Especially the young people of the 85-year-old President Paul Biya are sick and tired. He ruled Cameroon for over 35 years. How many of the young Cameroonians to go on Sunday but actually the choice is still completely open.
Seven young Cameroonian dragging with a Pickup by Akwa, is the center of the business metropolis of Douala. On the loading surface, large boxes, from which in a period of time, a song about Cameroon’s youth loop sounds. A Name that is mentioned again and again: Cabral Libii. The 38-Year-old is by far the youngest of the nine candidates on Sunday on the ballot of the presidential election. To hear his campaign song.
In the social media such as Facebook and Youtube short Videos of Libiis are performances to see since the beginning of the road campaign. Many thousands of teenagers and young adults cheer him on. “I always say: This is the first presidential election in this country. Earlier it has not given, that was only a Masquerade,” says Jules Henry Mbock. He coordinated in the district of Douala 1 Libiis campaign with the name “11 Millions Citoyens” – “Eleven million citizens”. A symbolic number which is to mobilize the masses. The 28-Year-old experienced a large interest in the policy. “Last weekend, we organized a training for first-time voters and young Cameroonians to show how it works in the polling station. Two years ago, no one would come. But the 600 were there.”
President Paul Biya is seen everywhere
Enthusiasm without voters cards
“The young people are very enthusiastic and excited about the elections,” observed Cosmas Cheka. The legal scholar is a Professor at the University of Yaoundé. It limits, however: “I have a concern. In order to realize his dreams in a democracy, you have to go to the election. I’m afraid that the majority of young people show in the media, their enthusiasm, are not registered in the voters ‘ register.” That would be different, then they could influence the elections. “I doubt it, but,” said Haq. According to the Cameroonian electoral Commission, Elecam, have registered nearly 6.6 million voters. Eligible to vote, however, there is more.
On the streets of Doualas young people tell us that they are tired to see Paul Biya is still in the state tip. Joël Daniel Dooh Mbella (27) says: “I’ve had three popes. This is a position for life. But I know of only one President.” The 85-year-old incumbent in November 1982, the Power, and only the second head of state of the country. Even now, he dominated the election campaign. In Douala about one poster after another. Biya is everywhere to be seen in front of a blue Background. The rest of the candidates, however, are as good as invisible.
Joshua Osih was two years ago as the candidate of the young Generation
“No confidence in the System”
In Cameroon, like the rest of the States on the continent of a young country. Almost 62 percent of the nearly 25 million inhabitants are younger than 25 years. In particular, they demand training and jobs. According to the International labour organization (ILO) in 2017, a total of 8.7 percent of 15 – to 24-Year-olds without a Job. Jules Henry Mbock told in his circle of friends, each in search of work: “Here they say: I’m hanging in there,” explains the computer scientist and the justification for the difficult job search this way: “I don’t have the right name. I have not been in contact in an office or someone gives me a Job.” According to the world Bank every fourth of Cameroonians lived below the poverty line, and has a day less than 1,9 US dollars.
Exactly this apathy could lead to on Sunday, however, that much less young voters in the polling stations than some observers expected. “You are not happy with the political Trends, and have no confidence in the electoral system,” says Tarhyang Tabe. He is President of the Association of Cameroonian media professionals, as well as publisher of the English newspaper “The Advocate Newspaper”. The often precarious living conditions would be: “you have no economic Power. Therefore, many are not interested at all in politics,” says Tabe, who has been busy in the elections in 2011, with young voters.
Jules Henry Mbock shows the App he and his Team want to ensure transparency in the elections
Young people on the run
There were certainly people who encourage young people, says Tarhyang Tabe. He calls the presidential candidates Joshua Osih: “He is young, charismatic and well-formed. He has set many young Cameroonians.” The business man had been up to in 2016 the “first choice” for young voters. But he comes from the southwest Region and, thus, from the Anglophone part of the country. There is a serious crisis has been brewing since the fall of 2016. Many people feel that the French dominated government and marginalized. The demands for a state of their own to be getting louder and louder. The government referred to many people as “terrorists”. The think-tank International Crisis Group, speaks in a Wednesday report published of up to 300,000 internal refugees. “This is not a reason why young people choose,” says Tarhyang Tabe.
Jules Henry Mbock has hope for change. Still, he laughs when he is asked whether he believes in free and transparent elections. “There have been in this country. President Biya has never won a transparent and credible election.” He pulls his Smartphone out of his pocket and taps on the App, “Electra Transparency” with which he and his Team will be working with. It has a simple Design. The goal is to make the election protocols from all polling stations to a Server, and to provide for more transparency. Mbock says the App could be used across the party spectrum. In order to be the answer of the young to the old System.