Cameroon's Democracy Needs Improvement

By Akana David

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, has said more needs to be done to improve the democratic, governance and human rights situation in Cameroon. McKinnon spoke to The Post's correspondent David Akana in an exclusive interview in London, UK. The Secretary-General shared his views on politics in Cameroon, the Southern Cameroons National Council, SCNC, and the Zimbabwean case.

The Post: You have just returned from the Mauritius International Meeting on Small Island Developing States. What was the objective of the meeting?

Don McKinnon: This meeting was held ten years after the main meeting, which took place in Barbados in 1995 highlighting the vulnerability of small states. There was a lot of work to be done to alleviate that vulnerability. In Mauritius, leaders had the opportunity to evaluate what has been achieved in the last decade and what more can be done.

Your trip also took you to Mozambique. What was the aim of your visit?

There is a newly-elected government in Mozambique. During my visit, I had the opportunity of meeting the President-elect, Armando Guebuza. I also met some of the prospective ministers and I called on the outgoing President, Joachim Chissano. We spoke about ways in which Mozambique benefits from its membership in the Commonwealth. We currently have four middle management interns from the Mozambique civil service on attachment at the Secretariat in London. This will enable them to have a deeper knowledge of what the Commonwealth is all about.

Do you think all the political stakeholders in the election in Mozambique are satisfied with the way the polls were conducted?

I do not think that there is any election in the world where you would have all parties satisfied. What is important for us is whether the people are satisfied. Because we do want to ensure that countries follow a very meticulous and comprehensive democratic process. I pointed out to the President-elect and the out-going President that a number of recommendations came out from the report of the Election Observer Mission, which I hope the Government of Mozambique will implement.

Did you meet the leader of the Renamo Party, which has all along been asking for the cancellation of the results?

Yes, I met Afonso Dhlakama and we had a good discussion. He understands what the Commonwealth is doing to improve the democratic process in his country. In Mozambique’s parliamentary and presidential system, there is a place for the Opposition. The people are ready to play a more active role in the assembly.
Let us now move over to Cameroon. Presidential election took place there in October last year. The report of the Commonwealth Observer Mission was very critical of the conduct of the polls. Apart from t

These reports, are there other methods that could be used to improve the democratic process in Cameroon?

The Commonwealth has taken a strong interest in Cameroon since it joined our association in 1995. The last time I was in Cameroon, I highlighted to President Biya a number of issues which could be improved upon. The National Elections Observatory could be a more substantive and robust organisation and be better funded. During the last election in Cameroon, our observers did highlight a few issues that needed to be acted upon. We also know that this election was better than the previous one; we see a movement in the right direction taking place in Cameroon.

Has anything changed in the democratic process in Cameroon since the Commonwealth started publishing the Observer reports?

Well, it was felt that this election did lend credibility in certain areas and that there is a need to improve the system. But on the other hand, there has been a significant improvement from the last Legislative and Municipal elections in 2002. The President indicated at the time that he was not opposed to the establishment of the National Elections Observatory that would be responsible for all aspects of elections. The Commonwealth supports that. I believe that President Biya wants to create a wide democratic structure in Cameroon. We hope that President Biya sees the Commonwealth as a friend who can work with his people to try and generate change.

Senior Commonwealth officials have been to Cameroon on a number of occasions, during which they have called on President Biya to reform and improve on the human rights situation, as well as to enhance good governance. Has the Commonwealth noticed any change so far?

I am not sure that I can comment on that right now because I have not been to Cameroon for quite a while. I have raised the issue of human rights with President Biya a number of times and we have talked about the need for the government to support the National Human Rights Commission. We have now got the establishment of the Constitutional Court and we are noticing a greater independence of the National Elections Observatory and the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms. If all these organisations enjoy greater freedom, they will develop some amount of confidence in the people. This is very important. We are still concerned with human rights and governance issues in a number of areas, the instances of torture and practices related to detention, greater media freedom, the abolition of “government delegates” and the enactment of a new and harmonised criminal procedure code, which would incorporate the right of habeas corpus and measures to entrench the independence of the judiciary. We want to continue working with the Government of Cameroon on these issues.

Some opinions hold that the Commonwealth Observer Teams often arrive for observation just a few days before the polls. They do not have sufficient time to observe the pre-election formalities such as registration, campaigns and others. Shouldn’t there be a change in the method of election observation?

We do not see elections as the only measurement of a country’s level of governance or commitment to the Commonwealth. We see elections as one part of many processes, such as the right to vote, how often you can vote, the level of tolerance between the biggest constituency in a country and the smallest, and whether every vote is equal. Getting all these right, you have a chance of a reasonable election. But you still have to look at developments in voter registration and the freedom to vote.

Most Opposition political leaders in Cameroon think that the Commonwealth is very lenient with Cameroon.

Well, we can raise certain issues with our member governments and leaders. But we are not an organisation that has a big army behind us, using it to threaten defaulters. We can only apply moral persuasion and this is very important because it works around the Commonwealth. Election observers are highly skilled people. They come from the public and private sectors, they include MPs, civil society representatives and journalists. These people are busy. They cannot spare six months to go to a country to observe elections. So we need a system in which Commonwealth Secretariat officials go to a country a few months before the election to observe the registration process before the election observers come in. In some cases, the observers arrive earlier, as they did in Mozambique last December. So it all depends on the availability of people.
One of the issues that threaten the unity of Cameroon is the call for secession by the Southern Cameroons National Council, SCNC. What do you think of this movement? Have they solicited your mediation?

No. This is a case where people within a state want to go it alone. And if we were asked to mediate in this issue, we would only do so upon the request of the Government of Cameroon and with the support of those who are in favour of secession. It is not my job to go around and create a favourable environment for people to secede. In some parts of the Commonwealth, we do get people who are unsatisfied and want to break off. What we try to do is encourage them to settle their differences. Because, whatever they do, splitting would cost them a lot of money. It is not an inexpensive venture. We live in a very small world today. I can understand the aspiration of people in smaller states - they want to control education, road construction facilities, etc. I do not think they have an overall concern with foreign policy and defence. I think that we will see a time when a little bit more autonomy will be given to states within states. A model now is Hong Kong in China. The people are looking for that local autonomy, which does not threaten the state, but still allow people to have some amount of influence over local spending.

Zimbabwe has been out of the Commonwealth for two years already. Are there any plans to re-admit it?

Well, we know that many people in Zimbabwe would like to return to the Commonwealth, but it is up to the Zimbabwean government to make the first move. Zimbabwe left the Commonwealth in December 2003. We have since made some overtures to the Zimbabwean government, but we have not had any success. I do believe that moves have been made by the SADC countries and by Presidents Obansanjo and Mbeki, and we have been supporting these initiatives. It is important that engagements are maintained because when a country remains out of the Commonwealth for a long time, it is more difficult to come back. We do want Zimbabwe to rejoin the Commonwealth.

What does Zimbabwe need to do to be re-admitted?

I think that many people will be following the elections in March. After all, the issue between Zimbabwe and the Commonwealth has nothing to do with the white farmers and land acquisition. It was all about the 2002 election. This election got a very negative mark from the Commonwealth Observer Group which was there. The team of about 20-30 people were made up of a majority of officials from Africa and the Caribbean and the Chair was General Abdou Salami Aboubakar, the former Nigerian President. The observer team declared that this election was not a true representation of the will of the people.

But Zimbabwe is not the first case where such critical remarks have been made about the quality of the election process. Why was it suspended from the Commonwealth?

After the election, the negative report was brought to the attention of the leaders of the Commonwealth. The leaders decided that there had to be a decision that reflected irregularities in the elections. The problem with Zimbabwe was that we were never able to talk to the officials about the irregularities. When we did, they just shut the doors in our face.

Do you think Nigeria and South Africa that were asked to help Zimbabwe improve its system have actually done so?

I think that Presidents Mbeki and Obasanjo have done their best to want to see some kind of change in Zimbabwe. Whether you can measure that in terms of some positive improvements, other people can make the judgement.
President Mugabe has again passed tougher media laws ahead of the legislative elections slated for March. Does that jeopardise their chances for re-admission?
Well, everyone wants to have free and fair elections. And from what I am reading in the papers, there is a lot of concern from a number of Zimbabwean people about some of the measures being taken by the government.

It is already a month that a tsunami struck, affecting five Commonwealth countries in South Asia. How do you feel about it?

We have already had a bit of time to reflect over this. The real distress is that there were no mechanisms to monitor or detect the tsunami in the Indian Ocean. I am from the Pacific and we have over 100 earthquakes every year, but people are aware.

What has the Commonwealth done?

We have made a number of initiatives, but of course, other organs such as the UN have done lots of things .We do not want to repeat what others have already done. We would determine what others are not doing and what we can do.

Is it not better to work on the resettlement of the people in the area?

That is what is going on now.

What is your wish for the year 2005?

We will have our leaders meeting in Malta towards the end of this year. I believe the leaders would want to evaluate what has been achieved in the area of governance and building human capacities. Now that we have got new means of measuring a country's status in terms of its commitments to the Commonwealth, this gives us the chance through what we call Latimer House Guidelines to ensure that Commonwealth countries see themselves as having power divided between the executive, legislative and the judiciary.

Any regrets for the year 2004

It is the tsunami, which at one stroke, took with it over 280,000 lives. Most of our work is doing what we can to improve the governance situation in the member countries. When you have good governance and transparency in all sectors, you will attract domestic and foreign investment. Investors come because they know that you provide a safe haven and that brings development. A fundamental prerequisite to development is sustainable and defendable democratic institutions.

Lastly, what will you have to smile about after you complete two terms as Secretary General of the Commonwealth?

(Smiles) I think that there is a lot to smile about. When you see what you can do, to create a difference in countries, see schools and hospitals being built, etc. We work much on governance and building capacities to help our member countries adapt to the 21st century. What is important is taking advantage of the opportunities of the 21st century.

Comments

[Stephen Joseph]

For this fellow, Don McKinnon to identify the de-colonization efforts of a state given as a sacred Trust to the United Kingdom to lead to independence, as "seccessionist," is only consistent with what her majesty's colonial Secretary Ian McCloud said in 1960 of the peoples of the Southern Cameroons--they are "expendable"! This utterrance from Don McKinnon, in 2005, may please France and her Petainiste junta of La Republique du Cameroun, but it once again establishes the European ruling elite's racist and bigoted attitude towards Africans in general. If to Don McKinnon the laws of the UN Trusteeship system mean nothing for the people of the Southern Cameroons--on which basis our claims for statehood is based-- and Africans in general, then he comes closer to echoing the attitude of Emperor Jacques Rene Chirac who has outrightly declared that democracy is a luxury for Africans.
Let the games continue.

[Festus Ndeh]

"This is a case where people within a state want to go it alone ... It is not my job to go around and create a favourable environment for people to secede."
Sir, i think your reaction is overstated and does not seem to suggest a reasonable position from a reasonable leader who should aim at resolving tension and assisting the welfare of states of the Common Wealth of Nations. The question was about the SCNC of the Southern Cameroons. The group fighting for the self-determination of the people of the geopolitical region of North and South west Cameroon. A people who were sold into slavery by the parent of your Organistaion, the British under the auspices of the United Nations. It is horrible that with an understanding of the history of that region, you can afford to use the word 'secede' to describe the struggle for sovereignty of Southern Cameroons. It is really regretable. We hope that standing force that the Common Wealth lacks will be available to keep peace in this region when the venom of Mount Fako will be lashed out. If you don't want to go with them, they have no option but to go alone. Call it secession, call it what you think, but it is inevitable and must come. I bet that this is going to be very soon.
Festus Ndeh
Germany

[Benny T.]

Mr Festus Ndeh,

Your quoted segment of the interview was very self-serving. Because Mr McKinnon went on to say: "What we try to do is encourage them to settle their differences." Now, what exactly is your problem with the above? You went on to describe Anglophone Cameroonians as: "A people who were sold into slavery..." a choice of words I find most disturbing. Use enough emotive words, and you just might bring about another Biafra and another bloodbath in Africa... for absolutely zilch at the end of the day. Look, Cameroon is in a sorry state economically, and the morale of the place is at an all-time low. You think this is only affecting Anglophones? You think all our problems will be solved once we get the Francophones off our backs? Use your imagination and go back to the euphoria of pre-independence across Africa. Still feel as optimistic? We've got real problems to solve as a country, and we better start looking to solving those problems... as a nation. What people like McKinnon are tryint to point out is that what the SCNC see as a solution is no solution at all. Even if we had that wish (bloodbath not withstanding) I can almost guarantee you that 10 years after that, it will be the South Westerners complaining about being marginalised... by the North Westerners. Or indeed, vice versa. And then where to go from there? Another split? One thing I've wondered all along, is why the SCNC doesn't propose the more achievable option of autonomous states? Why can't we push for decentralisation from Yaounde instead, have an elected, non-party affiliated Governor, raise our own taxes, have our own Parliament... but still be part of Cameroon? (Notice, I said "push", meaning, even if it's been mentioned, this is the option worth putting in front of the rest of the world). But I suppose that is far, far less blood-thirsty for the likes of you. As a South Westerner, it'll be a sun-kissed day in hell before I go anywhere with the likes of you and the SCNC. That, you can take to the bank, Mr Ndeh.