Youth Party: Paul Biya Severely Tackled After His Speech

The young Cameroonians expected the head of state to address certain points in his speech to the youth, such as the issue of secessionists, the return of poachers or the stakes of the last summit of the AU.

But Paul Biya has made a speech that some find disembodied and offbeat, hence the accusation of disregarding the news of his country in a security and economic crisis.

15 minutes 11 seconds. It was the time that the pre-recorded but long-awaited speech of President Biya lasted to the Cameroonian youth on Saturday night. An expected speech, because it arrives in full security crisis in four regions out of ten: the extreme north, the east, the northwest and the southwest.

An expected speech, because the circumstance of this speech (the 52nd National Youth Day of 11 February), is said threatened with sabotage in both English-speaking regions by Cameroonian secessionists and mercenaries from the Nigerian Niger Delta, if according to a note from the Minister of Defense.

Youth Party: Paul Biya Severely Tackled After His Speech

15 minutes 11 seconds for Paul Biya who has not been seen in public in recent weeks, and whose recent signing is controversial, but which recalls the many challenges that Cameroon faces in recent years in terms of security, the war against Boko Haram in the war against English-speaking secessionists, including the management of refugees and incursions by Central African rebels.

Situations that Cameroon faces in order to return to the path of growth, and which it draws up the first assessment in these terms: "The nuisance capacity of Boko Haram has been significantly reduced, thanks to the combined action of forces and

accompanying populations have helped many IDPs and refugees to return home.The situation is stabilizing in the north-west and south-west, which should allow the bilingualism and multiculturalism to tackle the heart of the problem. "

Not the same Cameroon

From these first lines of the presidential speech, Cameroonians (including the young political leader Serge Matomba) wonder if Paul Biya speaks of the same Cameroon in which they live, given the sometimes lethal attacks against the Cameroonian security forces in recent weeks, both north and north-west and south-west, and especially given the threats that continue to weigh on the English-speaking regions, confirmed on 9 February by a message from the Minister of Defense.
However, Paul Biya says that the latest estimates suggest an improvement in the Cameroonian economy, with a revival of activity in various areas. He tells his young compatriots that they are strongly challenged by the future of the country they will have to manage the coming decades.

"But you should know that the new world that is being prepared before our eyes could be harder and more unstable than the old one," he warned, indicating that "nationalism, protectionism, isolationism risk of gaining ground. " Paul Biya predicts that "in a more rigorous and less open world, developing countries may find it more difficult to protect their interests and ensure their economic and social progress."

2018, a decisive year

The Cameroonian head of state also welcomes the holding of events, such as the recent African Union - European Union summit in Abidjan, which has put the focus on education and training of young people in Africa, and particularly the acquisition of new technologies and the modernization of agriculture.

And what about the last African Union summit in Addis Ababa, more recent than the Abidjan summit, which dealt with the 2064 agenda and the common air transport space in Africa? Regarding international issues, Paul Biya limited himself to the Abidjan summit, stressing that there are reasons not to give in to pessimism and that his "orientations meet the objectives of the new silk routes presented by China. , and the development aid projects of Asian countries like India, Japan and South Korea. "

Returning internally, the Cameroonian president reports that the budget allocations of the three ministries dedicated to education constitute about 15% of public expenditures, reflecting good progress. Speaking of jobs, he says that "473,303 youth jobs were counted as of December 31, 2017", which is better than the target of 400,000 jobs that had been set - even if more is needed to reduce unemployment for young people.

He said that "2018 will be the year of completion of major first generation projects, such as hydroelectric dams soon complemented by energy transport infrastructure", and that a series of second generation projects are under way .

A discourse out of touch with the Cameroonian context

In this speech, which sounds like an election campaign speech, Paul Biya reminds the Cameroonian youth that 2018 will be an election year in which he invites those who will be at least 20 years old to take part in it, as it will be decisive for the preparation CAN 2019.

And he goes on to talk about the Internet: "My dear young compatriots, from my position as head of state, I see a sign of a shudder that proves that you are becoming more and more interested in public affairs. In this respect, you can take advantage of these highways of communication that give you global visibility, but you need not forget that you are not exempt from this. civic and moral obligations, such as respect for the other and the institutions of your country Be patriotic netizens who work for the development and the influence of Cameroon, and not passive followers or relays naive and slayers of the Republic. "

On these lines, Paul Biya finally gives the impression of being on the page of new technologies. But it surprises many Cameroonian observers by its omission of the latest events in the north and the rather sad Anglophone regions for the Cameroonian army and the nation, widely relayed on the Internet.

And in extremis, his speech is perceived by a segment of the population as disembodied and out of step with the Cameroon context of security and economic crises.