the stroke of midnight, Cameroonians found just how much insecurity
has taken a grip of their fatherland.
The economic capital, Douala, which is the main maritime gateway to
the Central African Republic in addition to Cameroon itself, was laid
to siege by an armed gang.
Interestingly, the stretch of Bonaberi, Douala that was held up for
over three hours, is one of the the most policed in Central Africa.
From the entrance of western entry of Douala to the Rond Point Deido
roundabout, there are innumerable roadblocks and checkpoints, manned
by Gendarmes, Police, Soldiers, and council workers. When confronted
by this armed gang, not even a single shot was fired by them in
retaliation. They melted into thin air, as the armed marauders wrecked
havoc in the very heart of Cameroon's most populated city, Douala.
This attack is eerily similar to the one that happened in Limbe in
2008. Armed men got to the seaside town, fired a few shots into the
air, and the whole city was under their command within a few minutes.
For over five hours, the men terrorized the population of Limbe,
sacked banks, and fired on unarmed civilians like they were having a
shooting practice.
The one who is head of the Cameroon Armed forces, who swore to defend
the citizens of Cameroon, since 1982 - Paul Biya failed to even
mention this event. It was like nothing happened. Like has been
reported a million times, he does not give a damn what happens to any
Cameroonian. He would rather be in Switzerland, basking on the shores
of Lake Geneva. There were no hard words directed at the terrorists,
no promise of making Cameroon's coast secure, in short, to Paul Biya,
it was a non event. Those who lost their lives had just their families
to mourn their passing away.
Despite warnings from the private press, police and soldiers did not
beef up security in Douala. But they had more than enough manpower to
beat up, and brutalize unarmed Cameroonians who want to feel safe
within their Country. Kah Walla, a hard working Cameroonian lady,
widely respected worldwide is one such victim, together with Lapiro de
Mbanga, a populist musician who has been jailed by Paul Biya for
singing out to the masses.
This last outing, where Cameroonians are killed in their sleep and
Paul Biya does not even come to speak out against this aggression
shows a shameful lack of leadership on Paul Biya's part. He should
review the oath he took when he was sworn in as president.
In Mvomeka, the village of the president, Paul Biya, he has built an
airport that can safely handle aircraft as big as a Boeing 737 with
Intercontinental capability.
If he hears shots close to Mvomeka, it will be only a matter of
minutes before he will be aloft, headed for Switzerland, where his
children live a peaceful and luxurious life. Ordinary Cameroonians
will not have that same level of safety. They don't have access to
aircraft. They have nowhere to go.
For the second time, Cameroonians have been exposed to heavily armed
assailants and those paid by the state to protect them ran away from
the scene, abandoning unarmed civilians to be massacred.
There are all the ingredients of a failed state here. A leader who
sends young promising Cameroonians, like Liutenant Mahamat into harm's
way without proper equipment, a poorly organized military like that of
Guinea when Dadis Camara seized power, an absentee president who does
not address a full blown terrorism attack visited upon his people.
Who would blame any Cameroonian who buys a Kalachnikov to defend
himself and his property? Who would blame a taximan, when he mocks a
policeman for blocking the road to get a bribe to free passage, who
would blame Kah Walla, for getting fed up with the lack of leadership
that has left Cameroon rudderless, just so that Paul Biya should have
money to buy a multi million dollar home in Switzerland.
There is no longer a place for aged despots who cling on to power,
even though their citizens are being murdered en masse. Paul Biya
should do Cameroonians a favor, he should resign and go in peace. His
continued quest to stay on even though he has had 36 years to effect
change only gives fodder to those who will want him to turn up infront
of the ICC in The Hague.
May the souls of those who lost their lives because of Paul Biya rest
in Perfect Peace.
