Constitutional Change underway in Cameroon

[LUKMEF-CAMEROON]

As we work hard to prevent war and suffering, it is still disheartening to know that African Leaders still live and rule without vision or share love for humanity. They seem not to look or think beyond today. After Kenya it is very likely to be the case of Cameroon. The head of state last December 31st in his traditional end of year message confirmed a long standing debate he provoked during an interview in France about the possible revision of the Constitution. The main reason is to modify article 6.2 that limits the mandate of the president to two terms of office. The augment is that there is no reason to limit the presidential mandate. The opposition is now worming up and warning hard.

There are 250 ethnic groups in Cameroon. The country is bilingual ( French and English). For years, there has been mounting tension between the English speaking region and the French part of Cameroon on grounds that the Anglophones are being marginalized. That said, there is tension between the Muslim North and the rest of the country for marginalization. Tension between the North West and the South West provinces for marginalization and domination. Within the North West itself, there is tension between the different tribes, same in the South West province of the country.

The picture this situation is painting is simple:
Regions and tribes are waiting for the least opportunity to settle scores with those they consider as their “enemies”. This constitutional change may be the long awaited opportunity. If this ever happens, it will constitute the bloodiest, longest, most complicated conflict Africa will ever have recorded.
The Question now is “What should be done to keep Cameroon out of a possible outbreak of conflicts? What can the West do? What should the UN do? What should the civil society do?
Your input can stop a situation

Christian

[Anjez Winkler]

Dear Christian,

You say: "As we work hard to prevent war and suffering, it is still disheartening to know that African Leaders still live and rule without vision or share love for humanity.", though i feel this is the case for, let me say, most countries socalled "leaders". "They seem not to look or think beyond today.", same i notice about everywhere else, so i would say: this is definitely not only so for Africa, yet i understand that Africa has most 'real' expressed and as such as real as possible all the structural hardships a human being can have to deal with in life, however but short this life may be.


You say: "There are 250 ethnic groups in Cameroon. The country is bilingual ( French and English). For years, there has been mounting tension between the English speaking region and the French part of Cameroon on grounds that the Anglophones are being marginalized. That said, there is tension between the Muslim North and the rest of the country for marginalization. Tension between the North West and the South West provinces for marginalization and domination. Within the North West itself, there is tension between the different tribes, same in the South West province of the country." -and according to me this looks like a "Scenario of Despair"; as i see it, the premises for viciousness (the 'infamous' vicious circle...) should be broken up to avoid the, let me say, "same old same old"... The question is how this could be done the best (!) and i feel in here the "world"... (UN) is, due to whatever, acting a bit... slow and as if asleep; this may be because of lack of "whole" vision, that is: too much "partial vision"..., a sort of, i would name it..., "glaucoma vision"... That is it.


You say too: "The picture this situation is painting is simple:
Regions and tribes are waiting for the least opportunity to settle scores with those they consider as their “enemies”. This constitutional change may be the long awaited opportunity. If this ever happens, it will constitute the bloodiest, longest, most complicated conflict Africa will ever have recorded.
The Question now is “What should be done to keep Cameroon out of a possible outbreak of conflicts? What can the West do? What should the UN do? What should the civil society do?
Your input can stop a situation"


According to me this situation looks like a "most urgent situation". Still i feel the, what i name, 'premises for a vicious circle' should be broken through the means of Education, whether in an oral or a written way or both.


The question is: what do people want? That is: do they want to LIVE or... die... I feel this is the question. When so they say they want to LIVE, education must be on WHAT IS PEACE and LIVING TOGETHER and RESPECTING EACHOTHER FOR ONE'S DIFFERENCES, et cetera, else, if they want to die, we all know the means for that...


You say: "What can the West do?", which makes me wonder whether there is any "West" at all... and UN as "United Nations" seems to be still in a child's phase... and in that case, maybe it is us here who build toward an awareness of the right of democracy for each individual across our very one and only Planet Earth; just maybe this could be a 'task' for our generation...


Christian, i have a question for you now: could you come up with some positive aspects of Africa or the place where you are located? I ask you this, because i feel Africa is seen too much negative; therefore i would like to see also positive aspects of Africa since i believe these must be here too... I mean: there must be some positive African aspects just now and here too.


Blessing and Light for Africa now especially,
.Anjez.*

[LUKMEF-CAMEROON]

Hi Anjez

Once again thank you for contributing. You are right that we must start looking at what is good and positive about Africa. Africa in its real sense constitute one of the few areas in the world where really happiness and tranquility still exist. I have been to the Americas and to Europe myself. Only in Africa can you see the real face of God in His creation… I mean unadulterated lands and food, unpolluted seas and stream, virgin forest etc. Africa has the most significant growth opportunity available in the world and will definitely be guided by technology to develop the most sustainable and reliable economies.

The extended family situation in Africa that works with the concept of “ each for all and all for each”, is still very much around and admired by all who visit and live this situation. This is why I still hold on the fact that while we work to bring meaningful change in Africa, we must not continue to paint a too dark picture of the Continent.
Anjez, I by this invite you to take some holiday to Cameroon and see for your self the good life we live here. Our organization has on a very regular basis volunteers and visitors we invite to spend sometime with us living the reality that Cameroon or Africa is completely different from the picture painted by our leaders and someone NGOs seeking funding from the west.

Cameroon airports are busy with investors coming to invest in my country, same is happening in other countries. But just like any businessman in the West will seek partnerships for financing businesses this is not different here. So what is the difference then…? The difference is in the mind and not in the physical

Anjez, you may continue any communication via this forum or send a mail to my at [e-mail]