Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09YAOUNDE431
2009-05-13 13:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Yaounde
Cable title:  

CAMEROON'S PM REVEALING ON GRC'S GOVERNANCE

Tags:  PGOV PREL KCOR CM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3297
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHYD #0431/01 1331340
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 131340Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9886
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000431 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/C
STATE PASS USAID
COMMERCE FOR ITA K BURRESS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCOR CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON'S PM REVEALING ON GRC'S GOVERNANCE
PROBLEMS

REF: A. YAOUNDE 396

B. YAOUNDE 370

C. YAOUNDE 367

Classified By: Political Officer Tad Brown for Reasons 1.4 b and d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000431

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/C
STATE PASS USAID
COMMERCE FOR ITA K BURRESS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCOR CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON'S PM REVEALING ON GRC'S GOVERNANCE
PROBLEMS

REF: A. YAOUNDE 396

B. YAOUNDE 370

C. YAOUNDE 367

Classified By: Political Officer Tad Brown for Reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) Summary. In a May 12 meeting with the Ambassador,
Cameroonian Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni professed ignorance
of President Biya's agenda for the coming months and
dismissed Biya's claim--made to the Ambassador last month
(ref b)--that the Senate would be set up before the end of
the year, saying "we are not ready and cannot get ready in
the next six months." The Government of Cameroon (GRC) is
moving ahead with plans to secure and development the Bakassi
Peninsula, but decisions will increasingly be driven by the
approaching presidential elections, currently scheduled for

2011. Inoni was excited to discuss the new U.S.
administration and his planned visit to Washington and
Atlanta later this month, but seemed tired and almost hopeful
that he might not be asked to stay on in a long-anticipated
cabinet shuffle. End summary.

The GRC: Playing
Without a Play-book
--------------


2. (C) Inoni was interested to hear the Ambassador's
read-out of the mood in Washington and was animated in
expressing his excitement about the Obama presidency. The
Ambassador noted that President Biya had recently returned
(on May 10) from a protracted stay in Geneva and asked about
Biya's likely priorities in the coming months. Inoni thought
about the question for a moment and replied flatly, "I do not
have any idea what will be on his (Biya's) mind." Asked
about the persistent rumors of a cabinet shuffle, Inoni said
he had learned to ignore them, saying, "someone is always
coming to tell me I should make my plans to move on" and "If
I had to go, that wouldn't be so bad." He predicted the
shuffle, whenever it comes, will not be as significant as
many people predicted because it is "too close to elections,"
presumably referring to the presidential elections scheduled
for 2011.

The Long-Awaited Senate
May Wait a Little Longer
--------------


3. (C) Inoni said the GRC would not set up the Senate in

2009. (Note. The 1996 Constitution called for the creation

of a Senate, but the relevant provisions have not been
implemented. End note.) When the Ambassador pointed out
that Biya recently told her the Senate would be set up in
2009 (ref b),Inoni insisted, "we are not ready and cannot
get ready in the next six months" to carry out the process
needed, which is a combination of Presidential nominations
and indirect elections by regional councils. Inoni said the
newly established Elections Commission (ELECAM) was beginning
operations, but that there was little remaining from the
National Elections Observatory (ONEL) that ELECAM replaced,
and that a Presidential decree would be necessary to formally
"enact" the transition from the now-defunct ONEL to ELECAM.

Bakassi: Security and Development
--------------


4. (C) Inoni said the GRC is moving ahead with plans to
secure and develop the Bakassi Peninsular. He said local
administrative officers--prefets and sous-prefets--were in
place and overseeing development efforts, including road
construction. Inoni said the Rapid Intervention Battalion
(BIR) was effectively taking over security for the region,
despite increasing resentment from the Ministry of Defense
(who is losing authority and resources to the BIR, which is
outside its command) and continued resistance from the
Government of France, which has traditionally supported
Cameroon's regular armed forces.

Even the Little Things...
--------------


5. (C) Thanked by the Ambassador for his role in securing
travel orders for Cameroonian police officers participating
in USG-sponsored training (ref a),Inoni expressed his
disbelief that the Presidency had failed to take action on
something as simple as travel orders. Inoni said only Biya
himself can approve such travel; even Secretary General at

YAOUNDE 00000431 002 OF 002


the Presidency Laurent Esso is unable to approve travel for
security officials. Esso is angry that Inoni had gone
directly to Biya on the matter, Inoni complained, adding that
Esso and "the rest of them" (at the Presidency) are so slow
they are incapable of getting anything done.

Albatross
--------------


6. (C) As the meeting came to an end, Inoni asked the
Ambassador if she had heard about the recent arrest of former
Cameroonian Ambassador to the U.S. Jerome Mendouga. Note.
Mendouga was arrested April 15 on allegations that he
embezzled funds intended for the GRC's purchase of a Boeing
aircraft (ref c). Press reports speculate that Inoni is also
implicated in the affair, known as "the Albatross Affair,"
though Inoni has professed his innocence. End note.) The
Ambassador, taken aback that Inoni would raise the issue,
provided a noncommittal response that she was aware of the
matter. Inoni's demeanor changed dramatically, giving the
appearance he was more troubled than he was letting on.

Comment: No End to
the Governance Woes
--------------


7. (C) Just when we believed ourselves finally inured to
Cameroon's poor governance, the Prime Minister is unable to
muster even a fabricated explanation of the GRC's agenda for
the coming months. It seems Inoni himself has become
disillusioned with Biya's promises, and perhaps with good
reason. Biya has repeatedly failed to deliver on his
promised timelines, even those delivered in our private
meetings with him. If Inoni is right, that Biya is likely to
become more conservative in the run-up to national elections,
there is little reason to be optimistic about improved
governance. Bakassi may be a welcome bright spot, but the
region's security is managed by Israeli security contractors
outside of the normal chain of command, not exactly a victory
of Cameroonian governance. Cameroonians may take comfort
that their problems--governance, security, economic--are not
as bad as others in the region, but from our perspective,
Cameroon's persistent underperformance is nothing to be proud
of. End comment.
GARVEY