Kah Walla and the Cameroon Tea Party Movement

A lot of movement has taken place in Cameroon since Ms Kah Walla announced her candidacy for the presidency of the republic. For one, it seems to have spurred incumbent regime head, Paul Biya and his henchmen. If Kah's historic run at the finish has only this as its achievement, then it would have been a good experience for Cameroon as a whole.

Shortly after independence, president of the Federal Republic of Cameroon, Ahmadou Ahidjo banned political parties and the Cameroon National Union (CNU) was the lone authorized. Things remained pretty much the same, with a change of name to the Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM) to mark the Ahidjo-Biya transition in the early eighties of last century.

When John Fru Ndi launched the SDF in 1990, it marked the return to multi party politics in Cameroon.

Paul Biya and John Fru Ndi have both revealed to Cameroonians their heavy- handed methods, and like birds of a feather, got together two weeks ago in Bamenda. There is no room for opposition or a different opinion to the wishes of these two men. And thus, Cameroon suffered, children died from curable illness while the president has his kids treated in foreign hospitals. Kids study in the open air while the Biya kids ride in a jet to school. Yet he gets to rule the lives of millions of Cameroonians. It is an inconvenient arrangement which was bound to be short-lived.

So step in Ms Kah Walla. She provides an alternative to the two henchmen who still have vestiges of colonial heavy handedness deeply entrenched in their ways.

She is the head of the Cameroonian Tea Party. A third pathway to the presidential palace at Etoudi. Since she launched her campaign, Biya has done what would normally take a decade to accomplish. He has created a full-fledged University, and is actively seeking funds for the Ring-Road (and presidential campaign?). He also appointed officials to head the Bamenda University.

The tea party is comprised of the rural women, unemployed youths, the poor, weak, and disenfranchised in Cameroon. In other words, those who have had it tough under the Biya regime - which is most Cameroonians. Looking at the Tea Party constituency, it is no surprise Ms Kah is generating such a buzz. She is within striking distance of Etoudi. She is young, eloquent, well connected locally and internationally, and speaks for the masses. She grew and still lives in Cameroon, as opposed to Biya who prefers Switzerland and all his children have foreign passports.

The Cameroon Tea Party Movement headed by Ms Kah Walla will likely rout Biya and his henchmen in the 2011 presidential elections. It will be all the better for Cameroonians, both at home and abroad. She needs all the help she can get to achieve this.
In 2011, "BIYA Must GO"
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Craigslist rolls out anti-scam security measures.

The popular online website craigslist.org has a new set of measures aimed at protecting its users.

Ranked by ALEXA.COM as the 10th most visited site in the United States, craigslist has been a favorite for scammers.

Notwithstanding the bold warnings in red found on almost all pages on the site, people still fall prey to advance fee scams perpetrated by con men.

A typical transaction would involve a seller with a late model vehicle for an incredibly low price, who just happens to be out of the country, but is willing to get the low price if sent through instant payment services like Western Union or Moneygram. The victim wires the money, usually to Nigeria and then never sees the car.

These security measures have been long awaited. The new procedure locks out registered craigslist users and requires them to change their password. Then they have to be confirmed using a security code that they input on the website. It is sent through a US or Canadian number, and the user can choose either a voice call in English, French or Spanish, or an SMS with the code.

What this achieves is it authenticates that the user is an actual person, and not a computer, then, through the number to which the security verification code is sent, links that number to the account holder.

So, a scammer with no US number is effectively shut out of the system and those who pist multiple ads in many cities will easily be traced and can be banned from the website.

Expect a cottage industry selling craigslist authentication codes to take root.
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Paul Biya - Fru Ndi Friendship out in the OPEN! Kah Walla only opposition left in CAMEROON!

For many years, it has been suspected that there is some sort of friendship tie between Paul Biya and Ni Fru Ndi of the former opposition party, the SDF, that goes beyond the use of proxies.

This was confirmed during Biya's recent visit to Bamenda this week.

After keeping Mr Ndi and a bunch of Fons waiting for him under a tarpaulin, Biya finally got to shake hands publicly with the head of the SDF. With that single handshake, it became clear that the SDF is in league with the ruling regime's CPDM. The line has been blurred between the SDF and CPDM. Elements of both parties are now officially and publicly interchangeable.

Some backroom deals and concessions have been made. But what deals and at what price to democracy in Cameroon. The disenfranchised and those who hope for better access to clean drinking water or healthcare facilities must have been very saddened seeing the ease with which the former opposition party leader, Mr Fru Ndi, was tamed.

Kah Walla was right to have slammed the door in Fru Ndi's face. It took courage and foresight to do that. It is that kind of visionary leader Cameroon needs to move forward, and not people who cheer Biya on even after they have lost cherished ones because of the poor state of infrastructure in the country after 28 years of Biya's regime.

Fru Ndi and Paul Biya may enjoy the spoils of the wealth that rightfully belongs to all Cameroonians. But in 2011, that will all change. Each and every Cameroonian should register to vote. We need a young dynamic and articulate leader to point the country in the right direction.

Fru Ndi and Paul Biya have proven at last, they are one and the same, the hope for progress in 2011 in Cameroon now rests solidly on one candidate, Ms. KAH WALLA.

She will bring much needed transparency in government, tar the Ring Road, appoint a Rector for the Bamenda University, establish the deep seaport in Limbe and put an end to practices that continue under the Biya regime such as breast ironing of young girls or female genital mutilation.
"Run Kah, Run..."
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Biya campaign promises: A SCAM?

When Paul Biya, head of the regime that was handed power by President Ahmadou Ahidjo 28 years ago finally came to Bamenda in the North West region of Cameroon two days ago, it was like watching a game of cat and mouse. He basically slipped into town, hiding from the official protocol that had rehearsed many times over and was in place at the Bali airport waiting for him.

How he got into town should not surprise us, for the last time he even cared to stop by and check on the people whose lives he governs was a full 20 years ago!

Now to some of the promises made during this campaign visit.

- The creation of a University in the North West Region:
This is long overdue and should have happened at least two decades ago. Anyways, Biya only made a promise, just like he did when he promised to have the Ring Road tarred a lifetime ago. We should not forget that we still have a lot of ground to cover before actually having university students in amphis. Paul Biya still has to sign a decree legally creating the University. Then, a few years later, as has been his style over the past 28 years, the Application Decree which is what will effectively define the structure of the Institution, will have to be signed. And then maybe two or three years later, the Rectors and other staff will be appointed.

Bottom line is, if Mr Biya wants to create a University (which any leader who loves and communes with his people would have done decades ago, anyways), the day before coming to Bamenda, he could have signed the decree creating the University, then proceeded to sign the Application Decree, and shortly thereafter, appointed the top executives of the Institution. He has been on the job for 28 years and should know who can fill what spot.

- The Creation of a Secretariat for Veterans' Affairs.

Good point, but it bears repeating, it means nothing to the veterans when it is just talk and no action. Appoint officials to lead the structure and we can believe you are serious with the campaign promises. For someone close to three decades on the job, it shouldn't take a week to do so.

- Tarring of the Ring Road.

This has been the cry for most of the people of the former West Cameroon. Not tarring this road has been a very effective political weapon as it stifles economic activity, and hampers wealth creation. If you are broke, there is little incentive to take to the streets and fight for your rights, because you will be busy looking for your next meal. So it has always been in Mr Biya's interest not to have this road paved. He will never do so as long as he is resident in the Unity Palace in Etoudi.

- Hydo-electric Dam in Menchum Falls.

Another lofty idea that looks good on paper, but unfortunately will not see the light of day so long as Biya is in Etoudi. Commercial electricity power generation in Cameroon is a monopoly. There are vast foreign interests that have essentially taken over whole swaths of Biya's government hostage. They will lobby and silence anyone who opposes them. They will never allow a major project that will bring cheap electricity to millions in the Nroth West region. If villages get power, then it means many more will get hooked up to the internet and maybe by this time next year when we would have had a new president in Etoudi, thousands more in villagers scattered in rustic huts and compounds around Menchum Falls would be blogging, just like your's truly, detailing what suffering they had had to endure under the Biya regime.

Conclusion

So, to summarize, Mr Biya came to Bamenda, with fear in his heart and made some empty promises like he always did in the past to get a cheap applause from his henchmen who traveled with him from Etoudi in Yaounde. What he must have realised is that he is making promises on projects that should have been a "fait accompli" twenty years ago. Better late than never. A new president - Hopefully Kah Walla (no affiliate of mine) will sign the Application Decree and appoint the executives of the promised institiutions, and execute other pending projects -like tarring the Ring Road,- with dispatch. Paul and Chantal and Frank Biya can watch from Switzerland.
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Paul Biya launches campaign in Bamenda, after Kah Walla in Yaounde!

Following in the footsteps of Kah Walla, Paul Biya has launched his bid for president of Cameroon in the 2011 presidential elections. He made some promises, many of which seem extravagant considering the state of the country's economy. We know how long it takes to execute such campaign promises. We need look no further than some of the provisions in the current constitution of the republic of Cameroon that have never been applied. Also, it has taken Biya 28 full years to mutter a few words in English. The former West Cameroon has been neglected for long enough by Mr Biya. As Kah Walla would say, the "Time has Come" and Biya must GO!

My Biya and his cronies are very frequent abroad and he only comes to the people to legitimize the rule of his regime in the eyes of the world. Irrespective of the show he put up in Bamenda in an attempt to steal the thunder from the opposition, the top flight contenders like Ms. Kah Walla will keep snapping at his heels. Biya would rather first get a brand new jet to make his frequent European trips than allow funds to be disbursed for a University in Bamenda. It is all just campaign rhetoric. After all, he has been ruling the country for 28 years, he does not trust the educational system to be worth a dime, so his children attend school in Switzerland. He has totally neglected the healthcare sector, his wife delivers all her babies abroad! So it is every man for himself in Biya's Cameroon.

But it does not have to be so. Listening to Kah Walla's plans for the country, you get a sense that we can quickly stop the backward slide in which the country finds itself, and even reverse this trend. Look at Ghana, which currently has double digit growth! Cameroon's economy is growing at a paltry 3.9%.

The ruling regime will spend a ton of money to get Biya re-elected. The country would be better off using that money to tar the Ring Road, actually build the infrastructure to house the University in Bamenda and maybe throw in a Church or two. Biya has outlived his usefulness to the Cameroonian people, period, he should retire to Switzerland where he spends all his time anyway.

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Showdown in Bamenda 2010: Cameroon VS Paul Biya.

Here we go once again. The embattled head of the regime that has held the people of the West African Nation of Cameroon in check for the past 28 years has to face his people. But there is only one catch. He seems to be afraid of the very people whom he rules!

It has often been whispered behind closed doors, and out of earshot of Paul Biya's henchmen that the time has come for the ruler of this country to hand over to someone who really cares about the people. But it is no surprise he does not give a damn to the people he rules. He spends more time in Switzerland with his cronies, or basking in the sun in the French resort city of La Baule. So who cares if there is no health centre in Dimako, or Kousseri or Pottor Pottor Quarter?

The millions of dollars that could have been better spent improving the infrastructure and lives of ordinary Cameroonians that instead is splurged on foreign media like the Jeune Afrique group is no longer effective.

What the people of Cameroon want is change. As Mr Biya tests the waters and has his henchmen on the ground in Bamenda to get a feel for what the population has in store for him, he can't help but feel a sense of urgency, that only the unknown can inspire in one.

Had he had some foresight, he may have chosen a more cosmopolitan city like Douala or Buea, or even Yaounde for the commemoration of the military. There is a certain unity of thought in Abakwa, that transcends party or religious affiliations. It goes beyond the fact that many generations of elites from the North West region have begged for the Ring Road to be tarred to no avail, beyond the jailing of one of the best managers in the country, Zaccheus Forjindam. It is one that comes with the realization that Bamenda is Ground Zero for Democracy in Cameroon. If you disregard democracy, come to Bamenda at your peril.

Parse all he wants, the verdict will remain the same, the people of Bamenda will NOT show up for any activity involving Mr Biya. He may feast with the Fons.
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Paul Biya: Bamenda, December 7th 2010

On Tuesday, December 7th 2010, life will come to a standstill in Bamenda, and pretty much everywhere else in Cameroon. The presidential election to hold in 2011 will most certainly be decided here in Bamenda on that fateful day. Expect Paul Biya to show up.

In a brazen move which at the time seemed like the sort of daring to which African leaders loved showing, 77 year old Biya announced he will be heading to the opposition stronghold in Bamenda for the country's military's 50th anniversary. But in today's media where events are chronicled minute by minute, what seemed like a wise decision a year ago has now turned into a thorn in Biya's flesh.

The anniversary has been postponed at least three times. If we are to believe Mr Biya's word any longer, then he effectively has less than 25 days to show up in Bamenda or take another serious flogging in opinion polls.

So, after a lot of feet dragging, the date of December 7th 2010 has been chosen as the day when the world will see whether Biya will dare show up in Bamenda.

The last time he was in town, the state run media CRTV had exclusive access and drowned out any competing views. Now, it is a very different playing field. Mobile phones with video cameras are ubiquitous, reporting is instantaneous, and any poor behavior by Biya's thuggish security detail will be dimly viewed by the international community.

So it is in this climate of distrust and uncertainty that Biya has to face the people of Cameroon. The Fons will be there, anyone who is somebody in town will be there, and all civil servants will be invited.

The one great absentee, the one that really matters, will sadly be absent. The population of Bamenda will not be on hand the welcome Paul Biya on the 7th of December 2010, and that gesture, fully represents the way Cameroonians feel. May Mr Biya take note.
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Are Paul Biya and Chantal Biya afraid of the Fotso Empire?

The story about the Fotso Group and its run-ins with the law, that for months has had the news media in Cameroon on a frenzy is slowly unraveling in public. It will have an ugly end.

For a recap, the Fotso Group is Cameroon's premier agro-industrial giant that spans many industries (from growing green beans to operating an Airline), and countries. It is also a major employer in West Africa.

The head of the Group, Yves Michel Fotso, who doubles as chairman of the board of directors of the Fotso Group's flagship Commercial Bank of Cameroon (CBC) has been having serious legal trouble, with authorities in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, the gravity of which could not be guessed from the outside.

Now with a dangerous game of one upmanship initiated by the media savvy Yves Michel Fotso going on in Cameroon, we are guaranteed a nasty outcome. The government of Cameroon through the minister of Economy and Finance Essimi Menye naively fell for the bait laid out by Mr Fotso, by responding to an open letter written to the Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Ahmadou Ali.

At the onset, the Fotso bank, CBC, opened up a branch in Equatorial Guinea, then shortly later had their business license revoked. Then, the bank was seized by authorities in Cameroon in coordination with the central African regional banking regulator COBAC, and an administrator was appointed to take over operations.

The reason for all of these problems was that upon reviewing the accounts of the bank, it was discovered that many loans had been made, mostly to entities with close ties to the Fotsos totaling CFA 60 Billion. A major sticking point was the allegation that Mr Yves Michel Fotso had borrowed from the bank about CFA 10 Billion. So, Paul Biya and his government are afraid of what that kind of money may do in the hands of someone with a very good distribution network bent on de stabilizing the country. They must fear, that what happened in the Central African Republic, where General Bozize seized power, might happen to Cameroon or Equatorial Guinea.

You do not start an uprising out of thin air in West Africa. The people need to eat. So the reasoning is that with the CBC bank's branches serving as points to pay out cash to insurgents, the whole country could be taken over in a short space of time.

The prospect of being deposed has now brought Biya close to Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea. They need each other now more than ever. They have sons, Frank Biya and Theodorin Obiang, to whom they plan to hand over power in keeping with the current trend with dictatorships, and whoever does this first will need the other to organize a state visit to grant legitimacy to the heir of their regime.

What Yves Michel Fotso should realize is that he is now playing on a different turf. He seems to be doing it right as he invited the media into the duel and with the world watching, he is immune.

What he should do is openly join the opposition in defiance of Mr Biya. Such a move will add to the momentum that the opposition in Cameroon is amassing against Mr. Biya in 2011.

As the drama unfolds, and astronomical amounts of money and power come to play, many may forget the bigger storm that is brewing - millions of Cameroonians who are slowing waiting for 2011 and the chance to send Paul Biya and Chantal Biya and Frank Biya packing to their new home in Switzerland.

Leading presidential candidate, Kah Walla will be ready to rally all Cameroonians to start the patriotic task of Nation- building, from the ashes of what would be left after of 28 tedious years under Biya's regime.

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Why Christopher Fomunyoh should not stand as one of hundreds of Candidates for President of Cameroon.

First off the bat, for anyone who gets here through a google search, they should understand that Dr Christopher Fomunyoh cannot win any presidential election in Cameroon. The aim of this article is simply to shed light on the fact that for once in a generation, we have a transformational presidential candidate in Kah Walla (no affiliate of mine) and other Cameroonians who have some degree of credibility in the eyes of the public need to rally behind her, so that Cameroon can rid itself of its strongman ruler of the past twenty-eight years, 78 year old Paul Biya and wife Chantal Biya, who seem to have taken up residence in Switzerland.

Dr Christopher Fomunyoh is a Cameroonian legal scholar, who is well respected in the West. He has a sharp legal mind, and makes regular appearances on major news networks, especially when it concerns Africa.
He has a very organic understanding of the needs and aspirations of African all across the continent.

As the go-to person for major news organizations for stories emerging from Africa, he wields a very big stick, and African opinion leaders know that.

In this capacity, a negative score on Dr Fomunyoh's score card carries a lot of weight. Leaving that influential spot to run as a presidential candidate in this badly run country will not help the very people he seeks to aid. As an election observer in many countries, he should remember even though some of the candidates winning major victories may seem unsophisticated and clueless about policy, they have popular appeal, and use that to win.

Underestimating the power of the people and incumbents in politics is a dangerous game. Remember Prof Titus Edzoa anyone. He got so close to Paul Biya, and saw his many shortcomings and though he was better, only to find himself thrown into jail.

The Fomunyoh Foundation does excellent work all across Cameroon. In other words, Dr Fomunyoh in his present capacity is more effective to Cameroon's development than as a presidential candidate. It may look good on his CV, but it will hurt the poorest throughout the country and help Biya strengthen his stranglehold on the people.

It may sound preposterous on my part, and some egos involved in running for the top job on the land are super sized, but we should all remember, Biya does not care whether you die of Malaria or during childbirth, him, his wife and family just go to Switzerland for their healthcare. We MUST beware of anyone who does not care for the common good at this stage of Cameroon's development. If everyone wants to be an also ran, then we should all have ourselves to blame when Biya steals the people's vote because Cameroonians could not rally and come together as one to push Biya, wife and co. back to Switzerland where he has taken up residence.

The time is ripe for change to occur in Cameroon and for Paul Biya and Chantal Biya to retire to Switzerland. Dr Christopher Fomunyoh will make this clear to any major news outlet, what Cameroon needs is for him to tell the world that Ms. Kah Walla is the one bringing that change.
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Why Petit Pays should get an apology from minister Ama Tutu Muna!

Cameroon is at a major crossroads in its history. As the country speeds towards its rendezvous with destiny in which a transformational candidate -Kah Walla, is poised to sweep an overwhelming victory in the presidential election, some problems just pop up to portray the state of under development in which the country finds itself.

Adolf Moundi, who goes by the name Petit Pays is arguably the country's most popular and prolific musician. Over the course of more than two decades, he has explored, and blended rhythms from every nook and cranny of Cameroon, and even broadened his horizons beyond Cameroon's borders.

He also pushed, then blurred the boundaries of what is considered mainstream music, playing songs to which a Pastor can dance, and then later in his career, songs that can only be played in...private.

To sum it all, Petit Pays is the quintessential symbol of success in Cameroonian music.

Recent media reports from Douala indicate that he is the subject of an arrest warrant. He stands accused of failing to pay two of his employees the equivalent of approximately $4000.

That the leading musician in Cameroon has to evade police custody because of this amount of money is telling about the financial stability of artists.

Sometime about half a decade into his career, Petit Pays began including the names of prominent members of society, the famous like Fotso Victor, as well as the infamous like Paul Biya. No one raised an eyebrow. It was understood that to get this cheap but effective sort of name recognition and the attendant political leverage it procured, someone had to pay. And pay they did in droves.

But those days are long gone. The barons who robbed the state treasury dry now have 78 year old Biya's henchmen on their heels. No one is spared. Both the public and private sector (see separate story on Fotso Victor) are targeted. Suddenly, the cash is all gone and artists who made a killing chanting the names of politicians have suddenly gone broke.

But this is specifically where the Ministry of Culture has to step in. That ministry was created to consolidate and promote our rich national culture. To abandon a respected and prolific artist of Petit Pay's calibre is simply unacceptable.

Ama Tutu Muna has a direct responsibility to protect Petit Pays. He is now a national treasure, to be cherished and protected by the state, just the same as Roger Mila and Eto Fils.

The Nobel Prize comes with a cash gift for a reason, so that those giants who win the prize further their contributions to mankind in their respective fields and not bother about failing to pay guards $4000.

Furthermore, I believe whoever was on guard when Petit Pays went missing deserves a promotion. They are true patriots - they did the right thing. That is common sense, the type that works, the type that Kah Walla will bring to Cameroon.

Petit Pays is a national symbol, as the most decorated Cameroonian artist of all time, he deserves some degree of protection from the state.

Paul Biya just lost one more vote, along with millions of fans of Petit Pays. 2011 will be the year of the masses in Cameroon. Kah Walla is showing the way ahead, and she has a new advocate on her side- Petit Pays!

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Kah Walla Scores second Major Victory!

For the second time in less than a month, leading presidential candidate Ms. Kah Walla has made a huge dent in the credibility of incumbent Paul Biya.

The first was when she launched her campaign with widespread media coverage and popular acclaim. Riding on this wave of popular approval, she basically forced Paul Biya to boycott the national soccer finals which is a platform where incumbent presidents always show their authority. This was the first time it was happening since Biya was given power twenty-eight years ago.

Now, for more than a year, the 50th anniversary celebrations for the Armed Forces has been planned to hold in Bamenda. The president said so himself and that he will personally preside over the ceremony. One year has gone by. The minister delegate at the presidency in charge of defence Edgar Alain Meme Ngo gave specific dates, the 29th and 30th of November 2010 for the head of state Paul Biya to be in Bamenda. With the popularity of Ms. Kah Walla running high both among the youth, unemployed, women and the disenfranchised-basically the whole local population- Paul Biya may have thought it wise to boycott this event so that his disapproval by the people he rules does not come to light.

Close observers of the political landscape in Cameroon know one thing: Paul Biya will leave the presidency next year. He has jailed most of his closest supporters including some highly respected sons of the North West region like Zaccheus Forjindam and former government delegate Mr Nde.

His actions are exceedingly erratic even by African dictator standards. Just like Ms Kah Walla says, "Time has Come". We can only wish Ms Kah Walla more energy for she will be packing her bags with those of millions of Buyam-sellams and Sauveteurs as she forges ahead to the Unity Palace in Etoudi, while Biya Paul recedes to Switzerland where he has taken up residence.

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Cameroon 2011: What change means...

Change is coming to Cameroon in 2011 and Ms. Kah Walla, leading presidential candidate seems to be the leader of the movement that will make it happen.

Cameroon has been too slow to react to current changes in the world. It is bogged down by an aging leadership which is a vestige of the colonial days.

Many other African nations are progressing at a fast clip. What is common in these countries is the turnover in leadership. Many African countries have had three or more different heads of state since independence. Those with the greatest number of leaders post independence also seem to have more robust democracies, and dynamic economies. Look at Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa, regional powerhouses that came of age when ancient leaders of Biya's generation and ilk were thrown out by the people.

However, the stagnant countries with aged leaders, clueless in today's high-tech world like Cameroon's Biya , Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe and Equatorial Guinea's Obiang Nguema still lag behind.

What these strongmen have failed to do for their countries in decades will not be done in the next couple of years. They systematically introduce policies designed to keep the citizens impoverished, so that no one is well fed enough to complain about the poor state of roads, under equipped hospitals, or lack of schools. Survival is the purpose of their daily struggles.

Cameroon is ripe for a leader different from Biya, and the field is set for democratic change to occur. Kah Walla will make that happen in Cameroon in 2011.

Kah Walla, Cameroon needs you!
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Yves Michel Fotso: A Cameroon Tragedy

Cameroon has a major rendez-vous with destiny in 2011.

There will be presidential elections, and barring a major change in current trends, 78 year old Paul Biya who has ruled this country since 1982 is set to be kicked out.

How this came to be is a long and sad tale. In his first few governments when he came to power, Biya appointed the best in their respective fields to key positions to propel the country forward. Then some of these people started helping themselves to the tiller and soon, bribery and corruption was institutionalized.

Some of these cats grew too fat and the president did what was natural; attempt to curb their influence by throwing them in jail.

But on the eve of presidential elections, his henchmen seem to have gone too far. Some of his closest advisers are languishing in jail and now, Biya has his sights on Cameroon's foremost privately held business- the Fotso Group.

Last week, security forces staged a lame attempt to arrest the son of magnate Fotso Victor. For a developing country that is struggling even to feed its population and where it is near impossible to start a business, systematically targeting a successful businessman like Yves Michel Fotso is simply disingenuous.

If this is an attempt to further cause Cameroonians employed by Fotso companies to lose their jobs and scare foreign partners of the group, then Biya is in for a surprise.

A premise for weakening the Fotso group may be so that no opposition campaign gains financing or logistic support from its holdings which include a multinational bank, and an airline.

What Biya will get will be the exact opposite. He will lose the entire Western region to the opposition in the 2011 election. Many of the struggling youth hold the soft spoken Fotso Victor in high esteem. He is a household name and role model for many.

Holding the Fotsos to ransom and expecting to get a single vote in the Western region of the country, or even in the Littoral where many towns have a majority of inhabitants from the Western region is a gross miscalculation. No right minded person will see one of their own humiliated daily, without good cause, and still vote for Biya.

And speaking of campaign financing, anyone who has not been living under a rock should know that most elections these days are funded in a dispersed way. Each individual contributing where they are most competent. As such, a bendskinner will carry passengers to a rally for free, a water seller will freely distribute iced water at meetings, a computer literate person will build a website, and so on and so forth.

Such mobilization that comes from the free will is stronger, durable and more resilient than any number of policemen or soldiers with guns.

That is what is coming to Biya. Wherever he is reading this, whatever he is doing, he will be blind sided by the oppressed people of Cameroon. How does your's truly know - just google "Paul Biya 2011" and read what the people think.

"Vox populi..."
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Why the Ruling Regime's CPDM (RDPC) and Paul Biya is bound to lose to Kah Walla in 2011

Kah Walla: Time is Now

Innovation has brought us a lot of what we take for granted in daily life in the 21st century. Computers,cell phones, Ipods, the Internet. Companies like Google and Apple that are leaders in their respective fields have one thing in common, a very horizontal command structure and the ability to turn around on a dime in the twinkle of an eye.

Current US president Barack Obama ran a presidential campaign structured in a similar manner. Decentralized, disciplined and able to react to events even as they occur. Information flows too fast and in a world of 24-hour news cycles, deficiencies in management stick out like a sore thumb.

Kah Walla's campaign for president of Cameroon has all the characteristics of a winner along the lines of Google and Apple in the corporate world or Barack Obama in politics.

Those in her campaign are youths, well versed with the use of computers and the Internet and can quickly rally or mobilize using Facebook, Skype or SMS to coordinate campaign activities.

This is in stark contrast to the regime's CPDM. It is still very old school and leaves a lot to be desired. Less than 20 government ministries have websites and when they do, they are often outdated by more than a year.

Paul Biya: Will Kah Walla and the Youth push him out?

Television is a thing of the past and few people sit for hours to be spoon-fed by the government run CRTV. The private stations in Cameroon have more interesting programming and have taken a larger slice of th audience.

The presidential election in Cameroon in 2011 will be a big test for the role of high-tech in the Third World as a tool to mobilizing people to a cause - in the case at hand, specifically to push Biya to his cherished Switzerland!

Kah Walla 2011!

Kah Walla 2011: How can I help?

Many wonder how they may become a part of history by contributing to the presidential campaign of Kah Walla 2011. Here are 5 important points that show you how:

1. Call Friends and Family in Cameroon and express you support for change and Kah Walla 2011.

2. Tell Friends and Family to register to vote.

3. For those who are well-spoken, go on the air during radio Call-In programs and express your support for Kah Walla.

4. Avoid the temptation to insult or denigrate others. Our tradition demands of us to show some deference to elders who in return must be doing the right thing for their communities compatible with their position in society. Show a lot of respect for those who have other opinions, but be firm and show your support for Kah Walla 2011.

5. Be optimistic, be positive, highlight Kah Walla's lifetime achievements, her youth, her commitment to Cameroon, her understanding of the needs of the people and how she has helped whole communities get better across Africa. Point to her eloquence and willingness to work with people from all walks of life. Underline the respect she enjoys from bilateral partners and stake-holders in international developmental circles. Life cannot be worse, it can only get better with Kah Walla as president of Cameroon.

Kah Walla 2011: Cameroun 2011
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Cameroon 2011: Fate of CPDM Barons

Late President Ahmadou Ahidjo

Zaccheus Fornjindam was of a rare breed. He was one of those who could make a company grow, while lining his pockets at the same time, and seemingly keeping everyone happy. His recent demise, and the confiscation of all his savings and real assets shows what is still to come.
We can all remember how Fornjindam proclaimed to the world that Paul Biya should become president for life. He thought he was securing his juicy position as head of the National Shipyard company. What he got instead was a spot in a secure place that will make him reflect for 12 long years, after which he will have to start repaying the state of Cameroon approximately CFA 900 million.

The same scenario happened with Francoise Foning. She was famously asked "Qui est vous madame?" In open court by supreme court president Alexis Dipanda Mouelle.
Former minister of Public Works and sitting parliamentarian Hon. Dieudonne Ambassa Zang barely made it out of the country just as his arrest was imminent.

Ahidjo and Kennedy

Others were not so fortunate.

Mendouga, the former ambassador to the USA, Atangana Mebara, former S.G at the presidency, Abah Abah, former Economy and Finance minister, former minister of Public Health Olanguena Urbain and many more fell into disgrace with rapid succession.

Even though no one has yet said it out loud, it will be just a matter of weeks before some of these CPDM barons will start courting Kah Walla to hedge their bets. Kah Walla should be decisive as has been from the start. You are either with the people or not. There should be no middle ground.

Paul Biya: Can he face KAH WALLA?

Paul Biya is scared of his own shadow. His distrust for his closest collaborators is evident in Kondengui. This suspicion of his closest advisers will only grow, as Kah Walla's popularity soars, and when he will turn to the untouchables and start throwing them to the wolves, that will be the end of 28 years of free-fall for Cameroon.
Just like the Phoenix that rose from its ashes, Cameroon will be ready to rise again in 2011. Let's hope Kah Walla is the one residing in Etoudi when this happens!

Kah Walla and the Role of the Military in Cameroon

Kah Walla: Ready for the Presidency

As Kah Walla's campaign builds momentum, rolling with speed toward the official presidential residence, the Unity Palace in Etoudi, it is now time to examine the role of Cameroon's armed forces in the democratic process.

It is worth noting that apart from suppressing dissent in the 60s and a few border skirmishes with remote Nigerian border outposts, none in Cameroon's military has been in a real battle theatre fighting for the country. Some officers have participated in peace-keeping roles for the UN, and that is it.

General Pierre Semengue, still in service, and to whom the whole military apparatus was handed after independence is more of a patriarch than a post colonial military leader. He notably headed one of Yaounde's soccer teams for many years. Well respected in many circles, and after a very distinguished military career in which he has shown a lot of compassion to fellow Cameroonians, it is hard to see the general cum statesman tarnish his image by following any orders to quell dissent.

Paul Biya: Overshadowed by Kah Walla

We need look no further than Guinea to see the rather dim view the International community takes on such anti-democratic practices.

My Biya should see what is coming. It is bigger than anything in Cameroon's history. The people, starting with the Buyam-Sellam and unemployed Sauveteurs will line up behing Kah Walla, and she will certainly coast to victory in 2011.

Cameroon Nationalists heading to the Firing Squad: Kah Walla will restore them in the Nation's History!

Kah Walla; the Time Is Now!!

Cameroun 2011:Paul Biya Missing; Kah Walla surging in Polls!

Kah Walla: Gunning for the Presidency; Cameroon 2011

Cameroon's 78 year old Paul Biya who has clung to power for the last 28 years in this impoverished Third World country is absent from his country.

Since the 25th of October when he left Geneva in Switzerland where he attended a Francophonie summit, no one seems to know his whereabouts.

The late former president of neighboring Nigeria was similarly absent from Abuja and shortly afterwards, there was a power vacuum at the helm of Nigeria.

Paul Biya: Time to go?

Clinging to Power
African leaders have a tendency to hang on to power with every means they can find. Mobutu of Zaire had to be dragged out manu-militari to die a pauper in exile, Hissene Habre of Chad was chased out of impovrished Chad.

If Paul Biya of Cameroon has any lesson to learn, it should be from contemporary African history. The time when the people could be repressed is long gone. Look no further than Guinea and Dadis Camara.

John Ngu Foncha

Paul Biya is well advised to step down like Ahmadou Ahidjo, and save his name in history.

Kah Walla just like Barack Obama in the USA is ready to lead Cameroon to a new level of prosperity and growth.

Cameroon and Cameroonians are better of without Paul Biya.

Interesting facts about "Ancient African Rulers"

I found this interesting article and would like to share with all readers. Enjoy!

 

 

Kah Walla for President!

 

Kah Walla: Presidential Hopeful will develop Cameroon

Kah Walla, the development expert and community organizer who seems to be leading in Cameroon's presidential elections has big plans to help develop the infrastructure of the country.

KAH WALLA: Does she scare Biya?

She needs all the help she can get. All over this impoverished nation that has been ruled for 28 years by Paul Biya, women and unemployed youths are racing to register for the upcoming election. The dismall turnout for the national soccer championship which is usually a stage for the president to showcase his authority speaks volumes as to popular sentiment that has festered for more than a quarter century.

Kah Walla is poised to win the upcoming elections, save a major disaster. Cameroon will be better off with her vast experience.

Biya Must Go!

Cameroon 2011: How to support Kah WALLA, our next President

Kah Walla: Next president of CAMEROON?

The time for change has reached the shores of Cameroon. Distinguished and highly respected community organizer KAH WALLA has decided to run for the presidency.

Very well known and respected in international development circles, KAH WALLA is our best hope to lift Cameroon and make us the economic and political powerhouse we ought to be.

She needs your support to accomplish this difficult task to kick out Biya and his friends. Here is what you need to do:

If you are in the Diaspora

1. Call friends and family back home and tell them you support Kah Walla.

2. Make many SMALL donations to help them go out and register. One big donation has less power than many small donations spread over a couple of days.

3. Encourage them to use SMS to communicate for that will be the tool used for coordinating in the next few days.


If you are presently in Cameroon

1. Talk to your friends and family about how your lives may improve when KAH WALLA is president.

2  Sign up here for latest news about the campaign.

3  Make sure you and your friends and family register to vote!

Popular sentiment

Cameroon Soccer Cup: Paul Biya hands over duties...

Popular Presidential Candidate KAH WALLA: Did she scare anyone?

 

Paul Biya, the seventy-seven year old president who has ruled Cameroon since 1982 has gradually been handing over traditionally presidential duties to government officials. Is he trying to send a message that he no longer has any interest in governing the country?

Late former president Ahidjo shakes hands with Mr Biya while late S.T. Muna and Pa Foncha look on.

Prime minister Philemon Yang presided over the prestigious Cameroon Cup soccer final in which FOVU of Baham in the Western Region beat ASTRES football club from the Littoral region. Mr Yang carried himself with dignity and brought a fresh take on what had become a stale finale.

It should be recalled that the finalist for the Cup of Cameroon soccer competition have been known for over five months now, but the finals were delayed because they could not fit in the president's timetable. This proves once more to the world, there really can be a Cameroon without Paul Biya.

Prime Minister P. Yang performed presidential duties at Cameroon Cup finals

With Mr Biya's regime broadsided by presidential candidate KAH WALLA, and the ruling CPDM presidential election campaign kick-off drawing a very weak response from  the public, maybe Mr Biya's spin doctors wanted to avoid an embarrasing showing at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium.

If Ms WALLA's candidacy is a cause for concern such that for the first time in fifty-one years of the Cameroon national soccer championship where the sitting head of state has never been absent until this year, then surely Ms WALLA stands a very good chance of moving into Etoudi next year.

This is one more victory for Ms KAH WALLA.

Timid Response to RDPC (CPDM) 2011 Campaign: KAH WALLA Leading

Cameroon Presidential Candidate KAH WALLA: Is the Presidency within her reach?

The presidential election campaign is now in full swing. Ms Kah Walla swung from out left and dealt a blow that kept the ruling CPDM stunned. 

The CPDM leadership tried to rally its base, but the turnout was scant. This does not bode well for the ruling party.

Though some are quick to dismiss Ms Walla's run for the presidency as not being robust enough to gain traction, they will stand to benefit to understand who she is and see some of her achievements.

Kah Walla: The next President of Cameroun?

For more than 15 years, she has diligently worked with rural families and small traders, empowering them and improving their lives. She is well known and respected in developmental circles worldwide. Former US president, Bill Clintons's NGO, The Clinton Global Initiative recently honored Ms Walla.

Ruling CPDM Militants: Slow Start for 2011 Presidential Election Campaign

That her campaign pulled a full house in Yaounde and the CPDM couldn't says a lot about how well organized and disciplined her supporters are.

For most observers, Cameroon 2011 seems to be shaping up for an interesting campaign season!

Cameroonian opposition supporters speaking out their minds

Why Paul Biya May lose the Presidency in 2011 to KAH WALLA

Cameroon Flag

John Fru Ndi proved to Cameroonians that there could be a viable opposition to the ruling CPDM. But then he too became caught up in the same trap that has held Mr Biya Paul since 1982, the sweet taste of power.

His party the SDF has seen an exodus of some of the brightest and most stimulating individuals who gave the SDF its appeal. The SDF has now been reduced to a spitting image of the CPDM with rival fiefdoms and an intractable Chairman, Ni Fru Ndi.

Ms. KAH WALLA: Ready to take on Paul Biya

On the other hand, Mr Biya of late has basically been shooting himself in the leg. When he came to power in 1982, he had the goodwill of the people and he meant good for the country. His appointments for ministerial positions were some of the most astute in their respective fields.

Unity Palace, Etoudi, Yaounde

Alas, he failed to keep close watch on them and so the thieving started. No sanctions were meted out and corruption became institutionalized. Some individuals accumulated so much wealth, it was a cause for concern. So the witch hunting known as "Operation Epervier" was launched.

KAH WALLA: Leading Presidential Candidate in CAMEROON

It gave the legal framework to take down the most pompous and recalcitrant offenders who posed a threat to the Biya regime. No one was too big or too rich. From the multinational Fotso agro-industrial empire to close collaborators like Atangana Mebara, the well connected like former ambassador to the USA Jerome Mendouga.

Now, most ministers or Directors General of parastatals quietly wish for change. No one likes uncertainty to hang over them round the clock. Biya's actions seem erratic - almost like that of someone who is afraid of his own shadow.

If Kah Walla can line up one or two heavyweights from the Western and North or Extreme north regions of the country, she will stand a very good chance of ousting Mr Biya. Most of the Christian South, North West and South West regions support her campaign.

The outpouring of support for her platform is testament to the feelings of most Cameroonians. Change is needed, and Cameroon badly needs fundamental policy updates to make it competitive on the global stage in the 21st century.

KAH WALLA: Presidential Candidate, CAMEROON 2011

Kah Walla has an earthy connection with the people. She is on Facebook. She knows how to organize from the grassroots. She is at home whether lobbying on behalf or rural women in Paris, London, Washington DC, or in Marche Mokolo in Yaounde working with local traders known as Buyam-Sellam on how to get the most money for their produce.

CAMEROON 2011: Paul Biya and late President Ahmadou Ahidjo

Elections are all about organizing and getting the people out to vote. This will be the biggest test to date of Ms Walla's organizational skills. She is up to the task, and Cameroon is all the better for it.

Why Pierre Kwemo is the Most Important Man in Cameroon

Pierre Kwemo is a consummate businessman from the West Region of Cameroon. He joined the leading opposition party, the SDF and rose to the rang of first Vice Chair. He also ran as a candidate for parliament and won twice. After so many years in Ngoa Ekelle, the gentleman became disillusioned and returned to tend to his businesses.

Hon. Pierre Kwemo: He will decide who wins in Cameroon 2011

With the 2011 presidential race kicked off by independent candidate Ms. Kah Wallah, it will pay if Mr Kwemo will declare his stance relative to the recent developments.

The West region of Cameroon is full of savvy businessmen and women who will throw millions of dollars to any candidate they think supports business. Most of the taximen and bendskinnuers who form the base of Ms Kah Wallah's movement hail from the West Region. If Mr Kwemo Pierre were to throw his weight behind Ms Wallah, then he will bring financial heft to the table the cannot be rivaled.

Kah Walla: Will she unseat Paul Biya of CAMEROON

Also, Mr Kwemo is well spoken and has earned a lot of respect from fellow parliamentarians and even many members of government.
KAH WALLAH 2011 needs Mr Pierre Kwemo to be viable and vice-versa.

$425 Million to finance the 2011 Presidential Election in Cameroon?

Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon (Unity Palace) ©

 

Presidential hopefuls in Cameroon might be up for a steep climb. The government just announced it will be using a complex financial instrument to quickly make about $425 million available in cash. The funds will be made available through three local banks, Afriland First Bank, Societe Generale de Banque au Cameroun

and Citibank.

Money for Presidential bid or development? ©

Officialy, the  funds are destined for the Lom Pangar dam in the East region of the country and the Kribi thermal electricity plant in the Littoral region.

Cameroon up for grabs to the highest bidder? ©

Earlier this week, the government was taken by surprise when Ms. Kah Wallah, a popular female councilor in the country's second largest city, Douala, declared her candidacy for the presidency. We should look forward to an earlier date for the scheduled election aimed at stalling Ms Wallah's campaign before it gathers any real momentum.

Who is Kah Wallah? Is she the next President of Cameroon?

 Kah Wallah Image © Respective owners

The internet is abuzz in Cameroon with news of he country's first female candidate for president. Kah Wallah resigned October 23rd 2010 from the leading opposition party, the Social Democratic Front (S.D.F.) where she was a member of the central committee, and later  declared her candidacy for president..

What she brings to the table amongst other attributes are her strong organizational skills and extensive international experience working with rural women's groups on empowerment. This gives her a good knack for connecting with the working class, and rallying them for community efforts fighting for a cause.

However, even with all the excitement about her candidacy, she is still pretty unknown at the national level in Cameroon. Is she ready prime time? We shall see.

There is as yet no prominent backer from the northern part of the country. supporting Kah's candidacy.  An Alhadji throwing in his weight behind her will certainly get other timid ones coming ... maybe in droves. One cannot forget to mention that she may have been just a year late for some erstwhile disgruntled insiders like Hon. Adama Mody of the ruling CPDM party who this year reconciled with the speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril.

The CPDM will have to do a lot, maybe get outside consultants to stem this tide before it becomes a tsunami. Kah will have technology and the rural women and disenfranchised youths like the Nanga Mbokos on her side, while the CPDM will have a well oiled election machinery in place, financed by the state with oil money. They won't be able to turn on a dime.

Now if only the opposition leaders could agree on a single candidate...

 

Facebook brings scammers to life...

Be careful what you do with your digital life. It may come back to bite you. Some West African kids played a lot on the internet and made tons of money illegally. They led the good life, and showed the world what it looks like living big in West Africa.

Only they went too far and forgot that once you hit the magic buttons "SEND", "POST" etc, your privacy is gone for good. That little snippet of your life forever belongs to the void, where zeros and ones from our lives go to be stored for posterity.

And that is how they and their families will come to curse forever the urge that made them join Facebook. Now, their faces and in many cases, unwitting friends' have been posted online on an anti-scam forum. It is sad to know that there is little they can do to save the situation as the screen grabs are resident in secure servers abroad, and are also being downloaded every second into PCs around the world. I feel sorry both for the victims and scammers. This is just one more problem that the authorities will have to contend with in a digital age.

This should serve as a teachable moment for all kids growing up in Cameroon and West Africa. Always look, before you leap, and remember, there is no such thing as easy money.

A word to the wise is enough...

Please click here to read more

"Too Big to Fail": The Dismantling of the Fotso Group

 Fotso Victor

The recent global financial crisis is having a heavy impact on businesses around the world. Western companies with relatively transparent auditing rules took the blow, with the devastation in full view and in real time. But this is not true in some parts of the world.

Most companies in sub saharan Africa operate in a loosely regulated environment. Their annual revenue and  liabilities are rarely made public. In fact, few outside of the founders and some very close and trusted people in their inner circles even know how big some of these companies are.

Until recently, this was the case with the Fotso Group in Cameroon. What started as a small commodity importer grew to an agro-industrial giant spread over several west African countries where they produced  varied goods such as matches in Liberia, batteries in Senegal, insecticides in Mali and green beans for export in Cameroon.

The rapid and spectacular growth of this group was supervised by the discreet Fotso Victor. He made his millions silently without any flamboyance. As he aged, he initiated the gradual process of easing his son, 50 year old Yves Michel Fotso  into the chairmanship of his business empire. 

 Yves Michel Fotso

The sudden appointment of his son as director general of Cameroon Airlines in June 2000 deviated him from the grooming he was getting to take over the Fotso Group. Before long, the public became interested in his activities when he began talking in the media of billions of francs and of his businesses. He also seemed to love the attention. It may have been one of the many reasons why the Fotso Group came under scrutiny by the press and authorities.

Thus started the troubles that have repeatedly thwarted the expansion of many West African companies, making them less competitive in the global economy. In 2008, it was reported that the flagship of the group, a bank known as Commercial Bank, with subsidiaries in many countries in the Central African sub-region had gone into receivership. This was done quietly, ostensibly to avert a run on the bank, but once the news broke out, the Central African Banking Commission didn't refute the allegations lending a semblance of credibility to the story. 

This week, news out of Cameroon seems to indicate that the heir apparent to the Fotso Empire might have been involved in a fistfight over several billion francs. This is a first in Cameroon. Time was when issues involving such sums of money were discussed, so quietly, you wouldn't even know a meeting was going on. This was a system based on trust. One that allowed the elder Fotso to build his agro-industrial empire. Magnates of his caliber have all disappeared from the economic landscape in Central Africa.

The deeper and fundamental question is to ask why is all of this happening now? Could there be a mastermind, one so good at his game that he can read the play of others, then plan decades before the others realize what they have gotten themselves into. Right now, Cameroon has no one who can say he is a  billionaire in CFA, and whose wealth can be traced to legitimate sources. Consequently, there can be no real voice to speak out against corruption, heavy handedness of officials, or serve as the sponsor of a viable home grown opposition. 

The Fotso Group may have dug its own grave by becoming too big, very powerful, and so well connected that it threatened some in high places. If this is the case, then we will likely see more drama in the coming months as whoever may be behind the dismantling of this giant, seems to love what they are doing and they are taking their time...

 

Life in West Cameroon, A True Story

This is the true story of Alan Edward Parkinson who served in the Southern Cameroons with the Kings Own Royal Border Regiment. It is well written, illustrated, and displays the scorn to which the natives were held. Thanks for this open account of life in the days when this territory was a British Protectorate. This website is a treasure trove for historians, packed with details of daily life in the early days as the nation took shape and its destiny was cast.
Readers should pay particular attention to the attitudes of the French troops and also the way Nigerians in positions of power and authority treat the local folk. This is an oft overlooked fact in contemporary Cameroonian political discourse, especially when the legacy of some Southern Cameroonian politicians is distorted and they are accused of being sell-outs to the French speaking East Cameroun.
Enjoy, and please remember to sign his  guest book.!!