What is your research about?

My research is entitled "Reinforcing decentralisation and constitutionalism under the 1996 Constitution of Cameroon for peacebuilding and development". Cameroon faces an array of serious governance challenges today. This includes difficulties in handling the country’s inherited dual-state colonial heritage from the British and the French, particularly the perception of marginalisation by the Anglophone community. Other challenges include upholding constitutionalism, providing adequate service delivery at the local government level, limiting ethnic tensions, as well as protecting women’s rights and tackling minority concerns such as the rights of indigenous people.

An examination of the constitutional and legal framework of decentralisation and constitutionalism under the 1996 Constitution shows that these issues have not been adequately addressed.There is thus need for some fundamental changes that would furnish a more effective framework for administrative, political and fiscal decentralisation. These changes should entrench fundamental elements of constitutionalism such as the separation of powers, judicial independence, limiting the ease with which the Constitution can be amended and most importantly guarantee the promotion and protection of human rights. This research thus concludes that there is a need for legal safeguards, such as a functional constitutional court, to ward against the centralisation and usurpation of powers by the central government.

What is your background?

I am technical adviser no 2 at the National School of Local Administration, Buea, Cameroon and previously worked as an administrative authority in several parts of Cameroon, most especially as Divisional Officer, appointed by the President of the Republic to serve in Mbiame Sub Division, Bui Division in the North West region, one of the two Anglophone regions.

I hold a PhD in law obtained from the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2019. I also obtained my Master of Laws degree in human rights and democratisation in Africa from the Centre for Human Rights, Faulty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa. My thesis was on ‘Equal educational opportunities for the girl child in Africa with focus on Cameroon, South Africa and Egypt’. I additionally hold a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Yaounde II, Soa, Cameroon. In 2012, I attended the Institute of Federalisme’s Summer University on decentralisation, federalism and conflict management and in 2013 I was privileged to intern at IFF, working with the Chancellery of the Canton of Bern for a month.

Thank you, Christian, for this presentation. The IFF is more than happy to welcome you on board, and we are very much looking forward to reading more about your research soon.