Snapshots: An X-ray of Cameroon�s Democracy, Governance and Unification

71. The Bolloré Mafia and French Imperialism

291 71 The Bolloré Mafia and French Imperialism April 2008 The sacking over the weekend of the General Manager of the Autonomous Port of Douala, Mr. Etoundi Oyono, came as a sharp reminder of the French stranglehold on Cameroon’s economy and, by extension, its political dispensation. It can be said in all honesty that Etoundi Oyono is a victim of French imperialistic designs and mafia intrigues. Mr. Etoundi, who took over the management of the Douala Port from Mr. Alphonse Siewe about three years ago, was assigned the salutary mission to clear up the mess that had been piled up by his predecessor. He was in the process of reviewing the dubious 8-billion-a-year contract awarded to the French Bolloré Group to dredge the 50-km long waterway of the Wouri estuary. The contract carried the stench of corruption and Etoundi Oyono was about to sanitise the air when the axe fell without a warning. His sack came as a shock especially at a time when President Biya has been showcasing his half-hearted fight against corruption as part of his credentials for demanding support for his ambition to remain President for life; at a time when everyone expects a more transparent and profitable management of State corporations. Mr. Etoundi was knocked out by Biya’s royal nod because someone had to be sacrificed on the altar of French imperial interests to appease the wrath of Mr. Bolloré, the notorious business magnate who is said to have bankrolled French President, Nicholas Sarkozy’s, electoral campaign. Hours after he was declared winner of the May 2007 elections, Mr. Sarkozy lied to pressmen that he was retreating to a monastery for a day or two to meditate the task ahead. Smart investigative journalists who refused to swallow the bait, later spotted 292 Mr. Sarkozy and his girlfriend cruising on Mr. Bolloré’s luxury yacht and having a real ball. Bolloré is Sarkozy’s ‘paddyman’ and President Biya would think nothing of bending over backwards to kiss Bolloré’s arse, just to be in the good books of Mr. Sarkozy, whom he has been desperately wooing for support, even though the French President has openly castigated African leaders who want to cling unto power forever, despite their deplorable stewardship. Mr. Sarkozy, in his characteristic sarcastic manner, once remarked that he first heard of President Bongo of Gabon when he (Sarkozy) was still a college student and was truly amazed that he too, has become President, when, Mr. Bongo is still clinging unto power, refusing to relinquish it. President Biya has boastfully announced the impending official visit to Cameroon of Mr. Sarkozy and is ready to crush anyone who would attempt to compromise his diplomatic ‘honeymoon’ with the French leader. You can go to hell with political niceties like good governance, transparent management, anticorruption , blah blah. You are free to intone the virtues of plural democracy, free and fair elections, separation of powers and decentralisation; as long as you don’t rock the Biya-Sarkozy boat—no problem. President Biya has set a very expensive public relations machinery to move forward his bid for life presidency. On the frontline of his strategy at present, are the Indomitable Lions, backed up by the musical artistry of Manu Dibango at the current continental soccer jamboree in Ghana; the upcoming extraordinary congress of the ruling CPDM party, Youth Day celebration on February 11, and Sarkozy’s promised visit, which is likely to take place after the March session of parliament that is expected to rubber-stamp the constitutional amendment to pave the way for Mr. Biya to accede to his coveted throne. When one takes a close look at the big picture, it is hardly surprising that the GM of Douala Port got the sack, despite the fact that Biya singled him out as an example of a good manager in the November interview he gave the French TV channel, France 24, said to be owned by Bolloré. Mr. Biya had precious little to boast about in 293 that interview and cited the Douala Port and the Cameroon Shipyard and Industrial Engineering Corporation as the only redeeming sectors of the national economy. During his relatively short term of office at the Douala Port, Mr. Etoundi is reputed to have remarkably streamlined expenditure, increased worker’s salary and stepped up maritime traffic. Contrary to accusations by his detractors that he did not fully...