After reading Tem Martin article on Federation as being a poor bargain, Mr. Tem Martin quoted Nigeria Federation as poor because it does not solve marginalization of the Delta and Biafra states. We think that what matters is the type of Federation. There are many successful federal countries in the world such as USA, Canada, Australia, Belgium etc.
Nigeria Federation is different because Nigeria had independence with all its states together. The situation in the Cameroons is different. La Republique had its independence without Southern Cameroons.
The problem with Southern Cameroons Federation with La Republique is that it was poorly bargained from the start with no credible structures. Nigeria Federalism cannot be same to that of Southern Cameroons because Nigeria federalism brought states which had independence as a single unit compared to the Cameroons where two independent countries will be coming together. In the Cameroons situation, these are two independent states with two distinct cultures coming together. It is not a plural federalism as in Nigeria or USA, it is a bicultural federalism as in Belgium and Canada which brings two different people with two cultures French and Dutch as in Belgium, English, and French as in Canada. The type of Federation in these countries have been superb and if Southern Cameroons must go into Federation with La Republique, these are models which can be looked into. Yes, Federalism is not a poor bargain. It, therefore, boils down to the type of Federation
There are two kinds of federation, however; aggregative and segregative
A Segregative Federation is a mode of governance by a sovereign state to resolve political, economic or cultural problems within the state – it is not recognized in international law – its members are generally called autonomous regions, provinces or districts: they are not states as defined by the international law. And in international law they cannot quit the federation because they are an integral part of the national territory. Nigeria for example form part of this Federation
An Aggregative Federation is the form of federation the Southern Cameroons voted for in the 1961 plebiscite – it is formed by sovereign states which have internationally recognized boundaries. Although the Southern Cameroons was not a sovereign and independent state, at the time of the plebiscite, it had its international legal status as a UN Trust Territory which allowed the Southern Cameroons to form an aggregative federation with La Republique du Cameroun. That was the reason why the UN could not simply ask the Southern Cameroons at the plebiscite to integrate itself into La Republique du Cameroun.
It was on this legal ground that the UN envisioned the workout of a Treaty of Union for the projected federation according to the international law on Treaties. So one wonders why La Republique du Cameroun calls the Southern Cameroons a province of its territory. Members of an aggregative federation are called the Federated States: each of them has the right to quit the federation. Examples of aggregative federations are Federation of the Federated States of Micronesia in the South Pacific.
The majority of federations around the world are segregative federations: Brazil, India, Nigeria, Argentina, Australia, Germany, etc. However, although independence (the right to self determination) remains the best option, the types of Federation also matters. Thus, we should aim high so that if we are brought to the center we shall engulf it by streamlining the specific type of federation to engage in. The constitution should be the bed rock.
Conclusively, for Southern Cameroons to form any Federation with La Republique, the treaty of union between La Republique and Southern Cameroons must be made legal according to the UN Charter which brings countries together because as it stands, Southern Cameroons and La Republique has no treaty of union- this is why the union between both Cameroons is still contested by all Southern Cameroons Independence groups. The more reasons the people of Southern Cameroons have called for any dialogue with La Republique to take place only in the presence of a third party such as UN or AU because the legality of the current Union with La Republique is illegal and non-existent.
Mark Bareta
BaretaNews CEO
5 comments
This is not real; you are leaving out the main driving force of LRC, France, in this your talk about federation. Do you really think France will risk giving up its control of LRC by letting her go into a federal arrangement that will actually undermine their influence.?Am very surprise and highly disappointed by this article. Nevertheless, point to any successful system of federalism where the majority population is francophone; absolutely none. And do you know the enormous concessions that the anglophone majority in Canada has made to keep the lone francophone province of Quebec in the Dominion of Canada? Yet, Quebec is not satisfied at all by those concessions, and every election, Parti Quebecois insists on having a referendum for separation on the ballot. What is more, the Quebec Provincial government has ceased letting non French immigrants to settle there, alleging that it is the non French speaking Quebecois who always vote overwhelmingly in favor of Quebec province remaining in the Dominion. And, there is even a LRC francophone from Douala who is a member of that party and has won elections time and time again as a member of Canada’s parliament on the platform of party’s manifesto of separation from Canada. And, talking about concessions, how many have the francophone of LRC actually made to the Southern Cameroonians in the past 56 years? I mean real concessions,not plastic or cosmetic rubbish. Instead, the francophone have used their majority to ram their idiotic culture down our throats. There will be no federalism between LRC and Southern Cameroons; I am very certain about. We have derived nothing positive in the past 56 years of cohabiting with those people and any talk about federation must beas
I really do wonder were the writer of this article stands. It seem to that he prefers us remaining as slavés.if east tumor can gain independence what about us?
I am convinced that the writer stands on the side of independence. I guess he just wanted to outline the types of federation exists in the world. And of course there are good examples such as USA or Germany. In our case it won’t work. There is no good faith from LRC.
That was a great article, i had no idea of the distinguished types of federation. Thanks, i do now understand the nuances of a federal system of government. What do we want at this time. Seems to me the struggle is a two front assault. federation and or independence.
This is a very good article. This types of federations i have come to learn a lot. From all perspectives, the writer of this article is 100% for a sovereign state for southern Cameroons but just wanted to make a point out there to those fools who keep talking about federation as they do not have an iota of idea what true federation is. LRC has never been a good brother to us. The are the cainlike and we are the Abels. But God has decided to free us finally so federarion is not an option for us anylonger. When this struggle began we yearned for federation but LRC gave a deaf ear and said this topic was taboo today they want federation something that we have already bypassed 6 months ago.