The Cameroonian government is facing a major crisis as regime heavyweight, Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has announced his intention to resign. According to the Cameroon News Agency, Mr. Tchiroma informed Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute of his decision on June 23, in a meeting between the two state officials. This development comes as a surprise to many, given Mr. Tchiroma’s long-standing relationship with President Paul Biya, whom he has served for nearly two decades.
The news of Mr. Tchiroma’s resignation has sparked widespread speculation about his plans and the implications for the upcoming presidential election. Many believe that Mr. Tchiroma’s decision to resign is a calculated move to pave the way for President Biya’s re-election bid. According to this narrative, the regime is attempting to create a false narrative of opposition by introducing a token candidate from within while simultaneously suppressing genuine opposition leaders like Maurice Kamto.
However, others argue that Mr. Tchiroma’s resignation is a genuine reflection of the deep-seated cracks within the regime. After serving as minister for nearly two decades, Mr. Tchiroma’s decision to throw in the towel may signal a broader discontent within the government. This view is supported by Mr. Tchiroma’s recent statements, in which he urged his supporters to “rise above 42 years of misery” under President Biya’s administration, calling for a bold choice in the upcoming presidential election billed for October 2025.
Robust regime defender, Prof. Mathias Eric Owona Nguini had said in a live television interview shortly after Mr Tchiroma’s outing that
“I’m not sure it’s Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary speaking in the circulating video. I’m not questioning what’s said in the video, but I’m not sure Issa Tchiroma Bakary is ready to own up to the statements made in that video. If these statements really come from him (Tchiroma), I’m not sure he knew he was being filmed while speaking.”
The timing of Mr. Tchiroma’s resignation is also significant, coming just before his party’s important convention slated for June 28 in Yaounde. While no official confirmation has been made public by the presidency or Prime Minister’s office, many media sources have confirmed that the former communications minister cleared his office.
Mr. Tchiroma’s resignation is not only a personal decision but also a reflection of the broader challenges facing the Cameroonian government. As government spokesperson during the infancy stage of the anglophone crisis, Mr. Tchiroma came under strong public scrutiny and criticism for downplaying the military’s role in brutalizing anglophones. The ongoing crisis has resulted in thousands of deaths, displacement, and human rights abuses, with at least 6,000 civilians killed by both government forces and armed separatist fighters since late 2016, according to a 2023 Human Rights Watch report. According to the same report,
As of [date], 598,000 people had been internally displaced, and at least 2 million people needed humanitarian aid in the restive North-West and South-West regions of the country. Meanwhile, according to a report published by the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, “violence has largely affected populations in Anglophone-majority North West and South West regions. Attacks on civilians and instability have caused over 900,000 people to flee internally and 60,000 people to flee abroad.”
The implications of Mr. Tchiroma’s resignation are far-reaching, and it remains to be seen how this development will impact the upcoming presidential election. Will this move lead to a genuine shift in the country’s leadership, or will it merely serve as a smokescreen for the regime’s true intentions? One thing is certain: the people of Cameroon deserve transparency, accountability, and a chance to determine their own future.
As the country teeters on the brink of change, one thing is clear: the status quo is no longer tenable. The question remains: what will the future hold for Cameroon? Will the government be able to address the deep-seated challenges facing the country, or will it continue to prioritize the interests of the ruling elite? Only time will tell.
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