When one looks at the way public affairs are managed in Cameroon, one begins to ponder why development has stalled. Well, one of the reasons which accounts for this is the lack of renewal of political class. We are being governed by the same ruling elite since ‘independence’ (1960). Most of those in the highest echelons of the administrative machinery have served as Ministers or held top government positions in both the Ahidjo & Biya regimes.

Most of them worked for so long in the one party system where folks were taught to be docile and to just be subordinate. Trying to come up with innovative ideas could be viewed as a challenge to the incumbent President, and it could potentially cost you your sit or in some cases your life. One can aptly conclude that there is an urgent need to renew the political class in Cameroon so that citizens witness a new system of doing things in the Management of Public Affairs. Most of those in the administrative machinery might not be versed with the modern tools of technology and social media forums like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram etc which is highly used by the youthful population to communicate.

They still rely on archaic methods like using Cameroon Tribune. One can even conduct a survey to actually find out, how many of these folks are able to use a computer. Some fellow African countries have experienced a change of the ruling elite.ie. power changing hands from one group of persons to another. This was the case with Senegal in March 2000, where Abdou Diouf handed over power to longtime opposition leader, Abdoulaye Wade. Senegal is one of the few shinning beacons of democracy in Francophone Africa and in Africa as a whole where regime change is the norm. In 54 years of ‘independence’, they’ve had 4 Presidents : Senghor (1960-80), Diouf (1981-2000), Wade (2000-2012) & the current incumbent Macky Sall since 2012. This is a country that has never witnessed a coup d’etat and is favoured by investors for its political stability.

In fact, the state institutions are very powerful and are respected by all. In Cameroon, our ruling elites have accumulated so much posts of responsibilities over the years and one begins to seriously doubt if these persons can go on to deliver something good for the masses. What irks the most is that these fellows got into top government positions at a very young age. Biya was a Minister at 29. Yang was a Minister at 28. Bello was Prime Minister, Ayang was PM at 35 etc. Why can’t they do the same and empower the younger generation and trust them with the management of public affairs and demonstrate that the state institutions are stronger than the individuals occupying those positions. Here are some facts that will actually show you that our ruling elite have attained diminishing returns and must be ditched.

1. Paul Biya (President of the Republic since November 6, 1982) born on February 13, 1933 in Mvomeka (83 years) Profession : Top ranking civil servant, Politician & Statesman Constitutional Responsibilities : Head of State, Head of Government, President of the Republic, Commander in chief of the Armed Forces and Head of the Magistracy etc. Previous posts of responsibility held : Minister in charge of Special Duties at the Presidency (1962-1964) Director of Cabinet to the Minister of National Education, Youth & Sports (January 1964-July1965) Secretary General in the Ministry of National Education, Youth & Sports (July 1965-December 1967) Director of the Civil Cabinet (December 1967-January 1968) whilst retaining the portfolio of (DCC) Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic (January 1968- June 1970) whilst retaining the portfolio of DCC Minister of State, Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic (June 1970- June 30, 1975) whilst retaining the portfolio of DCC Prime Minister of the United Republic of Cameroon (June 30, 1975- November 6, 1982)

2. Marcel Niat Njifenji, Born on October 26, 1934 in Baganté (81 years) Profession : Electrical Engineer Previous posts of responsibility held : Director General of SONEL (1974-1984 & 1989-2001) Minister of Planning and Territorial Administration (September 7, 1990 – April 26, 1991) while remaining Director General of SONEL. Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Mines, Water, and Energy (April 9, 1992 – November 27,1992) while remaining Director General of SONEL. Mayor of Baganté (2002-2007)

3. Gen. René Claude Meka (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs since September 2001) Born in 1932, in Ebolowa (84 years) Previous posts of responsibility held : Director of Presidential Security Commander of the 1st combined military region Commander of the military headquarters

4. Peter Mafany Musonge (Grand Chancellor of National Orders since 2007) Born on December 3, 1942 in Muea (73 years) Profession : Civil Engineer Previous posts of responsibility held : Prime Minister of Cameroon (1996-2004) General Manager of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) from 1988-1996

5. Daniel Mekobe Sone (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court since December 18, 2014) Born in 1946 (70 years) Profession : Super scale Magistrate Previous posts of responsibility held : Judge at the Court of First Instance in Foumban (1980-1993) Advisor to the Supreme Court (1993-1998) President of the Littoral Court of Appeals (1998-2010) Staff, in the Department of Legislation, in the Ministry of Justice (2010-2012) Advisor the Supreme Court (2012-2014)

6. Martin Mbarga Nguele (Delegate General for National Security since 2010) Born on July 1, 1932 in Mbalmayo (84 years) Profession : Senior Superitendent of Police Previous posts of responsibility held : Cameroon’s Ambassador to Zaire (1984-1991) Cameroon’s Ambassador to Brazil (1991-2010) Cameroon’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain (2010 till date) Delegate General for National Security (1983-1984)

7. Martin Belinga Eboutou (Minister Director of the Civil Cabinet since June 30, 2009) Born on February 17, 1940 in Nkilzok (76 years old) Profession : Career Diplomat (Minister Plenipotentiary) Previous posts of responsibility held : Chief of State Protocol (1989-1997) Director of the Civil Cabinet (1996-1997) Cameroon’s Ambassador to the United Nations (1998-2007) Cameroon’s Ambassador to Jamaica (1998-2007) Special Adviser at the Presidency of the Republic (2007-2009)

8. Laurent Esso (Minister of State, in charge of Justice & Keeper of the Seal since 2011) Born on August 10, 1942 in Douala (74 years) Profession : Super scale Magistrate Previous posts of responsibility held : Deputy Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic (May 16, 1988- April 13, 1989) Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency on (April 13, 1989- September 19, 1996) Minister of Justice & Keeper of the Seal (September 19, 1996- March 18, 2000) Minister of Public Health (March 18, 2000- April 27, 2001) Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defense (April 27, 2001- December 8, 2004) Minister of State for External Relations (December 2004- September 2006)

9. Maigari Bello Bouba (Minister of State, in charge of Tourism & Leisure since 2011) Born in 1947 in Bascheo (69 years) Profession : Top ranking civil servant Previous posts of responsibility held : Secretary General in the Ministry of Armed Forces (1972-1975) Deputy Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic (June 30, 1975- January 7, 1982) Minister of State, for Economy & Planning (January 7, 1982- November 6, 1982) Prime Minister of the United Republic of Cameroon (November 6, 1982- August 22, 1983) Minister of State for Industrial and Commercial Development (December 1997- December 2004) Minister of State for Post and Telecommunications (2004 to 2009) Minister of State for Transport (2009- 2011)

10. Ahmadou Ali (Vice Prime Minister, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with Parliament since 2011) Born in 1943 in Kolofata (73 years) Profession : Super scale Magistrate Previous posts of responsibility held : Secretary General in the Ministry of Public Service (1974-1982) Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defense, in charge of the National Gendermarie (1985-1997) Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic (1996-1997) Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defense (1997-2001) Minister of State, Minister of Justice & Keeper of the Seal (2001-2004) Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Justice & Keeper of the Seal (2004-2011) .

11. Philemon Yunji Yang (Prime Minister since June 30, 2009) Born on June14, 1947 in Jikejem-Oku. (69 years) Profession : Super scale Magistrate cum Diplomat Previous posts of responsibility held : Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration (June 30, 1975- November 8, 1979) Minister of Mines and Energy (November 8, 1979- February 4, 1984) Ambassador (later on High Commissioner) of Cameroon to Canada (October 23, 1984- December 8, 2004) 1st Deputy Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic (December 8, 2004- June 30, 2009)

12. Luc Ayang A(President of the Economic & Social Council since 1984) Born in 1947 (69 years) Profession : Top ranking civil servant Previous posts of responsibility held : Head of the Service of Legislation and Regulation in the Division of Administrative and Legal Affairs at the General Secreteriat of the Presidency of the Republic (March 1975- September 1976) 1st Deputy Assistant to the Senior Divisional Officer for Vina Division (September 1976- May 1978) Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (May 2, 1978- August 23, 1983) Prime Minister of the United Republic of Cameroon (August 22, 1983- January 25, 1984) President of the Economic & Social Council (1984 till date)

13. Cavayé Yéguié Djibril (Speaker of the National Assembly since 1992) Born in 1940 in Mada (76 years) Profession : Physical Education Instructor Previous posts of responsibility held : Member of Parliament for Mada Constituency (1973-1988 & 1992 till date) 1st Assistant to the Senior Divisional Officer for Diamaré Division (1988-1992) Speaker of the National Assembly (1992 till date)

14. René Emmanuel Sadi (Minister in charge of Territorial Administration & Decentralization since 2011)
Born on December 21, 1948 in Maroua (67 years).Profession : Diplomat (Minister Plenipotentiary)
Previous posts of responsibility held : Chargé de Mission at the Presidency (1979-1983); Director of Studies and Information in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1983); Technical Adviser to the Cabinet of the President of the Republic (1983-1985); Deputy Director of the Civil Cabinet (1985-1989); Technical Adviser to the President of the Republic (1989-1995); Technical Adviser & Head of the Diplomatic Affairs Division of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic (1995-2004); 2nd Deputy Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic (2004-2009)
Minister in charge of Special Duties at the Presidency (2009-2011)

By Brian Njotsa
BaretaNews Political Analyst