military regime to say that the judiciary is not independent. Biya appoints judges in tribunals mainly to settle political scores rather than to serve justice to litigants. The recent illegal arrest, torture and detention of one of Southern Cameroon’s legal luminary, chief justice Ayah Paul Abine is a glaring example.The legal sector is marred with high level bribery and corruption, justice goes to the highest bidder.

On the other hand, many have described the Yaounde based parliament as a robber stamp, group of stooges and hand clappers. The coming of the senate, has added nothing but rather helped to drain tax payers money with the huge salaries they receive from Mr. Biya.The national Assembly on its part has never adopted any private member bills but only those emanating from the francophone dominant government.Controlling government action which is parliament’s fundamental role is an exception with the Ngoa Ekelle glass house MPs.

It should be recalled that Paul Biya took over power from Ahmadou Ahidjo in 1982 and two years after, he changed the name of the country from United Republic of Cameroon to the Republic of Cameroon without consulting the parliament nor conducting any referendum. He has ruled Cameroon since then till date and he is preparing to run for another mandate at the age of 85 come 2018.