Cameroon: ELECAM defanged by Paul Biya

Presidential elections are slated for September 2011 in Cameroon. The
ruling regime in that country headed by Paul Biya has been watching
what has happened in Cote d'Ivoire closely.

Presidential elections were proclaimed by that country's electoral
commission, and the results were overturned by the constitutional
council of Cote d'Ivoire. That led to fighting that lasted from
December that ended today, April 11 2011 with the arrest of the out
going president Laurent Gbagbo.

Paul Biya in Cameroon recognizes this danger, and has moved to take
away the powers of the electoral commission (ELECAM), so that the
authority to proclaim presidential election results in Cameroon will
come under the Constitutional Council, a role played by the Supreme
Court.

This is also a sign that Paul Biya has little trust in high level
government officials, and would rather have someone whom he can trust
- like the president of the Supreme Court of Cameroon - proclaim the
results of the elections.

Biya is taking measures to remain in power in Cameroon. It is not a
wise decision, Cameroon needs a younger and more dynamic leader. He
should learn from Laurent Gbagbo.

Lapiro de Mbanga FREED!

Ndinga Man, aka Lapiro is a free man after three years in prison. He
was freed one day early, ostensibly to avoid the media spotlight.

The ruling regime in Cameroon headed by Paul Biya must be turning
over. Lapiro shot to stardom after he was jailed, and his music has
been transformed into one of activism. Biya has only himself to blame
for the radicalization of the renowned artist.

Lapiro has now become very articulate and politically savvy. He is a
torn in Biya's back, and has grown bigger.

There is no doubt imprisonment has made Lapiro stronger, and has
broadened his audience. His fight has become a "cause celebre" and
"Liberez Lapiro" the new rallying chant for anti - Biya activists.

The Warden of the New Bell Prison in Douala executed Lapiro's release
deftly, how Biya handles a larger than life Lapiro may determine
whether he survives September's presidential elections.

Ms Kah Walla, the first female presidential candidate in Cameroon's
history is the favorite by a large margin, and enjoys widespread
support throughout the country.

End of impunity: Gbagbo Capitulates

Ivorian strongman, Laurent Gbagbo, and his inner circle, including
Simone Gbagbo and Ble Goude, the vocal leader of the militant youth
wing of Gbagbo's party are all under arrest.

Gbagbo is the lates of Africa's dinosaurs yet to fall. It took five
and a half years, French Special Forces in Cote D'Ivoire known as
LICORNE, The United Nations Peacekeeping Force known as UNOCI, the
economic community of West African States, ECOWAS, Five African Heads
of States mediating, US president Barack Obama, French President
Nicolas Sarkozy, UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon, and thousands of
civilian lives for Laurent Gbagbo to understand he had overstayed his
welcome.

Irrespective of the results of the elections, and just for
humanitarian reasons, the right thing for any great statesman to have
done would have been to gracefully put the interest of the nation
above individual quest for power, and to resign.

Instead, he went rogue, and was fished out "a la" Saddam Hussein from
his bunker.

Now, he will be paraded infront of the world, and the trioka, Laurent
Gbagbo, Simone Gbagbo and Ble Goude at the very least bear direct
responsibility for the atrocities committed during their watch.

Leaders of other African countries like Paul Biya of Cameroon who have
elections this year should learn from this experience. The era of
impunity in Africa is over.