Cameroon's Minister of Special Duties at the Presidency, Victor Arrey Nkongho Mengot, had told the Political Officer at the US Embassy in Cameroon (names withheld for security reasons) that President Paul Biya had initially intended to leave power in 2011, but "was forced to change his plans when he learnt that some of the 'young' ministers in his hand-picked cabinet he was grooming to take over had betrayed him."
Wikileaks, the international watchdog on diplomatic affairs, revealed numerous documents that Mengot attributed Biya's decision to change a section of the country's Constitution limiting Presidential terms, to the President's disappointment with those he was grooming to succeed him. Mengot, however, said Biya will step down as soon as he is assured of an acceptable succession scenario. He is quoted to have said that Biya wants to plan his exit, but will not allow his succession to be decided by members of his own Government.
Mengot cited some of the 'young' ministers who had disappointed Biya, resulting in their sacking from government, arrests and detention at the Kondengui Prison in Yaoundé, for embezzlement of public funds. These included the former Director of Taxes / former Minister of Finance, Polycarpe Abah Abah, the former Minister of Public Health, Urbain Olanguena Owono, and the former Secretary General at the Presidency, Jean Marie Atangana Mebara.
Mengot told the diplomat that the President urgently brought him to the Presidency "to counteract" officials who had become disloyal to the President. The diplomat quoted Mengot as having said that when he asked the Head of State why he did not act faster to dismiss those who betrayed him, Biya in response rhetorically asked, "Who would be left? All of them are thieves" Biya explained that he had to proceed slowly, or risk destabilising the country.
Wrong Predictions
Mengot, who spoke to the US diplomat before the June 30, 2009, cabinet reshuffle, had predicted the sacking and arrest of four more ministers, whom he said had to be prosecuted for embezzlement of public funds. He was so sure of these sackings because he himself had conducted the investigations into the machinations of these guys. The four included Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo'o then Delegate General for National Security, Louis Paul Motaze, the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Louis Bapes Bapes, the Minister of Secondary Education, and Haman Adama, who then was the Minister of Basic Education.
It should be noted that at the June 30, 2009, President Biya's cabinet reshuffle, Mebe Ngo'o was promoted to Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, while Motaze and Bapes Bapes were maintained in their posts. Mengot's lone prediction that went right was that concerning Haman Adama, who was not only sacked, but was also arrested for alleged embezzlement of public funds and later thrown in Kondengui awaiting trial.
"Biya Owns No Property In Europe"
The diplomat noted that, "Despite popular impressions, Mengot asserted that Biya has accumulated negligible wealth during his tenure as President. The huge mansion being built close to the US Embassy compound is for the President's 'young family', and is owned by the government of Cameroon (referred to as GRC in the cable). Mengot said Biya owns no property in Europe, unlike many in the GRC and other Heads of State in the region, and is always forced to stay in hotels when visiting Europe". .
Mengot told the diplomat that he enjoyed his post of Minister of Special Duties at the Presidency, and would not want to risk being appointed to one of the substantive empty and inconsequential ministries, as that would take away his aura and clout but more importantly, push him away from the President (who according to him is more of a father to him, and he would no longer have as much influence or power over those other Ministers. He however admitted to the diplomat that he would be happy to be promoted if push comes to shove, at least to the post of Deputy Secretary General and why not the SG at the Presidency. He claims the President knows he is very competent to handle the job and his loyalty to the President is beyond reproach.
The US diplomat noted in his remark at the end of Mengot's declarations that, "Biya's intentions are famously illusory (hence his nicknamed 'the sphinx'). Wikileaks started releasing leaked diplomatic cables on Cameroon on August 31, 2011. Mengot's revelations were just released recently.
Biya's Revelation Vindicates Mengot
Some revelations made by President Biya when he granted audience to the US Ambassador to Cameroon, Janet Garvey, at the Unity Palace in Yaounde on April 3, 2009, vindicate Mengot's network of information on his colleaguesin government. According to the report on the discussions between Biya and Garvey, published on the website of Wikileaks, the Ambassador requested audience to inform Biya that the name of one of his ministers had been put on the list of people banned from entering the US.
But, according to the report, before the Ambassador could release the name of the blacklisted-minister, Biya surprised her by predicting that the person should be Remy Ze Meka, the former Secretary General at the Prime Minister's Office, who then was the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence.
Biya is quoted to have said that – "Ze Meka was so greedy, stealing so much money when he was at the Prime Ministry, that one would have thought that he had had more than enough to ask himself what one single human being can do with all that amount of money". The US Government indicted Ze Meka for corruption and arms trafficking. Biya promised to fire Ze Meka. He even promised to bring forward the date of the planned cabinet reshuffle.
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