CAMEROON'S NORTH: POOR AND FEELING NEGLECTED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 001417

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CM EAGR ECON PGOV SENV PINR KISL KPAO
SUBJECT: CAMEROON'S NORTH: POOR AND FEELING NEGLECTED


1. (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador's recent orientation trip
to Cameroon's North and Far North provinces revealed a region
of poverty, insecurity and perceived political neglect.
Local officials, traditional leaders, NGO representatives,
businessmen and others stressed the impact of desertification
and climate change. When asked about Cameroon post-President
Biya, northerners predicted a military coup or chaos.
Cameroon's most populous region, the north feels different
from the rest of the country -- blisteringly hot, arid and
rocky, and more Islamic (although Christianity is still
dominant). The Ambassador's visit generated significant
media attention and helped reinforce ties to this remote
region. End summary.

Poverty
--------------


2. (U) Contacts described the northern provinces as
extremely poor (note: Ambassador visited two of the three
provinces referred to as The Grand North - the third province
is Adamaoua). There is little industry or new agricultural
investment in the North or Far North, leaving few employment
opportunities. The north has cattle and dry-weather
agricultural products like peanuts, wheat, corn and cotton,
though interlocutors complained that their cotton exports
were being hurt by U.S. subsidies. Education and health
facilities are in very bad shape. According to the Bishop of
Maroua, poorly demarcated land leads to frequent local
disputes and undermines agricultural productivity.


3. (U) The region has several good national parks and
ecotourism potential, supported by the World Wildlife Fund
(WWF) and the government (GRC),though this is undermined by
poor roads and the region's fragile ecology. The WWF and
others were concerned about desertification, serious water
shortages, and what they saw as the major negative impact of
climate change on the ecology of the region. Local
governments and groups like the U.S. NGO Winrock
International are fighting back with tree plantings.
Although arid during the dry season (nine months of the
year),the region is often flooded during the rainy season.
Weather extremes and locust invasions threaten the region's
food sustainability.

Politically Neglected
--------------


4. (U) Northerners feel neglected politically as well.
Contacts in the northern provinces said that because former
President Amadou Ahidjo as well as those implicated in the
1984 coup attempt came from the north, Cameroon's current
President, Paul Biya, largely ignores the region. Perhaps as
a result, there are many opposition political parties active
in the north. However, parliamentary seats in the region are
divided between the ruling CPDM and its coalition partner,
the smaller UNDP (National Union for Democracy and Progress).


5. (U) Banditry is a major problem, especially near the
borders with Nigeria, Chad and CAR; many of the bandits come
from neighboring countries to attack relatively wealthy local
cattle herders. Northerners have a favorable view of Nigeria
but admit that there is significant smuggling across the
long, porous border. Many Nigerians and Chadians who entered
illegally now live side by side with local populations.
Contacts confirmed that corruption is endemic in the north
(like elsewhere in the country). Many complained about
serious irregularities in the July legislative elections and
a range of human rights problems.

Changing the Constitution
--------------


6. (SBU) Ambassador asked many interlocutors whether they
thought President Biya would change the constitution to
remain in power after 2011 -- a significant, ongoing national
debate. The answer was invariably yes, if Biya is healthy,
he will change the constitution to stay on. Contacts
believed there was substantial opposition to changing the
constitution but average Cameroonians are reportedly afraid
to oppose Biya. One supporter of the ruling CPDM saw hope
for reform from within the party. Many of our contacts
across the spectrum believed that when Biya is gone, either
the military will take over or the country will collapse into
chaos.

Comment
--------------


7. (U) The trip generated major press coverage, including a

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stop at the American Corner in Garoua (where we plan to
launch a Virtual Presence Post soon),a Peace Corps HIV/AIDS
bike ride, and a visit to Cameroon's impressive national
veterinary laboratory. Ambassador also toured the AES/Sonel
hydropower plant, a large U.S. investment in the region.
Journalists asked the Ambassador about some typical issues --
corruption, democracy, impressions of the north -- but also
about issues of more regional interest such as cotton
subsidies and international climate change. In addition to
broadening our public outreach, the trip strengthened ties to
the Muslim community, in meetings with local Muslim leaders
and Muslim women. Most of all, perhaps, the trip reinforced
our ties to a large region which borders unstable neighbors
and feels neglected by the rest of the country.
GARVEY