Bafoussam, Cameroon — A scene unfolded at a fuel station that has sparked outrage across the country: a government minister touring the West Region distributing free fuel and 5,000 CFA to motorcycle taxi drivers “to salute their commitment to peace” after the contested October 12 presidential election.
For many observers, critics, and ordinary citizens, this moment has become a symbol of everything that feels painfully wrong with the governance system Cameroon has lived under for over 43 years.
Because after four decades of the same political leadership, this is what “peace” is reduced to?
Small cash handouts, a few liters of fuel, and a warning not to protest?
Let’s break down why so many Cameroonians are calling this episode not just embarrassing but a perfect summary of an exhausted regime.
1. 5,000 CFA Cannot Replace Democracy
At a time when citizens are demanding electoral transparency and institutional reform, offering the price of a simple lunch to motorcycle taxi riders feels insulting.
Critics argue it trivializes the political tensions and dismisses legitimate grievances.
2. Peace Is Not Bought at a Petrol Pump
You cannot buy national stability by distributing fuel.
Peace is built through:
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justice
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credible institutions
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transparent elections
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accountable governance
Not quick handouts.
3. It Reflects a System That Has Run Out of Ideas
After 43 years in power, the only tool left seems to be short-term appeasement rather than long-term solutions.
Where are the policies?
Where are the reforms?
Where is the vision?
Citizens say this moment exposes a leadership class that no longer knows how to respond to real demands.
4. The Warnings Reveal the Fear Behind the Gesture
While distributing money and fuel, the official in the image also warned bikers against:
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“dead city” protests
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strikes
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any attempt at civil disobedience
This shows the real purpose of the gesture:
not appreciation, but control.
5. It Reinforces Accusations of Clientelism
Critics have long argued that the CPDM style of governance relies on gifts, small favors, and loyalty-buying rather than structural governance.
This scene offers fresh ammunition.
It recalls the old complaint heard across markets, towns, and motor parks:
“They only remember us when they need us.”
6. Motorcycle Riders Deserve Real Policy, Not Tokens
These riders face real issues:
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insecurity
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unemployment
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brutal fuel prices
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harassment
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unstable income
5,000 CFA does nothing to address their actual problems.
7. After 43 Years, the Bar Is Too Low
A government that has ruled for four decades should not be congratulating itself for symbolic gestures.
Cameroonians expect:
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functioning institutions
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reliable elections
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economic progress
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justice
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decent living conditions
Instead, they got…
fuel coupons.
8. It Shows the Disconnect Between the State and the People
While citizens across the country discuss legitimacy, arrests, democracy, and the future of the nation, officials respond with…
“Here is fuel. Here is 5,000. Don’t protest.”
The disconnect is staggering.
9. It Highlights Why Many Cameroonians Say the System Is Exhausted
This is what governance looks like in a regime critics describe as authoritarian and outdated:
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short-term gestures
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fear of public dissent
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warnings wrapped in “generosity”
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superficial solutions to deep problems
The country is asking for change.
The answer they receive is the same: tokens, warnings, and photo-ops.
10. The Moment Has Become Symbolic And Not in a Good Way
This image is already circulating widely online because it represents something bigger:
a political system so entrenched that it confuses handouts for leadership.
It is the visual metaphor of 43 years of stagnation.
Conclusion: Cameroonians Deserve More Than This
This episode in Bafoussam is not simply about fuel and money.
It is about:
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a nation tired of superficial politics
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citizens who want structural change
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a population that expects dignity, not handouts
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a country ready to move beyond token gestures
After 43 years of CPDM rule, many Cameroonians feel this moment captures the essence of the regime:
A government trying to buy calm instead of building trust.
Trying to buy silence instead of earning respect.
Trying to manage people instead of serving them.
And the people know it.
The country knows it.
History will know it too.
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