Strife in Cameroon

Children gathered outside Dzewka Multi Purpose Farmer's Society meeting room in Vekovi, Cameroon.

Today was supposed to be the start of my daily journal from Cameroon (not in real time as we initially planned, as the amount of time I spent in the field made that impossible). Over this past weekend, I received an e-mail message that stated: “There was a serious strike in Cameroon, which grounded all businesses and a lot of destruction (human and material) and our offices were temporarily closed down.”

As with many African nations, democracy and democratic reforms are tenuous at best in Cameroon. Many of the Cameroonians I spoke with while I was there felt the current government took illegal measures to maintain its hold on power.

From the March 2, 2008 edition of New York Times:

Calm appeared to be returning to Cameroon after rare violent demonstrations inspired, in part, by frustrations over the president’s recent announcement that he wanted to amend the Constitution to allow him to run for another term.
President Paul Biya has been in office for 25 years and critics say he has allowed too few freedoms in his efforts to maintain stability.
Up to 20 people were killed last week after riots in the capital, Yaoundé, the main port city of Douala and several western towns, according to news reports, but it was unclear how they died. The reports said that government soldiers had fired bullets and tear gas at demonstrators.

From the March 3, 2008 edition of The Epoch Times:

YAOUNDE, Cameroon—At least 20 protesters were shot by Cameroon police last week after a fuel strike descended into outright violence.
A transport union strike against rising fuel costs descended into anarchy as anger flared over President Paul Biya's announcement that he would change the constitution to allow him to run for another term.
Looting and burning of private and public property has swept across the usually peaceful country in situation is getting worse especially in the economic capital of Douala, as well as Yaoundé, the nation's capital.
The trouble started when strikes were called in five of Cameroon's ten provinces last Monday (25).
The Syndicate of Transporters in Cameroon barricaded streets with taxis and buses primarily to protest a drastic increase in fuel prices.
However the protests became increasingly political after President Biya announced that he would be amending the constitution to allow him to run for another seven-year term in the 2011 elections. Under current laws presidents are not allowed to stand for more than two terms.
Protestors have blamed Mr. Biya for the increasing fuel prices, which many compare to European prices.
"What we have today is more likely to get worse if the Biya regime insists on pushing ahead with the constitutional amendment," one protester wrote on an Internet message board. "Cameroonians have more grievances than the issue of price hikes."


While traveling across Cameroon I never once felt threatened or that my safety was at risk. However, some of the countries that Heifer is now working in have had a history of instability and, like Kenya and Cameroon, have recently experienced political unrest. At Heifer Foundation, our thoughts and prayers are with Heifer Cameroon’s staff and their families, as well as all the other country programs that face hurdles and obstacles that we cannot imagine.

My daily journal, complete with stories, photos and video, will begin tomorrow.

–Jeremy Glover