Only Maurice Kamto’s CRM has boycotted, outright, the announced February 9 twin (National Assembly and Local Council) elections. SDF and Cabral Libii’s PCRN have not, nor have any SDF candidates withdrawn, despite their public claims.
The Constitutional Council (CC) did not declare invalid nor disqualified nor acknowledged the withdrawal of any SDF candidate in the North West and South West. That is what is legally binding. Any SDF candidate floating any statement claiming to have withdrawn, as long as their file was already submitted to ELECAM and the said candidates did not file a motion before the CC to declare their candidacy invalid, they remain candidates officially and ELECAM is proceeding with printing their ballot papers
When – if – campaigns are officially launched later this month, those claiming to have withdrawn from the race may be seen campaigning for votes. If they do not and that appears to lend credence to their claim that they have withdrawn, what if they win and are declared winners. Legally, they would have been winners and entitled to their mandate. The real withdrawal will have to be seen then, if a victorious SDF candidate in the South West and North West declines serving their five-year mandate.
Those letters from some SDF candidates claiming they have withdrawn from the race are smokescreens to play to the gallery and fool gullible Ambazonia militants. If you have been so gullible as to believe their claims that their candidacy was submitted without their consent, ask yourself, how were their personal documents acquired?
All SDF candidates are still as much candidates as those of Cabral Libii’s PCRN party, though leaders of both parties (Joshua Osih for SDF) gave press conferences at different locations in Yaounde same day (November 28, 2020) they met the visiting French Foreign minister. They both threatened to boycott the election unless certain conditions were met. None of their demands have been given any attention, yet none of them has undertaken any action of any form to push through their demands. Libii particularly demanded a supplementary two weeks to permit candidates of his party to catch up with procedures which opposition candidates say were rendered herculean during regular time by administrative malice.
Libii has taken no further action to push for his ultimatum to be considered. Of all political parties, only the UPC (Bapooh Lipot‘s faction) attempted to protest in their Nyong and Kelle fief where, by disqualifying them, the Government is suspected of seeking ways to roll a red carpet to the National Assembly to Cabral Libii who is candidate in that constituency.
Political pundits are suspecting the Government, under mounting pressure from Kamto’s MRC/CRM with evident international backing, could be seeking ways to upstage Kamto with another “credible” political figure, whom they feel less uncomfortable with. It looks probable that without the UPC, irrespective of the factions, undisputable political “religion” of the area, Libii stands great chances of clinching at least his own seat from Nyong and Kelle. His PCRN list could win with an absolute majority and thus grab all three seats, or falling short of an absolute majority (50 per cent plus one vote) or coming second behind the ruling CPDM, they could get one seat (his) in case of a CPDM relative majority (below 50 per cent).
With a seat in the National Assembly and Kamto nowhere near the decision-making circles – Fru Ndi likewise – Libii would emerge as the legitimate alternative political figure in the country with an elective mandate.
outside africa
Trump blunders demystify US invincibility
I do not remember any incident in history when United States facilities and interests were targeted and hit outside exchange of fire during battle and in peacetime. I do not remember any time the US did not immediately and disproportionately riposte to any form of attack with dissuasive “shock and awe” like in the second Iraq war.
But Iran blatantly hit US targets in neighbouring Iraq last week and there was no retaliation. Unlike even the most dovish US president who would almost immediately hit back and only address the nation to report on the progress of the military operations, the irrational Donald Trump who led his country to the disgrace, rather appeared on TV more than a half day later, speaking solemnly. Obviously shaken (his political opponents said it was the biggest test of his presidency) merely announced more sanctions against Iran, after barely stopping short of jubilating that “they hurt us only a little.”
Iran’s Ayatollah called it a slap in the face of America and analysts and critics have blamed Trump for emboldening Iran with the moral authority to stand up to America, by his strategically and tactically illogical killing of a beloved Iranian general.