VZCZCXRO6079
RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHYD #1441 3410912
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 070912Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8381
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE 0046
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

C O N F I D E N T I A L YAOUNDE 001441 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AS/C, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA ACTION 
OFFICERS, EUCOM FOR J5-A AND POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON PINR CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: VIEWS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL 
ASSEMBLY 
 
 
Classified By: Classified By: Poloff Linnisa Wahid for reasons (1.4.b & 
 d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary. In a November 27 courtesy call by the 
Ambassador, President of the Cameroon National Assembly 
Cavaye Yeguie Djibril offered little vision for parliament 
and revealed suspicions regarding the benefits of free trade. 
 As the President of the National Assembly, Djibril is first 
in line to succeed President Paul Biya (though temporarily) 
and is a significant party player in parliament but lacks 
much real power.  End Summary. 
 
NO REAL PLANS FOR THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Djibril gave a general overview of the National 
Assembly, stating that he had no particular plans for the 
body because, as a &cradle of democracy,8 it was difficult 
to forecast parliament's future.  He lamented that a number 
of recently elected Parliamentarians were ill prepared for 
politics, and that parliamentarians in general are 
handicapped by the lack of infrastructure (few desks for 
example) or staff.  While the 1996 Constitution created two 
branches of Parliament, the National Assembly and the Senate, 
Djibril acknowledged that without the financial support of 
President Biya the Senate would continue to exist only on 
paper.   He nonetheless opined that parliament is becoming 
more important, with MPs flexing their muscle and government 
officials learning that they will have to answer questions in 
the National Assembly. 
 
ECONOMICS: FREE TRADE WILL HURT CAMEROON 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) Djibril declared that free trade with European 
countries would hurt local industries because Cameroonian 
products would not be competitive in Western markets.  He 
speculated that free trade with Europe was a conspiracy to 
block Chinese goods from African markets.  Djibril added that 
African nations should stay out of the international market 
place.  When questioned about the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act (AGOA), he responded that African firms 
cannot compete, although he did not understand why Cameroon 
had not used AGOA to its full potential. 
 
COMMENT: PARTY POLITICS 
----------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) As the conversation became more substantive, Djibril 
deferred to the Secretary General of the National Assembly. 
The Assembly President is number two in protocol in the Biya 
government, and in case of a vacancy in the presidency, would 
serve as Acting President for up to 40 days until an election 
could be held.  While Djibril acts as the ruling CPDM 
party,s majority leader in the National Assembly, he has 
little real power.  He is where he is because of his strong 
loyalty to President Biya and because of the executive's 
desire to maintain control over the legislature.  In the July 
legislative election, Djibril was roundly criticized by 
nearly everyone for offering cash bonuses to party cadres who 
could deliver 100 percent of the vote in their precinct to 
the CPDM.  Djibril told Ambassador he was interested in 
strengthening ties to the U.S. Congress, which might help 
open his (and other parliamentarians,) eyes to the role a 
legislature could play.  Post plans to follow up on our 2005 
Voluntary Visitor program for parliamentarians with other 
outreach efforts in the months ahead. 
GARVEY