This is a collection of current news stories from Africa and around the world, with a broad look at the global economy, finance, technology and human rights issues. In fact, anything that sparks my interest.
The recent United Nations mandated operation in Libya that ended with the demise of long-time tyrant, Muammar Ghadafi was triggered by a key notion in International Affairs - the "Responsibility to Protect" known as R2P.
In the late-nineties, the United Nations Organization had become bloated and distracted from its initial goal which was to ensure peace and stability between nations by fostering the interaction of countries at regional and supra regional fora, thereby facilitating conflict mediation.
During this reform process, the African Union through the Ezulwini Consensus in 2005 presented a united front, with one of its top priorities being the "Responsibility to Protect"
What R2P means is that all states have a responsibility to protect their citizens from human rights abuses and torture. It furthermore grants states the authority to intervene in other sovereign states where such acts are being carried out.
Therefore, a state has the primary responsibility to protect its citizens, failing that, the International Community has the RIGHT to step in and stop all atrocities.
When Libyan Tyrant Muammar Ghadafi was murdering his people, no one could stop him. he embodied the state and everyone was answerable only to him. He had overstayed his welcome, 42 years of rule - and still believed the world was just like back in the sixties and seventies when torture and murder of political enemies was the norm. He failed to democratize his country.
When he turned his guns against unarmed civilians in Benghazi in February 2011, he was inviting the International Community to come into Libya and stop the atrocities. R2P was a success in Libya because the cause and main instigator of the atrocities was removed and no longer poses a threat to unarmed civilians in the country.
Observers of the socio-political scene in Cameroon have noted some parallels with Libya. Violent repression of peaceful protests by the 78 year old Paul Biya, who has single-handedly ruled the country for the past 36 years.
Jailing of political opponents without judgment. Spending from the public treasury like his personal piggy bank. And the worse, widespread corruption, tribalism and cronyism.
"Responsibility to Protect" does not always entail military action. It starts with the use of diplomacy, if that fails, more coercive action like sanctions are imposed on the offender and if proven ineffective, then military action is called for as a last resort such as was the case in Libya.
Whether the International Community decides to take action depends on Paul Biya's actions in the coming days. Whatever he does, he should by now know that he has overstayed his welcome, and will have the final opportunity to write the last few pages of the epilogue of 36 years of absolute autocratic, tribalism laced power in Cameroon. The ball is in his court.
Any journalist who has the opportunity to interview Mr Paul Biya, here are the five questions Cameroonians are dying to ask their aging president to ensure he is still sentient of his actions and responsibilities.
1. Can you name 5 governors of any of Cameroon's 10 Administrative Regions?
2. There are 58 Divisions within the regions. They are headed by key personnel who represent the executive branch of government. These are the Senior Divisional Officers (SDO) that the president alone appoints. Can Mr Biya name any 5 of these key administrative personnel that he alone appoints and what Division are they heading?
3. Can Mr Biya name 5 current cabinet ministers in his regime and their respective ministries to which he appointed them?
4. How much does it cost a Cameroonian woman (cash out of pocket cost) to give birth at the Gyneco-Obstetric Hospital in Yaounde?
5. What is the cost of a litre of Super Petrol (gasoline) in Yaounde.
If the president cannot answer these questions, then he is out of touch with the reality of millions of Cameroonians, the same people for whom he shows public scorn, and therefore should be found ineligible to be running the country, or failing that, recognize that Jean Njeunga is worthy of a cabinet position in government.
Even though results for the 2011 presidential elections in Cameroon have been proclaimed, the incumbent and president-elect, Paul Biya, seems to have a very big problem in his hands, that of credibility.
Voter turn out was low, and Mr Biya had the whole party-State machinery to use in campaigning. This is amongst many other irregularities noted by International Observers during the conduct of the election. But that is beyond the point. What irks many is the refusal of Mr Biya, after being in control of the country since 1975 when he became Prime Minister to appoint fresh faces, uncorrupted and competent Cameroonians to posts of responsibility.
Instead of doing what comes natural in a democratic society, that is, renewing the governing apparatus to adapt to social, cultural and political changes, and to build strong institutions, Mr Biya instead spends his days lounging in Switzerland on the shores of Lake Geneva. What he leaves behind is a state that is piloted using dead-reckoning. An example, one amongst thousands, is the lukewarm reaction of the Biya regime's government following the Kenya Airways crash on May 5th 2007 in Douala, Cameroon. The Managing Director of Kenya Airways Group, Titus Naikuni was on the spot, opened up information centers for the families of victims, and was very available to the press. The Cameroonian authorities were no where to be found! With Biya at the helm of the country, it does not bode well for the long term progress of Cameroonians.
Corruption is widespread, and there are too many untouchables in Biya's inner circle.
Instead of using some of the past 36 years he has been in power to develop the colonial infrastructure of the country, pipe clean water into homes and make access to medical treatment a reality, Mr Biya embarked instead on self agrandizing, and building a personality cult. That paradigm no longer holds true in today's world. Libyan Tyrant Muammar Ghadafi just learned that lesson.
The last time Paul Biya, ruler of Cameroon presided a cabinet meeting was in.... 2009!. How can anyone possibly say that Mr Biya has the best interest of the Cameroonian people at heart. There are just too many arguments to support the lack of interest in governing that Mr Biya has displayed over the years. Certainly it is time to look closely at his record.
Traditionally, Independent African Nations' heads of states' official vehicles come from a manufacturer based in the former colonial power. As such, the Kenyan president would ride in a Bentley or Range Rover, both British made cars. England was the colonial power.
Former french Colonies like Senegal, Gabon, Mali and Cameroon have their heads of States riding in French made cars.
In a sign of the times, Paul Biya has broken ranks, and ditched the French made Peugeot, and even the generally acceptable alternative, Mercedes Benz, in favor of a British made Bentley.
Furthermore, just weeks before the October 9th polls, Biya paid a visit to China. This open rapprochement with communist China points to the general direction Cameroon's foreign policy and trade relations will take in the coming years.
Five days after the elections results were made public, Mr Biya is still waiting anxiously for congratulatory messages - the ones that matter - namely from Western Powers and the United Nations Secretary General, to pour in. He is getting no love.
The United States, France, the European Union, and even the United Nations all have been mum. Something is brewing below the surface. To make matters worse, the opposition parties in Cameroon now seem to have found a voice, and are coalescing to present a united front against Mr Biya and his cronies.
The only way out would be for Mr Biya to leave power while there is still time. There are voices grumbling across the countryside and he should heed their call. A level headed and well rounded person like His Excellency Ahmadou Ali, Minister of Justice and keeper of the Seals would be a logical and very legitimate choice to move to Etoudi.
Mr Biya has alienated his friends, lost his supporters and now faces a battle over his legitimacy to rule Cameroon. He has overstayed his welcome. No matter if he is going to pave all roads in Cameroon in gold, the time for him to do so has long gone. He now belongs to the pages in history books, just like Ahmadou Ahidjo, John Ngu Foncha, and Samuel Eboa. There is a tiny window for him to burnish his image before quiting center stage but he seems not to notice or care.
Any moves by him or his henchmen to make the tired and egotistical Biya stay one day longer in power would be obscene. ISSShhhh!!!!
Paul Biya faces heat from the International Community.
Results for the October 9th presidential elections in Cameroon were proclaimed on the 21st of October 2011. The nation's Supreme Court sitting in lieu of the Constitutional Council which exits only on paper and has never seen the light of day declared incumbent, Paul Biya who has been in power since 1975 as the winner of the elections.
But here is the problem. The country has a population of 19,100,000. Of these, there were 7,251,651 registered voters. Turnout was at 68,3% which is rather low. But as expected, Mr Biya won with a total of 3,772,527 votes. In contrast, Ahmadou Ahidjo, first president of Cameroon won the 28th March 1970 presidential elections with 3,478,942 votes. From 1970 to 2011, forty-one years to be sure, the president elect is able to better Ahmadou AHidjo by only about 300,000 votes, which says much about the credibility Mr biya has in occupying the office of President of the Republic of Cameroon.
Now, the elections were not the best and there were many irregularities reported. One candidate was unfortunate enough to attempt to hold a campaign rally in Mr Biya's village and he almost lost his life. Comments from major international partners like the United States Government, the United Nations, the British High Commission, the European Union and others have been very cautious and diplomatically laden with impatience as regards Biya's reluctance to leave power for a well deserved retirement.
Clearly Mr Biya has over-stayed in the presidency, and with the elections still fresh out of the oven, it leaves myriad opportunities for the aging Mr Biya to be pushed out. NATO forces and the International Community have just had vast resources freed up after the liberation of Libya and the death of Col. Muamar Ghadafi. They may now have the time to look into some nut cases like Mr Mugabe, of even closer, going from Libya south toward Zimbabwe, Mr Biya, who suppress the development of their people and deny them access to basic amenities like schools, clinics, and clean drinking water.
Irresponsible statements like those from Gregoire Owona who has been a Biya henchman forever shows the the shocking cockiness that Cameroonians have come to expect from their leaders. Cameroon deserves better.
For now, Mr. Biya and his cronies think they will be in power for ever, and that they are above all moral and legal jurisdictions. In response to a benign standard non committal statement from the very respected and experienced US ambassador to Cameroon, H.E. the Rt. Hon. Robert P. Jackson concerning the flawed presidential elections with record low turnout, Mr Gregoire Owona came out firing, saying "Cameroon is not the valet of the USA"!
Such a ridiculous, uncouth and very brusque statement by one of the highest and most trusted Biya advisers, directed to the head of the biggest diplomatic representation in Central Africa is outright irresponsible. When Biya surrounds himself with such advisers, and leaves them to roam wild and free from the domestic unto the international scene, making unmetered statements against foreign dignitaries, one can only say that Mr Biya has it coming.
