Democracy and Human Rights in Africa: The Politics of Collective Participation and Governance in Cameroon

Contents

iii Table of Contents Introduction……………………………………………………………vii Chapter 1: Laughing At The Academia: The Federal Republic Of Cameroon (Frc) And The Definition Of Federalism………………. 1 On the Importance of Federalism and the Issues…………………….. 1 The Role of the Intelligentsia…………………………………………. 2 ‘Intellectual In Politics’: What Does It Mean?....................................... 6 The FRC and the Definition of Federalism…………………………….9 Defining Federalism: Surprising the Experts…………………………. 10 Power-Sharing in the FRC?..................................................................... 15 Secession, Coup d’État and/or Annexation in 1972/84?....................... 18 Amendments and the Solid Edifice Theory…………………………… 19 Was the FNA the Exclusive Legislator?................................................. 31 Traditional Federal Level Separation and Federal-State Domains………32 Intellectuals in Politics: Confused or Confusing?................................... 37 Open-Ended Emergency Powers in the PFR’s Hands………………… 44 Closing Remarks……………………………………………………….48 Chapter 2: Confusion, Manipulation, And The Invisible Hand Of Federalism In Africa: Lessons In Patriotism, Sincerity, And Brotherhood In Cameroon…………………………………………….51 On the Invisible Hand of Federalism…………………………………. 51 Federating for Security?.......................................................................... 52 The Hope for Economic Advantage and Geography…………………. 54 The Yes-No Patriotic and Sincere Appeal to Nationalists……….…….. 55 Appealing for What and Why?................................................................ 56 Bafoussam and the Proof of Patriotism and Sincerity………………… 59 A Truth-Telling Offence in Cameroon?................................................. 63 The Independence from Reunification Postulates……………………. 66 Integrative Federalism in Foumban?....................................................... 67 Devolutionary Federalism in the SDF Four-State Federation?.............. 69 On The Contents of the SDF Federation Project……………………... 70 On the Federation’s Flawed Assumptions and Invisible Hands………. 73 The Size-and-Numbers Independence Thesis…………………………. 82 iv The Kamerun Idea and the West Cameroon Package for Union……….83 Why Two Sets of UN Plebiscites, & No Return of Ceded Territories?....85 Negating or Passing Federalism Constituting Tests?............................... 92 Double Nationalities in the West Cameroon Proposals………………...94 Translating in the Martian-Venusian Dialogue………………………… 97 Historic Ties?......................................................................................... 98 Key-Holding Role and Mission of the Translator………………………100 Chapter 3: The Politics Of Federalism, Self-Determination, And Secession: Is The Cameroon Administration Above International Human Rights Law Too?........................................................................ 107 Is Federalism Foreign to Africa?............................................................ 108 The Democratic Nature of Africa’s Pre-Colonial System……………… 112 The Bangwa As Federalists……………………………………………. 119 Constitutionalism Lessons from Germany and Canada……………….. 125 Is Federalism the Synonym of Secession?............................................... 133 The Yes-No Stance on Federalism……………………………………..133 On the Meaning of ‘Whoever’ and ‘Whatever Manner’……………….. 136 Rule of Law and Democratic Society in Cameroon?............................... 139 Self-Determination and International Human Rights Law……………. 153 The Secession Debates Reviewed…………………………………….. 154 The Most Appropriate Path for Southern Cameroonsians…………….. 157 Concluding Observation……………………………………………….162 Chapter 4: Africa, Bicephalism, And Bicameralism: The Impossible Is Really Not Possible In Cameroon?....................................................... 167 Overview of Separation of Powers (Bicephalism and Bicameralism)….. 167 The Prime Ministry, Politics of the Inside, and the Dialectics of Parliamentary Representation and Legislation-Making………………… 170 Cameroon’s Regionalization and the Dialectics of Representation and Legislation-making……………………………………………………. 171 Sessions and Legislation-Making Role of the National Assembly…….. 174 Who Do National Assemblers Represent Proprement Dire?...................... 179 The Prime Minister Post and the Quebec Analogy……………………. 181 Bicephalism and Parliamentary Membership and Other Incompatibilities………………………………………………………. 186 The Prime Minister As Exposing the Rules of Incompatibilities……… 189 v Constitutional Council Case Making Case for Bicephalism?................... 191 Bicameralism and the Advanced Government Algebra………………... 198 The Senate in Cameroon History………………………………………199 IUS Equals DUS, Since Appointment Plus Elections Equal Appointment: You Think That Is Impossible Mathematics?......................................... 206 Closing Remarks……………………………………………………….219 Conclusion…………………………………………………………….. 221 References……………………………………………………………... 229 vi ...