Africa press review

In the spotlight: 50 years of front unity in Cameroon

Audio 04:01

At the headquarters of the presidential party in Yaoundé, CPDM activists train for the parade of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Republic of Cameroon which is scheduled for this Friday, May 20, 2022. © RFI / Amélie Tulet

By: Norbert Navarro

3 mins

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This Friday, May 20 in Cameroon marks the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the two-state federalist system (Western Cameroon and Eastern Cameroon).

Half a century ago to the day, the United Republic of Cameroon was born.

Anniversary painfully lived in the English-speaking part of the country, where central power and separatist groups clash.

And for this 50th year of national unity, “ 

Yaoundé is ready 

”, launches

Cameroon Tribune

.

"

 It's the triumph of half a century of progress, 

" enthuses this government newspaper.

Youndé, but not only…

Cameroon Tribune

went to admire the parade in Douala where soldiers from the air force, navy, infantry, rapid intervention battalion, but also gendarmes, police and other customs officers rehearsed the ceremony at a quick pace " 

under the watchful eye of the high military hierarchy

 ".

Precisely, the Social Democratic Front " 

advocates the boycott of the parade to its activists

 ", points out

Le Journal du Cameroun

.

The SDF " 

finds no interest 

" in participating in the May 20 parade, which is, according to him, " 

made to glorify the President of the Republic, Paul Biya 

", completes this newspaper troublemaker.

The slingers of the PDCI

In Côte d'Ivoire, a rebellious wind is blowing among the youth of the PDCI.

The former single party, chaired by Henri Konan Bédié, has its rebels among the youth organizations of the PDCI.

To make it short and to call a spade a spade, these slingers are getting impatient and yearning for succession.

So, with the approach of local elections next year in Côte d'Ivoire, they denounce the inertia of the PDCI.

This debate is only reflected in covert words in the press close to the PDCI this morning in Abidjan.

As long as you know how to read between the lines.

In other words, at the PDCI, the dirty laundry continues to be washed as a family.

Thus, the front page of the daily

Last Hour

reports " 

murmurs or discontent at the PDCI-RDA

 ".

And, flamberge, one of the leaders of the women of this party launches on the front page of

Last hour

 : “ 

If President Bédié is a candidate, what does it do?

 “, in reference to the advanced age of Henri Konan Bédié as to the next presidential election scheduled for 2025.

Captain's age

No one should attack President Bédié for free

 ", added a PDCI delegate from the commune of Adjamé (Abidjan conurbation) on the front page of the newspaper

L'Héritage.

For its part, the front page of the

Nouveau Réveil

, a daily close, if any, to the PDCI, reports on the declaration of  the party's “

Imperial Guard

 ”.

The Imperial Guard enters the furnace

The Imperial Guard?

This reference to Victor Hugo's formula for designating the last square of Napoleonic troops, which entered the furnace of Waterloo, indifferent to English grapeshot, refers to a first circle of militants around the president of the party, who mounted the guard against any change.

A real airbag!

Precisely, the independent daily Soir Info puts its feet in the dish, evoking the “ 

dark maneuvers within the political formation, aimed at weakening Henri Konan Bédié, its president

 ”.

Soir Info therefore publishes the very recent statement by the spokesman of the " 

Imperial Guard 

" of the PDCI, in which Aboubakari Dosso denounces " 

the manipulation of PDCI militants

 " carried out, according to him, by " 

certain centrifugal spirits within the party

 " .

whom he describes as " 

reactionary and retrograde militants, allergic to all changes

 " and who make use of "

low-level deceptions

 ", reports Soir Info in particular.

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  • Cameroon

  • Ivory Coast

On the same subject

Cameroon: despite tensions, the country celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Cameroonian Union

Ivory Coast: protest movement among PDCI youth