SDF’s Newly Elected Chair Declares Biya a Catastrophic Failure in Anglophone Crisis
By Andre Momo
BaretaNews Political Desk
In a landmark speech that has sent ripples through Cameroon’s political landscape, the newly elected Chair of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) has launched a blistering critique of President Paul Biya, branding his handling of the Anglophone crisis as a “catastrophic failure.” The address, delivered during the Chair’s inauguration in Yaoundé, marked a bold shift in tone from one of the country’s oldest opposition parties.
Refusing to mince words, the SDF leader condemned the government’s approach to the Anglophone conflict, which has now stretched into its seventh year with no meaningful resolution in sight. “The blood of our people has been spilled without accountability,” the Chair declared. “This regime has not only failed to lead—it has willfully chosen repression over reconciliation, destruction over dialogue.”
A Call for Federalism Reignited
Central to the Chair’s address was a renewed call for federalism—a long-standing demand of many Anglophone Cameroonians, and once a key pillar of the SDF’s founding vision. “Cameroon must return to the federal structure that once guaranteed coexistence, dignity, and development for all its peoples,” the Chair affirmed, drawing thunderous applause from party members and civil society representatives in attendance.
This stance directly challenges the centralization model that has defined Biya’s regime for over four decades. It also aligns with the growing sentiment among both Anglophones and reform-minded Francophones who believe the unitary state has failed to address the country’s deep-rooted political and cultural divides.
Political Complicity and the Cost of Silence
The speech has reignited long-simmering debates within Cameroon’s political class. For years, many in the opposition have been accused of complicity through silence—failing to challenge Biya’s policies forcefully, even as violence escalated and entire communities were displaced in the Anglophone regions.
By speaking so forcefully, the new SDF Chair has broken from that mold, setting a precedent for opposition leaders across the spectrum. Analysts say this may mark a turning point in Cameroonian politics, where growing disillusionment with the ruling regime is beginning to coalesce into calls for broader political realignment.
BaretaNews Reaction: A Welcome Break from Business as Usual
BaretaNews hails this speech as a rare and refreshing act of political courage in a nation where dissent has too often been muffled by fear and patronage. The new SDF leadership has reminded the nation—and the world—that principled opposition is not dead in Cameroon.
We urge all opposition parties, civil society actors, and diaspora groups to seize this momentum. Unity, strategy, and moral clarity are essential if Cameroonians are to mount an effective challenge to Yaoundé’s failed governance.
The time for timid politics is over. The cost of inaction is written in the blood of thousands, the silence of shuttered classrooms, and the tears of displaced families. Federalism may not be the only solution, but it remains a credible starting point for dialogue, justice, and peace.
History will judge those who remained silent. Today, however, the SDF has spoken—and it is a sound the regime can no longer afford to ignore.
