The Sino Mart affair is sparking strong reactions in Cameroon. Abdouraman Hamadou Babba, a Cameroonian political figure, has expressed his anger at the abuse inflicted on an employee of this company, accusing the country's leaders of betraying the interests of their citizens [cite: ].
In a virulent statement, Babba relied on the shocking images of the assault to denounce what he considers to be an « enslavement » of Cameroonian workers by foreign interests [cite: ]. He accuses the authorities of prioritizing advantages to the detriment of protecting their own citizens, evoking a situation comparable to the time of slavery when leaders ceded the country to foreigners [cite: ].
The politician calls for citizen mobilization during the upcoming legislative and municipal elections, presenting them as an opportunity to rebalance institutional power relations. In particular, he proposes to impose a government on President Biya, to modify laws deemed unfavorable such as the electoral code, and to reform the body in charge of elections, ELECAM, to guarantee its independence [cite: ].
Babba insists on the need to put in place an innovative anti-fraud mechanism to prevent any confiscation of the popular will during the upcoming elections. His message is intended as a call for vigilance and action to regain control of the country and put it at the service of Cameroonians [cite: ].
The incident at Sino Mart and the reaction of Abdouraman Babba highlight the persistent tensions regarding foreign investment in Cameroon and the protection of workers' rights. The situation raises questions about governance and the ability of leaders to defend national interests in the face of economic pressures [cite: ].
