CAMEROON'S NEW PRIME MINISTER - FOCUS ON THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000643

SIPDIS

COMMERCE FOR ITA - BURRESS
DEPARTMENT PASS USAID

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2019
TAGS: ECON KCOR PGOV PHUM SOCI CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON'S NEW PRIME MINISTER - FOCUS ON THE
ECONOMY

REF: A. YAOUNDE 591

B. 09YAOUNDE 357

Classified By: Ambassador Janet E. Garvey for reasons 1.4 (d) and (e)


1. (C) Summary: On July 16, Ambassador made an initial
courtesy call on Philemon Yang, named Cameroon's new Prime
Minister in a June 30 Cabinet shuffle (ref A). Yang said his
priority would be the economy. He praised the independence
of members of the Electoral Commission, saying the 2011
presidential election timetable would stay on track. He did
not know about a pending shortage of anti-retroviral drugs
and suggested that corruption-related arrests would continue.
Yang is a former diplomat and technocrat, loyal to Biya,
intellectual, and open to engaging us. Unfortunately, he did
not come across as someone who will push new ideas or
reenergize the bureaucracy. End summary.

Spurring the Economy
--------------


2. (SBU) Yang said he took his cue from President Biya's
priorities, which are to boost agriculture, animal husbandry
and the energy sector, while ensuring movement on mining
projects. "We don't have a choice" in these areas, Yang
affirmed, adding that Biya was concerned about bureaucratic
inertia and slow progress on the economy. Yang saw promise
in agribusiness and noted Cameroon's importance as a food
producer for the region. He also noted the need to improve
performance in the social sector, including in education and
health. Ambassador welcomed the economic focus, highlighting
the need to improve budget execution. She noted U.S. company
interest in Cameroon, including in the mining and agriculture
sectors.

Elections
--------------


3. (C) Yang thought the presidential elections scheduled
for 2011 would stay on track, despite continued public
speculation that the dates might be moved forward. No
decision had been made about the expected creation of a
Senate or elections to fill it, he said. The recently
created Electoral Commission (ELECAM) is getting organized,
hiring staff across the country, with the budget and legal
status needed to function. The Ministry of Territorial
Administration, which used to run elections, will gradually
lose its power over electoral functions, Yang said, adding
that "ELECAM will be independent but not divorced from
government," with powers to commandeer vehicles and request
assistance from other government entities.


4. (SBU) Ambassador stressed the importance of free, fair
and credible elections in 2011 and noted that we (and much of
the Cameroon public) remain unconvinced about ELECAM's
ability to run good elections. Yang emphasized President
Biya's belief that an unfair election is meaningless. Yang
praised the independence, strong convictions and intellectual
"stubbornness" of the individuals chosen to run ELECAM. He
said the government has found no evidence against Samuel
Fonkam Azu'u, the President of ELECAM accused of corruption,
and urged us to keep an open mind and liaise directly with
ELECAM. Yang opined that there were too many political
parties in Cameroon and that fewer parties would be healthier
for democracy.

ARVs
--------------


5. (SBU) Ambassador briefed Yang on the shortage of
anti-retroviral (ARV) stocks for HIV/AIDS patients and our
concerns that some 65,000 people may face a cut-off of ARVs
as early as September (ref B). Yang did not know about the
ARV problem and said he would check on the situation with the
Minister of Health. Yang lamented that past corruption in
the health sector hampered Cameroon's ability to seek new
assistance.

Corruption
--------------


6. (SBU) Ambassador praised the GRC's ongoing
anti-corruption initiative (dubbed "Operation Sparrowhawk")
and corruption-related arrests. Yang acknowledged that
corruption had tainted Cameroon's international image but

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said Sparrowhawk ("Eparvier" in French) was "about the
future, not the past". He hoped that "those who went or may
go to jail" for corruption will send a signal to the rest of
the country that corruption will be punished.

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


7. (C) We have worked productively with Yang for years in
his previous capacity as Deputy Secretary General of the
Presidency. As in the past, he promises to be a friendly,
open interlocutor, noteworthy for his loyalty to Biya and his
even keel. He concluded our meeting by noting the "real
friendship" between our countries, and seemed to take on
board the Ambassador's remarks that our occasional criticisms
of Cameroon are meant in a spirit of friendship. Yang is
seen to be honest and his indication that others may go to
jail for corruption may signal troubles for his predecessor
as PM, Ephriam Inoni, who is implicated in corruption charges
about the purchase of an airplane for the now-defunct
Cameroon Airlines. Unfortunately, Yang does not come across
as having an energetic agenda or new approaches to
reinvigorate the bureaucracy, which Cameroon so badly needs.
End comment.

Biography
--------------


8. (U) Yang was Deputy Secretary General of the Presidency
from 2004 to June 30, 2009. He was Ambassador (later High
Commissioner) to Canada (1984-2004),during which time he was
President of the Cartegena Protocol on the Prevention of
Biotechnological Risks. He also served as Minister of Mines
and Energy (1979-1984),Vice Prime Minister of Territorial
Administration (1975-1979) and State Prosecutor in Buea
(1975). He holds a B.A. in law from the University of
Yaounde, an M.A in law from the University of Ottowa, an MBA
from Century University in New Mexico, and diplomas from the
National School of Administration (ENAM) and International
Institute for Public Administration in Paris. He was born on
June 14, 1947 in Jikejem-Oku, Bui Division, North West
Region. An Anglophone (with excellent French),he is married
with three children.
GARVEY