The deteriorating socio-political and institutional situation currently prevailing in Cameroon is, and remains, a major concern for the Social Democratic Front (SDF). Finding a comprehensive and acceptable solution to the series of crises shaking the country remains the party's top priority.

There is visible agitation within the government in favour of holding regional elections as one of the possible solutions to the devolution of power in the context of the decentralization process, which is a clear failure. For 24 years, the government has been unable to deploy this system, simply because it refuses to activate the minimum requirements. Decentralization fails to meet our current challenges, which are constantly evolving on a daily basis. Any action taken by the regime to forcefully implement this now obsolete system is an act of bad faith and can only aggravate an already complicated situation.

Since its creation, the position of the SDF on federalism has been unequivocal.

Genuine federalism is the only way to effectively transfer power to the people and to create an enabling environment that will help us to break the generalised impasse we are currently in. Contrary to what some critics believe, a federal system will unite the people in their aspirations, concentration and deployment of our resources to better develop the country as a Nation. This is the minimum to which the country should aspire and an ideal to which our party has always adhered.

The current collapse of the social order throughout the entire country is a direct consequence of the lack of confidence in institutions that are not representative and, in some cases, manifestly lack credibility. By creating a link between the people and the rulers through a truly inclusive system, the legitimacy of the institutions and leadership will be restored and the current plight of the country will change. We are convinced that this can happen through a number of processes, including the following:

• The revision and improvement of our electoral code in an inclusive manner;
• The promulgation of a ceasefire in the North-West and South-West regions and further discussions on the resolution of the crisis;
• Begin a full and good faith exploration of the establishment of a federal system of governance to resolve the constitutional crisis we find ourselves in today.

These major institutional and constitutional changes, which we have insisted on repeatedly over the years, can surely begin to empower the people and enable them to take control of their destiny and thus restore the country to its former glory.

Therefore, holding regional elections under the current conditions is a step in the wrong direction.

First of all, the final resolution of the unresolved electoral appeals from the municipal elections pending before the Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Court, given that the electorate is made up of municipal councillors and traditional chiefs, is a prerequisite without which the government is only exacerbating the crisis of legitimacy that our institutions are undergoing. The Constitutional Council has recognised that elections cannot be validated when they are held in an atmosphere of war, with all the polling stations in the different constituencies grouped together in a single polling centre. It recognised this as a serious violation of voters' rights and a clear move by the government to rig these elections by again marginalising Anglophones. Members of Parliament were elected by less than 1% of the voting population, most of them from outside the constituency. Seven months after their fraudulent election, they are unable to return to their constituencies and carry out the necessary work of effective representation. Regional elections will only serve to further prevent people from participating in the institutional life of our country. These actions clearly feed the version of a planned marginalisation of the populations of these regions.

We have repeatedly stated that the crisis in the North-West and South-West regions is state-sponsored and government-activated, with the assailants on both sides being complicit and insensitive to the suffering of the popular masses.

Furthermore, it is curious that a regime that is not in a position to respond to the population's expectations in terms of financing the fight against the VIDOC-19 pandemic by appealing to national solidarity, suddenly finds financial power when it comes to compromising the effective transfer of powers. The continuous superficial romance of the Biya regime with meaningless concepts such as decentralisation is the root cause of the real collapse of our republic.

It is imperative that we meet the challenges we face today as a united people to seek solutions to these chronic and fatal incongruities in our country before it is too late.

The SDF continues to work for a better Cameroon for all and calls on all its members in particular and Cameroonians in general to remain strong, firm, focused and united in these difficult times. In view of the above and notwithstanding our statutory provisions on elections, we will not participate in the regional elections under the current electoral arrangements. These regional elections scheduled by the regime will further widen the already wide gap between Cameroonians and contribute to the collapse of our Nation.

September 2, 2020.
Nor John FRU NDI
National President

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