EMMANUEL MACRON WILL NOT OFFICIALLY MEET OPPOSITION LEADERS IN CAMEROON.
EMMANUEL MACRON WILL NOT OFFICIALLY MEET OPPOSITION LEADERS IN CAMEROON.
Unless there is a last minute change, which is currently almost unlikely, French President Emmanuel Macron who will make a two-day state visit to Cameroon from July 25, 2022 will not officially meet with political opponents in Cameroon. Indeed, contrary to the information circulating in recent days, on the possibility of a meeting between Macron and opposition actors: Maurice Kamto, Cabral Libi or Joshua Osih, it is not. This aspect does not appear on the program communicated by the Elysee.
In fact, the meeting between the French president and the actors of the Cameroonian opposition had been envisaged by the diplomats of the Quai d’Orsay. This was not to the liking of Yaoundé, which opposed it. In a context of tense relations for several months between the two countries, with a view to calming the negotiations and discussions between the various parties, the Elysee preferred not to offend the Cameroonian side yet again. However, Paris emphasizes that President Macron will discuss with his Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya the issue of human rights in Cameroon.
On this aspect, France is mainly concerned about the detention of Anglophone prisoners, which according to Paris is slowing down the peace negotiations. However, the French business community in Cameroon, who are actually those who thought and prepared this visit, consider the Anglophone zone as “useful Cameroon” and can no longer bear the loss of earnings caused by the war that has been going on in this part of Cameroonian territory for almost 6 years.
Diplomats from the Quai d’Orsay also indicate that the opening of the democratic game will also be discussed, particularly the release of political prisoners from the MRC in order to calm the political climate in Cameroon. But no direct discussions with political opponents, these aspects will be discussed only with the Cameroonian side.
It must be said that Yaoundé did not look favorably on the proposed meeting between Macron and the Cameroonian opposition.
The Cameroonian government has not failed for the past two years to accuse Paris of interference in the internal affairs of Cameroon following the multiple statements of Emmanuel Macron, particularly with the activist of the Anti-Sardinard Brigade, Calibro Calibri or the special adviser of Maurice Kamto, Wilfried Ekanga.
But, in his agenda, Emmanuel Macron will have to meet with civil society actors. In particular, the members of the Council for the follow-up of the recommendations of the new Africa-France summit. The French president will meet with the following people: Jacques Jonathan Nyemb; Jeanne Rosy Esso; Paul-Joël Kamtchang; Ateki Caxton Seta; Michelle Gaëlle Abe; Diane Audrey Ngako; HemesNkwa; Coline Blot; Myriam Chiemgnie; Jean-Patrick Ketcha; Bertrand Bobeto.
