Cameroon lax in dealing with the crisis
IN MANY African countries, governments have ensured the strict application of the barrier and hygiene measures recommended by the World Health Organization.
Contrary to this mobilisation, Cameroon has proved itself to be lax, or guilty of negligence which could result in a serious humanitarian crisis in this country if quick action is not taken.
The management policy of the country has been illustrated by trial and error and a lack of interest on the part of its leaders regarding the fate of the people.
Its most striking expression is the absence of its president, Paul Biya. He has neither deigned to speak to reassure his fellow citizens, nor to do anything to exercise his responsibilities under the constitution.
The silence is all the more disturbing as it is accompanied by government actions aimed at depriving Cameroonians of the ability to cope with the coronavirus pandemic:
1. The minister of territorial administration has prohibited an initiative to mobilise funds for a Covid-19 response. The ban is justified because its promoter, Professor Maurice Kamto, is Biya’s main opponent. However, the promoter of the initiative took care to create the initiative outside the framework of his political party, thereby ridding it of all political considerations.
2. The government ordered cellphone operators to freeze funds earmarked for the initiative, which aimed to provide the population with the free equipment necessary to protect itself from Covid-19.
3. At a time when hospitals and medical staff are facing a shortage of protective and screening equipment, the minister of health illogically refused a substantial donation from the Cameroon Survival Initiative to provide medical staff with equipment.
4. The irrational and irresponsible government decisions reached a critical point with its decision to allow the reopening of drinking spots and other leisure spaces without restriction, at the end of April. This decision is all the more incomprehensible since the government cancelled the demonstrations relating to Labour Day, May 1 and National Day, May 2, because of the non-containment of the crisis and the risk of contamination. Similarly, schools will reopen until June 1.
In other words, this government considers it dangerous for children to go to school to get education, but not for citizens to go to drinking spots or discos where the promiscuity makes physical distancing unrealistic.
5. The government has decided to lift the measures taken to limit the spread of the virus, even as the number of cases increases.
Cameroonians are facing a crisis that requires the AU’s reaction both by virtue of its Constitutive Act, the responsibility to protect which weighs on them, that of the African Charter on Human and peoples’ rights.
Cameroon, which is facing the terrorist Boko Haram and a secessionist movement, cannot allow the pandemic to spread without endangering the health, peace and security of the region. The AU and its chairperson have a responsibility towards Cameroon. History will harshly judge any silence or inaction.