Ousmanou Aman Sa’aly, widely known as Yérima Dewa, narrowly escaped being lynched after inviting supporters to one of the inaugural meetings of his newly founded party, the All Camerounian Congress (ACC). The incident unfolded on the morning of July 14 in the multipurpose hall of Lagdo’s town hall in Cameroon's northern region.
"He narrowly escaped being lynched after calling on people to vote for the CPDM (Cameroon People's Democratic Movement) in the upcoming presidential election," reported journalist Hervé Gomez, director of Lagdo TV.
A short video of the meeting is now circulating on social media. It shows an enraged crowd accusing Yérima Dewa of prioritizing his personal interests over the public good. Just a few months prior, such a scene would have been unimaginable given Yérima Dewa’s established popularity in Lagdo. This popularity had notably helped the FSNC wrest control of the Lagdo mayor’s office from the RDPC in the February 2020 municipal elections. "Before this week’s event, whenever he announced a rally in Lagdo, a large crowd would show up to welcome and applaud him. Clearly, that is no longer the case," Gomez explained.
Yérima Dewa had recently left the National Salvation Front of Cameroon (FSNC) to found the ACC. While his departure from the FSNC may have contributed to the shift in sentiment, it was primarily his new political stance, now aligned with the ruling party from which the FSNC has distanced itself, that angered his former supporters. "In truth, what happened in Lagdo shouldn't be seen as militants wanting to stick with the FSNC. The reality is that everyone wants change. In Lagdo, it’s anything but Paul Biya in 2025. That’s probably what Yérima Dewa failed to grasp," Gomez concluded.
Michel Ange Nga