Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mimi Mefo Info
Published on 2024-04-19 04:14:01
In one of his articles published in the Ukrainian newspaper Le Journal, Vassyl Symonenko, a poet of the same nationality, wrote: “There is nothing more terrible than unlimited power in the hands of a narrow-minded being.” This assertion has never been more relevant, as it resonates with even more acuity in Cameroon. The Ukrainian playwright simply wanted to convey that it is not wise to leave power in the hands of foolish individuals. In Cameroon, this call fell on deaf ears, as despite the multiple damages committed in the past, the administration and municipalities have continued to empower individuals abusively called municipal police without proper citizen training.
Yesterday, on April 17, a tragic accident occurred in front of the town hall of the 1st district in Yaoundé, resulting in two deaths. A municipal police officer haphazardly intercepted a motorcycle carrying two passengers. Unfortunately, a truck collided with the motorcycle, killing both occupants on the spot.
The act committed by the municipal police officer of the 1st district of Yaoundé was just unlucky enough to be replayed by several media outlets and social networks. However, every day in Cameroonian cities, these “scoundrels” committed by decentralized local authorities abuse poor citizens under the pitiless gaze of administrative and municipal authorities. Indeed, most Cameroonian municipal police forces are made up of ruthless thugs and savages, willing to do anything to extort money from citizens. For everyone to see, they display behavior during the day that is far from the decency expected of true municipal agents. The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, has even acknowledged this, accusing municipal police officers of demanding exorbitant daily contributions, with “the amounts coming from organized racketeering, which consists of demanding a daily amount from motorcycle taxi drivers to allow them passage through the city, including in areas prohibited by the prefect.”
How many times have they been seen conducting checks at inappropriate hours? How many times have some of them confiscated motorcycles that have disappeared without ever being taken to the municipal road service? How many times have their misconduct caused the death of citizens in the streets? The actions of these municipal police officers, known to the authorities, have always had their blessing. This situation highlights the flaws of a system that pits the incivility of the population against state thuggery. However, the activities of municipal police officers are governed by a decree from the head of state that has never been enforced. In Cameroon, laws are created just to fill the pages of newspapers, without ever being implemented, and the consequences are often shocking.
If laws exist to regulate social order, we must advocate for their enforcement and move away from the absurd wait-and-see approach that allows people to act before waking up when the worst has already happened.
Joseph Essama
Read the original article(French) on Mimi Mefo Info
