Coronavirus in Cameroon: controversy following the closure of online pools

Text by: Florence Morice Follow

The Minister of Territorial Administration ordered the telephone operators to close the mobile accounts of the "Cameroon Survival" operation. A fundraising operation, launched in April by the opponent Maurice Kamto, intended for the fight against the coronavirus. Last episode of the fight between the opponent and President Biya since the disputed presidential election of 2018.

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For territorial administration minister Paul Atanga Nji, this fundraising is quite simply "  illegal  ". First because "Survie Cameroun" which supervises the fundraising "  does not appear  " in "  the register of recognized associations  ". Then because any “  call for public generosity  ” is submitted, he says, according to the law to the approval of his ministry.

“  There is a solidarity fund which has been set up by the head of state . So if he has a contribution to make, he only has to do so within the framework of the legal structures put in place by the government. He will not be given any opportunity to act in parallel. This is what he wants to do. Mr. Kamto is not a state in another state. He must respect the laws of the Republic. And if he doesn't, we will force him  ”. The Minister denounces a "  sham  " and points to three risks. “  It can be a scam, money laundering or organized gang activity.  "

"  Nameless cruelty  " for Kamto camp

Olivier Bibou Nissack, the spokesman for the opponent of Maurice Kamto explains that this fundraising responds to a "  humanitarian necessity  " as the authorities' response to the Covid-19 is considered insufficient. He accuses the minister of "  abuse of power  ". "  It is not for a minister to directly order a mobile phone establishment to close an electronic money account  ", he believes, and to sacrifice the interest of the people on the altar of quarrels politicians.

"  It is nameless cruelty. You cannot refuse and incite to refuse that third parties help a people in danger. It is simply unacceptable. But we regret to note that the assumed dehumanization of the Yaoundé regime is stronger than the imperative need to unite against the Covid. It's a shame,  ”says Olivier Bibou Nissack. The opponent's spokesperson assured that the initiative planned to involve the authorities in the fund management committee. But that the bank account supposed to be used for this committee has already been closed at the minister's request in early April.

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• Cameroon
• Coronavirus
• Paul Biya

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