Cameroon’s president, Paul Biya, has announced (HT: Foreign Policy) his country defeated the terrorist group Boko Haram four years after first declaring war
Biya is scheduled to visit Buea, a separatist stronghold, this week, a trip that coincides with the anniversary of the self-proclaimed Ambazonia Republic. Civilians fear a looming bloodbath, Deutsche Welle adds.
The vast majority of Cameroonians (65.04%) believe the Anglophone conflict is the greatest threat to the security of the country and most do not support the government’s war in the Northwest and Southwest regions, according to a nationwide opinion poll of adult Cameroon citizens. The incumbent president is deeply unpopular after 36 years in power, managing only 29.82% percent of support. Three opposition candidates stand out with the young 38-year Cabral Libii among the group with 11.24 percent, Maurice Kamto (12.65 percent) of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement and Joshua Osih (13.10 percent) of the Social Democratic Front, says the survey from the Nkafu Policy Institute.
The survey findings “reveal a country in free fall…. a society in deep decay, with no sense of direction and very little agreement on the most basic processes,” the institute adds:
There is great concern that at the current pace the growing tensions between communities and various political actors may degenerate into popular uprisings as societal norms continue to be eroded. There is great need, in the lead up to this presidential election, for a stronger involvement of the international community. It would be deeply unfortunate should the October 7 presidential elections further plunge the country deeper in crises. Strong actions must be taken to avert this real possibility. There is great yearning for a new consensus among Cameroonians, for a new beginning.
This survey, conducted with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy, interviewed 2,024 adult Cameroonians in all ten regions. Interviews were conducted in 54 urban centers and 25 rural localities from September 10 to September 20, 2018.
