Commentary

The Fifth Republic, built by Charles de Gaulle as a presidential monarchy, once projected stability and grandeur. Today, it stands hollowed out — a Republic in name, but a corporate protectorate of billionaires, security elites, and aging political dynasties. By Ali Dan Ismael, Editor-in-Chief, The Independentist Paris: The End of the Fifth Republic’s Illusion From

When the Ambazonian resistance demanded genuine dialogue years ago, Yaoundé mocked the request with its familiar sneer: “With whom shall we negotiate?” Now that question echoes back across the Mfoundi valley: With whom shall the world negotiate for French Cameroon? Will it be a recycled spokesman in Maroua, a junta general in Yaoundé, or the

For Tchiroma, survival was never luck; it was calculation. His years behind bars taught him two enduring truths about the Biya system: open opposition invited annihilation, and proximity to power offered both protection and opportunity.So he chose patience over exile, proximity over protest. Instead of retreating in bitterness, he re-emerged as a technocrat who spoke

For decades, each time French Cameroon faces political turbulence, its leaders reach for the same tired strategy: add a few English-speaking faces to the cabinet, call it inclusion, and present it to the world as reform. By Ali Dan Ismael, Editor-in-Chief, on special assignment in Maroua, Cameroun When Issa Tchiroma Bakary stood before cameras this

The new Ambazonian constitution will anchor the common law as its backbone, while protecting traditional justice in villages and chiefdoms. A Truth and Reparations Commission will document past abuses, giving voice to victims and holding wrongdoers accountable. By Ali Dan Ismael, Editor-in-Chief, on assignment in Buea, Ambazonia Across the vast stretch of French-speaking Africa, from

In a healthy democracy, a communication council safeguards pluralism, transparency, and accountability. In French Cameroon, however, it polices truth as though it were contraband. Instead of defending journalists, it summons and sanctions them. Instead of promoting professionalism, it propagates fear. By Ali Dan Ismael, Editor-in-Chief, The Independentist There are many absurdities in the political life

Macron’s decision to call snap parliamentary elections in 2024 was meant to consolidate power. Instead, it backfired spectacularly. His centrist coalition lost its majority, forcing him to govern through fragile alliances and endless compromises. As his latest prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, struggles to pass a budget that satisfies both parliament and the markets, many in

In the period preceding the 2025 elections, efforts were made by political and religious elites to encourage participation and present credible “Anglophone” leadership options within the structure of French Cameroons. By Ali Dan IsmaelEditor-in-Chief, on special assignment, Bamenda, Ambazonia The political dynamics surrounding leadership in Ambazonia cannot be fully understood without situating them within the

The day after the vote, unrest erupted in Garoua, and a police truck was set ablaze. Under ordinary circumstances, this would have provoked mass arrests, curfews, and military crackdowns. This time, no arrests were reported, and the regime’s heavy hand remained curiously light. By Michel Bien Tong, Independent Contributor The recent presidential election in Cameroon

Recent reports indicate that troops of La République du Cameroun (LRC) have been redeployed from parts of Ambazonia. Officially, the redeployment has not been linked to the post-election situation, but multiple local sources and resistance-linked intelligence networks interpret this as a strategic withdrawal. By Ali Dan Ismael, Editor-in-Chief, on special mission to Bamenda, Ambazonia In