In recent weeks, traditional rulers in Southern Cameroons have come under heavy criticism for endorsing Paul Biya for president. While their actions are largely motivated by greed and personal gain, we must step back and analyze the situation strategically. The reality is that in a system like Cameroon’s, where power is entrenched and controlled through authoritarian rule, our people must understand that for self-preservation, we must kiss the ring of whoever is president.

The Futility of Regime Change via Elections

It is an illusion to believe that Anglophones can challenge and remove Paul Biya through elections. Edith Kah Walla, a veteran Cameroonian politician, rightly pointed out that dictatorships cannot be removed by elections. In Cameroon, the electoral system is nothing more than a façade to legitimize the regime.
Biya has ruled for over 40 years, not through democratic legitimacy but through a calculated mix of electoral fraud, repression, and institutional control.
State institutions, including ELECAM, the judiciary, and security forces, are all designed to maintain the status quo.
Anglophone candidates in national politics only serve to reinforce the illusion of inclusivity while being powerless to effect real change.

Any attempt by Anglophones to challenge Biya’s rule through elections only strengthens him, as it allows the regime to claim a pluralistic democracy while ensuring that opposition remains ineffective.

Regime Change is a Francophone Responsibility

Anglophones make up only 20% of Cameroon’s population, and power in Yaoundé has always been concentrated in Francophone hands. The burden of regime change should therefore fall on the Francophones themselves, not the Anglophones.
• When Anglophones take the lead in challenging Biya, it only makes the Francophone opposition lazy. They assume Anglophones will do the hard work while they sit back and reap the benefits.
Francophones who truly want change must take responsibility for their own liberation. It is not our fight to lead; our priority should be to secure governance over our own territory.

A Shift in Strategy: Structural Change Over Political Participation

Instead of engaging in futile regime-change efforts, Anglophones must focus on structural changes that grant us control over our own governance. History has shown that minority groups living under authoritarian rule have been able to secure their own space without overthrowing the regime itself.
China (Hong Kong & Tibet): While outright independence was crushed, Hong Kong successfully secured autonomy for years by negotiating within the system.
Russia (Chechnya & Tatarstan): Some ethnic regions have gained a degree of self-rule without engaging in national politics.

For Southern Cameroonians, this means prioritizing:
1. Devolution of Power – Seeking administrative and governance autonomy rather than competing in national politics.
2. Economic and Social Control – Strengthening community-based governance structures that reduce dependence on the central government.
3. Strategic Engagement – Building alliances with international stakeholders who can pressure the Cameroonian government for structural reforms.

Accepting Reality & Playing Smart

While many may view the endorsement of Biya by traditional rulers as a betrayal, the hard truth is that survival under dictatorship requires pragmatism. Criticizing these rulers without understanding the larger political game is shortsighted.
Our people do not have the power to remove Biya, and openly opposing him only invites more suffering and repression.
We must learn to navigate within the system, positioning ourselves in a way that strengthens our control over our own affairs.
If endorsing Biya secures resources or grants certain freedoms, then it is a necessary evil in the short term.
The PRAP Strategy
PRAP advocates for a realist and strategic approach to the Anglophone struggle. Instead of wasting energy on national politics that will never favor us, we must:

✔️ Push for governance structures that grant us autonomy
✔️ Leverage the existing system to secure resources and power for our people
✔️ Recognize that true change in Cameroon must come from Francophones, not us

We are not here to fight a losing battle. Our goal is to secure a future where Southern Cameroonians govern their own affairs within or outside of Cameroon. That requires strategy, patience, and understanding the political game—not emotional reactions to symbolic gestures like endorsements.

By embracing pragmatism over idealism, we position ourselves to win in the long run.
Ndong E N aka Capo Daniel 
PRAP Chairman