CAMEROON: MINISTER OF TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000112 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2018 TAGS: CM PGOV PHUM SUBJECT: CAMEROON: MINISTER OF TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION ON CONSTITUTION AND ELECTIONS Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Scott B. Ticknor for reasons 1.4 (d) and (e) ¶1. (C) Summary: On February 1, Ambassador met with Cameroon's Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization Hamidou Yaya Marafa, whose responsibilities includes elections, decentralization, local administration and some aspects of internal security. Marafa said a recent Governor's Conference focused on economic growth. He admitted giving the order to ban opposition demonstrations against constitutional change in Douala, saying he feared elements of the military might use such an occasion to spill blood. Marafa was eager to move forward with decentralization but opposed the creation of a long anticipated Electoral Commission (ELECAM). End summary. Governors Conference -------------- ¶2. (C) Marafa said the January 29-31 Provincial Governors Conference in Yaounde was one of his twice-yearly planning meetings involving all ten governors. This recent conference focused on economic growth, in line with the President's stated desire to spur the economy. The conference highlighted agriculture and youth employment as a priority. Cameroon has the tools to get on a higher growth path, Marafa said, "we just need to get our act together." When asked, he said press reports had falsely billed this conference as an effort to encourage governors to clamp down on freedoms and/or strengthen grass-roots support for constitutional change. He had mentioned the constitution issue, "but not on instructions," he said, adding that the conference also highlighted the need to improve internal security. Constitutional Change -------------- ¶3. (C) Ambassador said Littoral Governor Fei Yango Francis' recent ban on opposition demonstrations in Douala (septel) seemed harsh and undemocratic. We would like to see an open discussion of constitutional change, she added. Marafa confided that he had ordered the Governor to ban the demonstration because he was worried about divisions in the armed forces. He saw the potential for a faction of the military to use a demonstration to shoot protesters in an effort to demonstrate to President Biya their importance as a "bastion of the regime". Marafa said this decision would be reviewed over time. ¶4. (C) "Our constitution doesn't make sense, it is bad," Marafa argued, pointing to its failure to clearly delineate a viable succession process in the event of the President's death. (Note: under the constitution, if the President dies in office, the Speaker of the National Assembly would take his place while a new election is organized within 40 days. End note.) Marafa argued that "The president would be irresponsible if he didn't change the constitution" and he voiced frustration with opposition activists who, in his view, cannot offer an alternative. ¶5. (C) He argued that the proposed constitutional change was not aimed at serving the interests of President Biya, who he said may not be alive in 2011 or, if he is, may decide not to run. While Marafa thought Biya should have changed the constitution years ago, the Minister was frustrated that the ruling CPDM, with its calls for eliminating term limits, had forced the issue now. Elections -------------- ¶6. (C) Marafa, whose ministry has the responsibility of organizing elections, said flatly that he "does not believe in" the proposed Electoral Commission ELECAM. Cameroon's electoral problems had to do with too few people registering and difficulties in getting voting cards, he said. ELECAM will not work, he argued, because the GRC cannot afford the cost and staffing demands of "another Ministry of Territorial Administration". Decentralization -------------- ¶7. (SBU) With the President's backing in the New Year speech, decentralization would now move forward more quickly. His main goal was to make councils work better. He planned to meet with donors to discuss decentralization in the coming month. YAOUNDE 00000112 002 OF 002 Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) Marafa was polished and candid, saying his perspectives on the ban of demonstrations were for our ears only, not even to be shared with others in the government or party. He mentioned several times he foresaw no election for 2-3 years, and that this offered an opportunity to push economic growth. He said the President's estimates for economic growth were "wrong", seeming to mean that they were too conservative given the needs of the country. Marafa clearly sees his job as working to ensure a backdrop of social stability to enable economic growth. Opposition activities, elections, constitutional shortcomings, even free press (he criticized the press as lacking boundaries) all work against his priorities. Marafa's explanation for low voter turnout leaves out the fact that people viewed the electoral system as corrupt. He said he understood why we support greater press freedoms and oppose term limit changes, but he did not seem swayed by Ambassador's arguments. Marafa's opposition to ELECAM runs counter to the assurances from the Prime Minister and President that the Electoral Commission would be created soon; it remains to be seen whose view reflects the real intentions of the GRC on this issue. GARVEY