CAMEROON FOREIGN MINISTER EXPLAINS BIYA'S MOTIVES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000359

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS AND LONDON FO AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR ASEC KDEM PHUM CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON FOREIGN MINISTER EXPLAINS BIYA'S MOTIVES
ON CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE

REF: A. YAOUNDE 346


B. YAOUNDE 329 AND PRIOR

Classified By: Pol/Econ Officer L. Wahid for reasons 1.4 (B/D)


1. (C) Summary: Cameroon's Minister of External Relations,
Henri Eyebe Ayissi, asked to speak with Charge d'Affaires on
April 9 to present the government's official position on
recent "major events in the life of Cameroon," specifically,
the constitutional revisions currently in process (reftels)
and the recent violent civil unrest. Ayissi's core message:
President Biya was responding to popular demand by proposing
the constitutional amendments, including that removing term
limits; the changes were essential to maintaining political
stability in Cameroon; and the changes were also designed to
ensure a smooth transition of presidential power. On the
civil unrest, Ayissi said the February riots were "a
violation of law" but that peaceful demonstrations would be
tolerated. Ayissi also provided an update on the
government's plans to implement the law requiring a new,
independent elections body. The meeting lasted nearly 30
minutes, with Ayissi using up most of that time for his
presentation. Broadcast media and photo journalists covered
the Charge's arrival and departure but there were no
reporters present. End summary.


2. (C) Cameroon's National Assembly on April 10 approved a
controversial constitutional revision which, among other
things, eliminates presidential term limits (ref A). On
April 9, in addition to Charge, Foreign Minister Ayissi
called in the Ambassadors of China, Japan, Russia, and
Switzerland, as well as the British High Commissioner and the
Papal Nuncio, delivering the same message. On April 8, the
Minister discussed the constitutional revisions with the
African diplomatic corps and with the Ambassadors of Saudi
Arabia and Germany and the Canadian High Commissioner.
Government television and press reported, without substantive
comment, on the parade of visitors to the Ministry.


CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM, THE CAMEROON WAY
--------------


3. (C) In his April 9 meeting, Ayissi told the Charge that
it was important for the government (GRC) to share
information about the constitutional revision so that "all
witnesses understood the process." (Note: quotes are
unofficial translations; Ayissi spoke entirely in French.)
It was "not news," he said, that the government had submitted
the constitutional revision to the National Assembly. The
text had passed through the Committee and would be adopted,
he said, at the National Assembly's Plenary Session on either
April 10 or 11 (note: it was approved on April 10). He
recounted that President Biya had received many messages from
the people urging him to revise the Constitution, and that
the President needed to respond to those demands. Since the
President's New Year's Eve speech, he added, there had been
significant debate, with some commentators arguing that
Article 6.2 (presidential term limits) should not be revised,
and others advocating for revising the Constitution,
including article 6.2. Ayissi said there had also been open
discussions on whether to revise the constitution via the
Assembly (Parliament) or through a referendum, and about
whether to create a vice presidential position. In the end,
he asserted, the GRC had decided to revise the Consitution,
including article 6.2, through the Parliament and had opted
not to create a vice presidential position.


4. (C) Ayissi stressed that the constitutional revision was
not done specifically for President Biya, but instead in the
national interest of the country. He said that the
constitutional revision guaranteed the "continued functioning
of the State at the end of the presidential mandate or if the
President is no longer able to carry out his mandate." He
added that it was commonly believed that continued
constitutional uncertainty could endanger the country, as was
the case with Cameroon's neighbors. He told the Charge that
should the President become incapable of running the country,
the new provisions would empower the interim president (after
consultations with the yet-to-be-created Constitutional
Council) to dismiss any Minister impeding presidential
elections; however, s/he would not be able to modify the
Constitution.


YAOUNDE 00000359 002 OF 002



ELECAM, SENATE
--------------


5. (C) Regarding the creation of the new, independent
elections body, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM),Ayissi said the
GRC had begun consultations with civil society and political
parties represented in the National Assembly. It would be
for the country's political parties to present candidates for
President, and then for the the nation's citizens to choose
from among those candidates. It was the decision of the
ruling CPDM party, and for the citizens, to decide whether
Biya would run in the next presidential elections, he said.


6. (C) As with the Constitutional Council, the Senate has
not yet been created, as required under the 1996
constitution. The constitutional revisions passed April 10
address the term for senators. Ayissi told the Charge that
if the regional councils -- also yet to be created -- charged
with electing Senators are not in place, municipal bodies
will elect senators. Ayissi told us there was no timetable
for implementation of the constitution's provision requiring
a Senate, saying it could happen "perhaps in the next couple
of months," and that the Constitutional Council "will
certainly be created before 2011."


MORE DEMONSTRATIONS?
--------------


7. (C) Ayissi conceded that there might be further
demonstrations and characterized these "as a normal exercise
of the people's will." However, the government hoped that
the country would remain calm. Ayissi said the GRC insisted
that all groups and citizens must respect the country's laws
and institutions. He asserted that the "February riots were
a violation of the law and reprehensible, and we will
guarantee the security of the diplomatic corps and our
citizens." In perhaps a not-so-subtle message that we should
keep our opinions to ourselves, he then closed with: "Your
behavior plays a role in consolidating respect for the law."



8. (C) Comment. The Foreign Minister's assertion that there
was a full public debate leading to the removal of
presidential term limits is a stretch; this was President
Biya's decision. Many interlocutors have told us that a
significant number of CPDM members of the National Assembly
were opposed to the measure, but felt they did not have a
truly free choice. Still, the action was taken, on paper at
least, in accordance with Cameroon's laws and procedures.
Moreover, some of the revisions will help improve any
transition of presidential power, and it is entirely possible
that Biya will not seek another term. Looking forward, we
will continue to focus and engage the GRC on the importance
of establishing transparent institutions that will ensure a
free and fair election in 2011, and on encouraging greater
respect for the role of a free media and the right of the
people to demonstrate peacefully against their government.
End comment.
NELSON