By RFIPosted on 14-12-2019Changed on 14-12-2019 at 09:23

Cameroonian deputies began this Friday, December 13, the examination of a new bill intended, according to the authorities, to "accelerate and deepen the decentralization process".

A special session of the National Assembly was convened on Friday, December 13. It must last fifteen days. The bill under consideration provides in particular for the establishment of “ a special statute ” for the English - speaking regions of the North West and the South West, one of the main recommendations of the “great National dialogue”, convened in October 2019 by the President Paul Biya, to put an end to the crisis that has shaken these regions for three years.

Creation of an assembly and an executive council

The bill recognizes the principle of " special status " for these two regions . And guarantees them " respect for the English-speaking educational system, and taking into account the specificities of the Anglo-Saxon judicial system ". The definition of these " specificities " is, however, postponed until later. " Specific texts " must specify their content.

The project provides for another provision: the creation in each of these two regions of an assembly and an executive council. On the crucial question of the competences specific to these regions, it is a question, according to this bill, that they participate in " the development of national public policies " for the English-speaking educational system, in " the creation and management of the regional missions of development ”or“ participation in the development of the status of the traditional chiefdom ”.

As far as the judicial system in the English-speaking area is concerned, the text indicates that the two regions " may be consulted ". A mediator must be appointed by the President of the Republic in these two regions.

Delegates elected by municipal councilors

The disappearance of the delegates of the government appointed by the power and placed at the head of the agglomeration communities above the elected mayors, is the main novelty of this project at the national level. From now on, they too will be elected by the borough municipal councilors.

In Cameroon, decentralization is enshrined in the 1996 constitution. Over a dozen laws and decrees have been passed in the past 23 years. but these texts have never really been implemented.

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