CI-NEWS

BBC Corners Kamto on Anglophone problem.

2020-02-16

No: 471

BBC Corners Kamto on Anglophone problem.

Being Transcript of the interview Prof. Maurice Kamto, opposition leader in Cameroon, granted to BBC’s Iso Williams on Focus on Africa, aired on 11 February 2020.

*Iso Williams* : Cameroon has just conducted local elections, amidst controversy and ongoing unrest in the English-speaking regions. Elections were boycotted by one of the major opposition political parties – the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM). The leader of the party Professor Maurice Kamto says his decision not to take part in the election was because of the government’s failure to resolve the Anglophone problem. But, it is a narrative that most critics are not buying into; he once said that boycotts do not yield dividends, so I asked professor Kamto if his actions were contradictory?

*Prof. Maurice Kamto:* No! Not at all because it depends on what is at stake when you make a decision. At that time, the ongoing war (disaster) in the Northwest and Southwest regions had not escalated to the level we know today. That is the one major reason, why my party (MRC) took the decision not to take part in February 2020 elections.

*It sounds to me like you shift your position depending on the situation*

Of course, you always do that in politics.

*The Anglophone problem already exists, so why did you take part in the presidential election?*

At that time, it had not escalated to what we are seeing and we were still hopeful that if Cameroonians honored us by electing us as the next president of the country, we would have taken the necessary steps with all the stakeholders to solve the problem. An inclusive dialogue including the representatives of the secessionists, those who have been sentenced to life jail recently and those in the diaspora.

*You said earlier that the situation has worsened. How bad is it now?*

According to data that I read in the press, we are facing a situation where you have between 3,000 to 12,000 deaths, according to sources. More than 400,000 to 800,000 displaced persons. Between 35,000 to 40,000 refugees in Nigeria. No school for the past three years. No economy because the current government decided not to collect any taxes in the regions (Northwest and Southwest). It is a disaster!

*When was the last time you went there to look at it for yourself?*

For security reasons, I have not been able to be there.

*So you don’t know what you are talking about then?*

Do I need to go the field to count the deaths myself before saying that 3000 are dead? That figure is from the UN.

*With all due respect, Mr. Kamto, then those are allegations if you cannot stand them up yourself, (Kamto interrupts). If you are going to accuse the government of making the situation worse, how do you know that if you have not been to see the situation for yourself and why not?*

Do you have any examples of a political leader or the government that has been able to go to the field itself to count the deaths? Information is gathered by the journalists, NGOs or those who are directly involved in the fighting. If we cannot rely on sources like journalists, NGOs and the army itself, then it is not possible to give any figures?

*The government jailed and released you. People are saying that you have become quieter since you left prison. Did you reach a deal at all with the government to facilitate your silence?*

Who says I have signed it. It is surprising. I have been very vocal about what is going on in the Northwest and Southwest regions. I have been very vocal on the issue of the electoral system for the past seven years. I am surprised that anybody will say that I am quiet. I never had any deal whatsoever with the government.

*You did also mention that you were not going to leave prison until the government released the last political prisoner.* *Have they released all of them?*

No!

*Why did you leave?*

Because I do not own the prison.

*You said you were going to stay*

It means that you (journalist) don’t know how the prison functions. The government owns the prisons. The day they decide that you will go out, they send you out.

*You can refuse on condition that your compatriots are still in jail. They were looking up to you for support. You had your chance and you decided to go for freedom*

What kind of case are you trying to make?

*You did also mention earlier that you were not going to leave prison until the government released everyone; you seem to have broken your own bond*

First of all sir, all those who were detained for the same charges are out. Those in prison are those they claim were involved in the uprising in the prison in Yaounde. I do not see any of the militants or comrades still in prison for the charges for which we were arrested on the 26 and 28 of January ( 2019).

*Were there any conditions given to the release?*

Not at all!

*Who runs Cameroon right now, who is at the helm of affairs in your country?*

Ask the question to Mr. Biya

*You are the leader of the opposition, I presume that you know. You wanted to be president*

No. You need to be part of the government to know who is running the country. Until today, decisions are signed by Mr. Biya, I assume that he is the person running the country or at least the de facto president.

*But you were once his minister*

Oh yes!

*So you wouldn’t know*

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BBC Corners Kamto on Anglophone problem.