A new scandal shakes IRIC

Support agents were chosen instead of teachers for seminars in China.

Another crisis was reported at the Institute of international relations of Cameroon (IRIC). Almost five months after the scandal of students reportedly admitted yet were recalibrated and then readmitted on 'very high' instructions from the president of the Republic, there are buns on the furnaces of the controversy!

Everything started with a correspondance-n ° 67/2015/Bcec/Ac from Gao Yongqin, economic and commercial Counselor at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Yaounde, dated April 13, 2015, addressed to Pierre Emmanuel Tabi, Plenipotentiary Minister, Director of IRIC.

Mr. Gao informed Mr. Tabi that China will organize seminars in 2015 for nationals of Anglophone and francophone African countries, especially in Beijing, from June to October, according to a timetable and well-defined programme.

The focus of the trip was the economic and social development, the establishment of a think-tank (laboratory of ideas) for francophone and anglophone Africa, sustainable development, South-South cooperation, the theories of security strategy of developed countries and even the smart government (Government by intelligence).

The economic counselor was precise in the document sent to Iric on April 14, 2015, "in order to allow our two parties to take advantage of these seminars for the exchange of experiences in the field of international relations, the Chinese Embassy has the honour to request your Excellency [the Director of the Iric] to recommend qualified candidates to participate in the above-mentioned seminars".

Following this correspondence, the tradition recommended that the Director of the IRIC meet the administrative principals and, especially, the heads of five departments (or their representatives) of the schools. In this case, Jean-Emmanuel Pondi (international politics), Peter Agbor Tabi (International Economics), Laurent Zang (diplomacy and professional lessons), Alain Didier Olinga (international law) and Pascal Messanga Nyamding (Integration and development cooperation), were to gather their proposals.

This was not the case according to contacted teachers. Even the Deputy Director of studies, Stéphane Ngwanza was, according to various sources, ignored in the selection of candidates departing for China, which is considered to be "arbitrary".

"How can we understand that for a seminar where qualified candidates are expected from Cameroon, the school director makes his choice on support agents such as his private Secretary, the head of gardeners, the administrator, the Secretary to the Assistant Director, the head of communications, and assistants, like Melvis Ndiloseh and Mrs. Mendo Ze? Is it a travel opportunity or a seminar for professionals? Will this not be a blow to the image of Cameroon?", asked a teacher.

The "smudge" is such that the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Iric (Minrex) and vice-president (Minesup) have taken a considerable distance from the director of the school. Reached by telephone yesterday by Mutations, Pierre Emmanuel Tabi was uncooperative, referring the reporter to the Chinese Embassy. "They are the ones who define the profiles," he said. For this Plenipotentiary Minister, any contrary journalistic approach is not 'professional'.

For the Chinese, the commercial attaché, Li Ziliang (who served as an intermediary for Iric and the Embassy) said "it is the Director of Iric who gave the list of successful candidates. The Chinese themselves do not recommend candidates. Naturally, we have confidence in the Director."

If teachers at this school are angry, they should speak to their Director and not the Chinese Embassy.