After a day of diplomatic consultations and considerations, spokesman for the Government of Cameroon and Communication Minister, Emmanuel Rene Sadi, issued a statement on Monday 4th February 2019, distancing Government from one of her Ministers, Jean De Dieu Momo.
According to the statement, the stance of Jean Momo, newly appointed Minister Delegate in the ministry of Justice, were clearly his personal opinion and not that which reflects the government of Cameroon. Jean Momo who is known not only to be an opposition political leader but also an ardent supporter of President Biya’s regime revealed on a televised program, “Actualite Hebdo” over state owned CRTV that, the government will wipe out supporters and tribesmen of arrested CRM leader, Maurice Kamto, just as Adolf Hitler of Germany did to the Jews during the Nazi Regime
This anti-Semitic utterance prompted the Israeli Embassy in Cameroon to demand an immediate apology. The Israeli Government in Yaoundé also believes that it is a genocidal attack on the Bamileke People of Cameroon, (from where Prof Kamto hails), who can be likened to the rich, powerful and hardworking Jews in the 1933 Hitler regime.
Hate speech is a common aspect within the government of President Paul Biya who has also never apologized to Cameroonians. State officials have often referred to Anglophones of the country as Dogs, enemies in the house, cubes of sugar (to be dissolved), Anglofools, insignificant minority etc. President Biya himself has called for the complete neutralization of Anglophones who opt for a news Anglophone state, as tension continue with massive killings in Anglophone Cameroon. Many think that no one could question the very strong regime and Minister Jean Momo’s overzealous attitude from inside, if the Israeli Embassy had not stepped in. Another front-line political party, the SDF had also issued a statement against the hate speech of Jean Momo. It’s also alleged that, Israel is the powerhouse of Cameroon’s military might, reason for the prompt reaction from the carefree regime of President Biya.
