European Union Gives Biya Tough Demands As Atanga Nji Roars

The European Union today called on President Paul Biya, re-elected for a seventh presidential term in Cameroon to unify his country through a “process of dialogue with all actors” and prevent unrest after the elections.

The official results of the presidential election of October 7 in Cameroon were proclaimed Monday October 22nd 2018 in a tense security context.

According to the results given by the Constitutional Council, dominated by followers of Paul Biya, the latter was reelected with 71.3% of the vote, during a vote marked by low turnout, accusations of massive fraud and multiple petitions dismissed by the council.

“The European Union expects the elected President to rally all stakeholders to overcome the challenges facing the country, for the benefit of all Cameroonians,” said the spokesman of the EU’s External Action Service according to camerounweb.com

European Union Gives Biya Tough Demands As Atanga Nji Roars

“If the elections were held in general calm, part of the population was not able to participate in the vote,” regretted the EU. “The EU reiterates its concern about the situation in the north-west and south-west regions of the country,” the statement said.

In the two English-speaking regions of the Southwest and North-West, the army has been deployed in large numbers to fight scattered groups of separatists who are demanding the independence of the English-speaking regions of this predominantly French-speaking country.

Clashes between the army and separatists have become daily in these two regions, and have already forced more than 300,000 people to flee their homes.

“It remains important that the authorities listen to the proposals of civil society and religious authorities for a peaceful and lasting resolution of the crisis, and that a process of dialogue be launched as soon as possible with all the actors in favor of peace, “added the EU’s diplomatic services.
The statement notes that the African Union Election Observation Mission has recommended “a strengthening of the legal and institutional framework of the elections in Cameroon, likely to increase the confidence of voters in the electoral process and to make it more inclusive”.

“The European Union sees such reforms as crucial and stands ready to support such a process,” the statement said.

The EU statements comes a day after the country’s interior minister Paul Atanga Nji had vowed to crush any rebellion against the state by opposition leaders or their backers.

Minister Paul Atanga Nji had warned in a press statement that the government had tolerated enough and will no longer give room for anyone to cause disruption of public order in a press release many say is toxic and undemocratic.