Biya pins re-election campiagn on fear

Written by Eugene N. Nforngwa

Thursday, 22 September 2011 12:10

Biya_Speaks_in_Bamenda YAOUNDE—The choices in the coming presidential election would be between peace and instability, President Paul Biya brought forth in a speech last week, making one of the strongest merits of his 29-year regime the central theme of his re-election campaign.

As he closed the third ordinary session of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement here on the night of Friday September 16, Biya called on his partisans to go out and convince the public about the “well-founded” policies of the ruling party as it seeks to get its chairman re-elected for another seven years of office.

The incumbent president is up against 22 other candidates in the election billed for October 9. The front-runners have all promised a radical break with the past, including far-reaching constitutional changes and economic reforms. Many plan to revoke Biya’s most controversial policies, like the lifting of the presidential terms limit in 2008.

Many analysts say the president is likely to win the vote, which opposition forces say stands little chance of being credible. But the context of the election has been particularly worrying for the incumbent, whom analysts say must deal with growing public anger against deepening poverty, lack of opportunities and rampant corruption. There have been calls for a popular uprising to oust Biya, though unheeded so far.

Revolts in northern Africa have led to speculations that Cameroon could be on the path of conflict. Opposition leader Ni John Fru Ndi has public said the election could be the flashpoint for conflict. By staying at the helm of the CPDM, Biya has managed to hold together his party but the internal competition for his succession is still potentially explosive.

He now sees himself as a symbol of peace and stability. Since the beginning of this year, he has undertaken steps to avert an explosion of popular anger, which might be beyond his immediate control, announcing thousands of jobs for young people and promising a wide range of road and health projects. But problems continue with high unemployment and hard financial times for the working class.

Last week, the president appeared to have clearly run out of appeasement promises, opting instead to tap into the worst fears of the nation to make his case for another term of office. “In effect,” he said, the choice before Cameroonians is undeniable, not open to hesitation: “peace or adventure? stability or uncertainty? order of chaos?” He added: “Is it conceivable to put our achievements, progress and future projects at risk?”

The president tied his campaign of fear of an uncertain future without him at the helm of the country, to his project to build an emerging economy by 2035. The success of the vision depends of the successful implementation of a growth and employment strategy that started last year. The president said the country was moving from “greater ambitions”, which he promised during the 2004 campaign to “major accomplishments.” From next year, “Cameroon will be transformed into a vast building site,” he said.

Biya is caught between inspiring hope with his “greater accomplishments” plan and generating the fear of an uncertain future. But he knows too well that if he pins his future on the economy, he would have too little to show. With his performance in governance, democracy and human rights also very debateable, whipping up the fear of conflict, may be all he is left with.