Cameroon peace talks falter as separatists, politicians boycott

By Josiane Kouagheu

YAOUNDE (Reuters) - Government-led talks to end a two-year-old separatist insurgency in Cameroon faltered before they began on Monday as separatists and opposition politicians boycotted the event. 

President Paul Biya initiated the week-long national dialogue in an effort to calm violence between militias and the army that has killed more than 1,800 people and displaced more than 500,000, according to United Nations estimates.

But Anglophone separatists, who are trying to form a breakaway state called Ambazonia in the country’s minority English-speaking regions, immediately dismissed the idea because their conditions for dialogue have not yet been met, they said. 

“No Ambazonian will take part in Biya’s charade,” said Cho Ayaba, a leading member of the Ambazonian Governing Council. 

The council has called for a withdrawal of the army from the English-speaking Southwest and Northwest regions, for international arbitration over the crisis and for the release of all arrested separatists. 

Cameroon’s main opposition party is also refusing to attend until the government releases its leader and former presidential candidate Maurice Kamto, who was arrested in January and could face the death penalty for leading protests against an election last year that he denounced as fraudulent. 

Biya, 86, won re-election in that vote, extending his nearly four decades in power. 

The Anglophone conflict began after the government cracked down on peaceful protests in 2016 in the English-speaking regions by teachers and lawyers complaining that they were being marginalized by the French-speaking majority. 

Demonstrators were shot dead and the movement became radicalized. Now at least a dozen groups have taken up arms and have carried out deadly attacks on army posts and the police. The army has responded by burning villages and shooting dead civilians in the English-speaking areas. 

Tens of thousands have fled to Nigeria or sought refuge in French-speaking Cameroon. 

Opposition parties, civil society groups and representatives of the Catholic Church were present in the main conference center in the capital Yaounde on Monday. 

Prime Minister Joseph Dion, an Anglophone appointed early this year in part to jump-start negotiations, was also present.

Dion said the talks were held to end acts of violence and to enable the Northwest and Southwest regions to regain the “necessary serenity”, adding that “all men and women who love peace” had been invited. 

Cameroon’s linguistic divide goes back a century to the League of Nations’ decision to split the former German colony of Kamerun between the allied French and British victors at the end of World War One. 

For 10 years after the French- and English-speaking regions joined together in 1961, the country was a federation in which the Anglophone regions had their own police, government and judicial system. Biya’s centralization push since he came to power in 1982 quickly eroded any remaining Anglophone autonomy. 

Now, moderates who have long called for a return to some form of federal system to ease tensions say their voices have been drowned out by secessionists on one hand and Biya on the other. 

“It is farcical to not have a commission to discuss federalism, which is at the core of all this,” said Akere Muna, an opposition politician and former presidential candidate who is participating in the talks. “Now the federalists are a minority and the separatists are the majority.”

Additional reporting by Edward McAllister; Writing by Juliette Jabkhiro and Edward McAllister; Editing by Aaron Ross and Angus MacSwan

Cameroon National Dialogue: Dr. Namanga Ngongi wants political discussion on how to end the war on agenda

*Dr.Amos Namanga Ngongi is  former Head of UN Peace-keeping in DRC.

Dr. Amos Namanga Ngongi

The Head of UN Peacekeeping Mission in the crisis-hit Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), from 2001-2003, Dr. Amos Namanga Ngongi, has commended the convening of a national dialogue intended to resolve the three-year old Anglophone crisis in Cameroon.

But the erstwhile UN undersecretary-general, now on retirement and based in Buea, strongly recommends that a political commission on “How to end the war” could be included on the agenda of the national dialogue. He quips,” Ideally, to have a good atmosphere for dialogue, you should first have a ceasefire”

Dr.Ngongi voiced out his views, Thursday 26 September, in an exclusive interview with The Horizon’s Contributing Editor Christopher Ambe, in Buea.

In a previous interview with me last year on the Anglophone crisis, you said “it is a serious but not impossible problem to resolve”. President Biya has convened a national dialogue on the crisis, are you optimistic that crisis will be laid to rest?

Well, as a Cameroonian I should be optimistic that by bringing hundreds of delegates together they will be able to work out a solution that will permit us live in peace and carry on our normal activities, and hopefully engage in the real development of our country.

There may be some stumbling blocks but the essence is that President Biya had convened a dialogue. There are differences of opinion on the modalities-whether they are the most appropriate. The essence is that, there is now an opportunity for Cameroonians to meet round the table and discuss issues that were taboo just a few months ago.

It is important to have a good process but it is more important to have discussions that are open, transparent and lead to some mutually acceptable conclusions.

And do you foresee this happening, conscious that one of the warring factions, the separatists- are unwilling to come citing no- guarantee to their security and preferring but a neutral country for dialogue?

Well, the issue of the separatists is serious. All the groups invited for the dialogue in the President’s speech represent a wide section of opinion in the country. But the real problem is the shooting war between the separatists and government forces and suffering that has imposed on the population.

So, everything should be done to have the separatists participate in the dialogue. I hope when the delegates meet they will be able to find a solution to that thorny issue. During the five-day dialogue there could be a solution to that seeming blockage, because if they don’t have the separatists to discuss why they are combatting the regular forces and what needs to be done for them to stop the combat, then the dialogue will not  be able to touch the essence of the problem.

I do hope that during the opening of the dialogue, some delegates would suggest, and may be the rest would agree that they find modalities that will permit the separatist take part in the dialogue. This is a critical moment in the history of our country. It should not be let to slip by.

Many critical thinkers hold that it is more important for a ceasefire to be called before dialogue or negotiations go on. But we know that President Biya hasn’t yet called for a ceasefire. What is your take on this?

May be we should not focus too much on the process. It would be really good to have a ceasefire so that there is openness for the participation of everybody. Not only a ceasefire but also guarantees of safe passage for potential delegates in the Diaspora. I hope that thedelegations that have gone to consult with the Diaspora will convince them that when they come for the dialogue their securitywill be guaranteed.

But there are many ways of meeting people to converse with them. It may be that there is no open ceasefire; it may be note of good conduct or something like that which permits you to travel without being harassed, getting to the venue of the dialogue and if necessary, get back to the place where you came from.

Ideally, to have a good atmosphere for the dialogue, you should first have a ceasefire. You can even have a temporary ceasefire- called a truce. You can have a truce for five days before, five days after for these activists to there and back.

If in the course of the dialogue a permanent ceasefire is made that is even much better.

You were Head of the UN peacekeeping in the crisis-stricken Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 2001 to2003. You should have quite some expertise in crisis management. Have you been invited to be one of the delegates for the national Dialogue?

As of now, I have not received an invitation. That is not a problem. I guess there are people participating in the dialogue who have equivalent or more crisis management experience. So, it cannot be the monopoly of one person. I have had opportunities to convey my opinions on national dialogue at various venues and I have also communicated my opinions in writing. It is not absolutely necessary that I should be physically present at the dialogue but it would be nice.

Government has proposed eight themes for the dialogue:bilingualism,culturaldiversity,education,justice,reconstruction and development, decentralization and local governance;demobilization,disarmament and reintergration,and Diaspora. You are quite knowledgeable about the Anglophone problem. Do you think discussing these themes will actually resolve the Anglophone crisis?

From what you just listed I did not hear anything about ending the shooting war. It is assumed that by discussing all the other elements the armed conflict will come to an end. But, it would be nice if a “How to end the war” is put on the agenda. This could be handled by a "Political Commission". It could also be discussed in plenary. Thousands of people have died; hundreds of thousand have been displaced (IDPs and refugees); economic activities have come to a standstill; to discuss economic revival when the conditions that caused the economy to be destabilized are not directly addressed will be a bit difficult; disarmament and demobilization should come after hostilities have ended. It would be nice to bring up a specific issue on how to end the war as a political discussion during the dialogue.

Do you think there is need for a third party in resolving the problem between the separatists and the government?

We are trying to find ideal situations now. The dialogue has been called .In the course of the dialogue, delegates could suggest, if there is an impasse, that a facilitator or mediator, someone who will work to allay the fears of both side and get them to sit around the table. A mediator would be required if the formal delegates see the need to be in direct contact with the separatists but find it is difficult to get them to participate. The facilitator or mediator is not a magician; he/she cannot solve the problem; it is the parties in conflict that resolve their problems…by discussing their problems over one or two weeks, or whatever period and then they feel comfortable with each other to be able to say “Ok, I am not 100% satisfied but I think you and I have agreed to live together under the conditions we have arrived at.”

If you only hold on the fact that you have the final solution, then that is a difficulty.

As a crisis management expert, what advice do you have for the 400 or so delegates to the national dialogue?

My advice is that everybody going to the dialogue should have the highest level of expectations; at the same time they should have expectations that if satisfied they can live with; everybody cannot have their highest level of expectations met; each delegate or group of delegates should agree that this is what we want ultimately-if we have that it is halleluiah, we are 100% satisfied; they should also have the minimum level that if they get it, they’d say “well, it was successful”. Anything above the minimum is cause for celebration; if they go there and everybody is holding very tightly on to their maximum demands, then we will never have a successful dialogue.  Unfortunately, the time leading to the dialogue is quite short but delegates should go to the dialogue with open minds and lots of goodwill.

[This interview is also published in The Horizon Newspaper, Cameroon ,of September 30,2019 ]

Rush for book on Anglophone lawyers & teachers strikes in Buea

By Christopher Ambe

A new book titled “ Anglophone Lawyers and Teachers strikes: A Multidimensional Perspective”  co-edited by Emeritus Professor of Literature , Kashim Ibrahim Tala (retired from the University of Buea,UB) and Dr. Kingsly L.Ngange,head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Buea , was on September 27 launched in Buea, under the patronage of the Vice-Chancellor of UB,Prof.Horace Manga.

At the crowd-pulling event, which took place on UB campus, various speakers who included book reviewer Prof. Nol Alembong,UB’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Teaching, Information & Communication Technologies, described the 302-page book as a must-read & keep, prompting a rush for the  limited copies available ,autographed by the editors.  A copy sells at 15,000 Fcfa.

In his opening remarks, UB Vice-Chancellor Prof Manga said the book “is very topical and relevant” to the ongoing Anglophone Crisis, which erupted in 2016, resulting in the deaths of over 2000 people, the destruction of public and private property worth billions of FCFA and the internal displacement of over half-million people (IDPs) ,with over thirty thousand seeking refugees in Nigeria. 

He commended the authors of the book, which, it emerged, will soon be translated in French, for “capturing the basic facts of the crisis”, noting that Prof. Tala was one of the members of the team assembled by the Cameroon government to look into the grievances of teachers when the crisis erupted, before it later degenerated into an armed conflict.

The book, the VC noted, was so timely and historic that if it were going to be written some ten years later it could register some inaccuracies.

Talking about the seven-chapter book, Prof Tala said it “provides detailed and objective accounts of the origin and evolution of the Anglophone Lawyers and Teachers strike actions in Cameroon” ,adding that “the book is a forensic investigation into the strike actions in order to reveal their ramifications in a bid to challenge over simplified accounts”

According to Prof Tala,the nine book contributors concluded from their research that: " a) The grievances tabled by the Lawyers and Teachers were genuine and legitimate.

b) Throughout the mediation and negotiation process, the government relied mostly on the conflict resolution approach which provided immediate solution to a deep seated conflict. But quick solutions in this case can only have short-term effects. What is needed in the case of the strike actions by the Anglophone Lawyers and Teachers is a deeper and long-term solution which can only be achieved through a broad based, genuine and inclusive dialogue.

c) The tone and wording of the manifestos and memorandums addressed to government by the Common Law Lawyers Association and the All Anglophones Teachers Trade Unions indicate that the two bodies have lost confidence and trust in the government. The two bodies also claimed that the government has consistently and persistently showed bad faith throughout previous negotiations. They also accused the government as power holder of wanton abuse of power and privilege.”

Prof Tala said the book’s  recommendations for  meaningful and lasting solutions to  crisis are: “a)The striking Lawyers & Teachers may have to adopt concession bargaining which is a process of getting each side in a conflict to willingly make concessions in exchange for concessions made by the opposing side.

b) Although the government has demonstrated through its numerous actions that it is interested in peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis, it must be ready to adopt the mechanism of conflict transformation. It must be sincere in its engagements and it must be ready to implement the resolution arrived at by both parties.

The book,Prof.Tala noted, “does not set out to praise one party to the conflict and blame the other; does not also claim to be exhaustive and definitive… but merely documents the Anglophone Lawyers and Teachers strikes as seen through the intellectual lenses of the contributors-strikes which have generated catastrophic consequences that are transforming the history of Cameroon.”

The senior editor urges every Cameroonian who is interested in the momentous events which are affecting the future of his country to buy, read and own a copy of the book, which he emphasized “ is thoroughly researched and enjoyable to read”.  

For his part,co-editor Dr. Ngange ,who conceived the idea of the book,rallied its contributors and sourced for the funds to print it, presented  the rich credentials of the nine contributors who include UB Registrar,Dr. Ernest Molua and senior Journalist Sone Bayen.

The book’s Buea chief launchers were Blasius Ngome,director of Communications of SONARA,who sat in for the general manager and Dr.Humphrey Ekema Monono,former Registrar of Cameroon GCE board.

It emerged at the launch that, the book is  already being translated into French by the Advanced School of Translation and Interpretation(ASTI),Buea  and that volume II is underway.

It is  worth noting that Prof Tala,is the first Anglophone Cameroonian to have  a PhD from Cameroon University and Dr. Ngange is also the first Anglophone Cameroonian to have PhD in Mass Communication form a Cameroonian university(University of Buea.

Cameroon:HELP-OUT trains IDPs as Professional House Keepers

IDPs in Buea trained by HELP-OUT as house keepers in family picture with officials after their graduation

By Christopher Ambe.

A Buea-based NGO known as HELP-OUT has graduated eleven IDPs in Buea as professional house keepers, after a three-month  intensive training, as part of its efforts to empower women and girls who are victims of the Anglophone crisis, which erupted in 2016 and has led to the internal displacement of over half a million people, in search of safety and protection, as well as livelihoods .

HELP -OUT successfully carried out the training of the IDPs with the financial support of MISSION 21, headquartered in Switzerland, whose mission is capacity-building and gender-equality, and with  the technical and material assistance from Marta Perrone,founder of the Professional Housekeeper Training  Program,USA

The graduation ceremony was witnessed  by Angelika Weber, Mission 21 Programme Officer for Cameroon; Togho Lumumba Mukong,Mission 21 country coordinator,Cameroon;Oben Emmanuel Njock, Mission 21 Southwest Representative; Clara Manga, director of the Women and Family Empowerment Centre in Buea; George Ngwane, civil society actor and member of  Cameroon’s Bilingualism and Multi-culturalism Commission.They all lauded HELP-OUT for working toward improving living standards.

Mr.  Lumumba Mukong was particularly happy to learn that three of the trainees had already been employed. He hoped that the collaboration between HELP-OUT and MISSION 21 would continue

According to Mr.Obasi Clarkson, director of HELP-OUT  the  NGO’s areas of intervention include Human rights education, prison/legal/democratic reforms; alternative dispute resolution; rural infrastructure development; Information Communication Technologies (ICT),professional house keeper training and trauma healing.

He said the three-month training  was “ intensive tutorials and practical", noting that some 40 applicants had applied but due to limited funds only eleven were trained,and three were already employed.

Mr.Obasi said the eleven internally displaced women and girls were drilled on modules such as :Career development, general house keeping, First Aid, Handling family disputes, security of home, effective communication, home and restaurant; marketing, etiquette/personal hygiene; basic child care ;flower arrangement a laundry and product use.,

Madam Angelika Weber, who flew in from Switzerland, to witness the graduation, expressed satisfaction with the timely completion of the course, which would enable the trainees get incomes for themselves.

Weber said the course, which was a combination of a need and opportunity, was intended to “educate young people so that they can have a livelihood security”. She admitted that their needs were bigger than ever, but that what was more important was for them to take advantage of opportunities to build their capacities. 

The Manager of Mountain Hotel,Buea, Mbinglo Grace, who had taught the trainees conflict management and accepted some of them  to do a four-week internship in the hotel, said it was an honor for her to be part of the training. She encouraged the  house-keepers to strive to become models. ” You can all be models by doing the right things and be morally upright… Circumstances may want hold you down but your comportment can make you a role model, she noted. “Going through life challenges you can be a role model to somebody.”

She said she was happy that Mountain Hotel was part of the initiative to empower women and girls during this trying moments in the country.

Also speaking, Clara Manga, director of the Women and Family Empowerment Centre, hailed HELP-OUT for its empowerment initiatives. 

“Educating a woman is educating the whole nation. However, it is a good programme for everybody. Let men not get scared of embracing the course”, she advised. “There is no knowledge that is useless; there is nothing as good as doing some professional course.”

For his part,George Ngwane encouraged the trainees to get into society and prove their worth, wishing them a good job-harvest.

Buea Chiefs laud UNDP-CEFORA Early Recovery Project for IDPs

Buea Chiefs signing MoU with CEFORA  for execution of a UNDP-Japan sponsored IDP project

By Christopher Ambe

Three chiefs  in Buea subdivision have commended the  joint efforts of  the United Nations Development Program(UNDP),the Japanese government and the Center for Rural Action (CEFORA), a Buea-based civil society organization, for their joint efforts  to ensure early recovery of IDPs living in Buea rural.

Chief John Ndive Mbella of Bova I Village ,Chief Esume Nyoki of Bova II  Village and Chief Emmanuel Ndongo of Bonakanda village ( all in Buea Rural), made the commendation  recently while signing a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with CEFORA,an implementing partner of a  UNDP/Japanese government credit grant scheme.

CEFORA  ,which focuses on the  empowering of rural communities and improving on their livelihoods, is one of 18 beneficiary Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with the support of Japanese government recently granted about 180 million FCFA to help effect “Early Recovery and Social Cohesion” in the crisis-stricken English-speaking regions of Cameroon.

By signing the MOU with CEFORA,the three chiefs  embraced the project by providing hectares of land on lease  in the villages for the IDPS to use in the cultivation of crops. 

Already CEFORA has  assisted  one hundred (100) IDPs  in Buea rural with farm inputs and seedlings.

CEFORA  coordinator, Hansel Ekwa Itue, said  the project in the three villages is aimed at “ensuring food and nutrition security for IDPs/host communities through on-farm training, transformation and consumption of improved varieties of selected short cycle crops.”

 IDPs receiving farm inputs/seedlings

He told the chiefs, who signed the MoU in the Palace of the Chief of Bova I that, CEFORA ,for now, “is working with IDPs in Upper Buea villages such as Bova, Bonakanda, and also IDPs in IRA-Ekona”

The 100 IDPs who received  farm tools and seedlings are  expected to carry out sustainable agricultural practices and to cultivate short-cycle crops such as maize, beans and vegetables

“By so doing these IDPs can recover within a short period to become independent somehow; they will harvest crops from their farms for home consumption and sell some to meet their other needs. We shall follow-up to ensure we cultivate with them through our technical expertise.” Mr. Itue pointed out. “Through this initiative, we are promoting social cohesion, which will lead to peace-building”

CEFORA workers at vegetable nursery

Chief Esume Nyoki of Bova II described the IDP project as a good initiative while Chief John Ndive Mbella of Bova I  said it would keep the IDPs in their villages usefully busy and taken care of significantly.

“We are very grateful for your partners-the UNDP and the Japanese Government", Chief Mbella told CEFORA coordinator.

Also reacting after signing the MoU,Chief Ndongo of Bonkanda,noted,“In these villages, it is farming that gives food, gives our livelihoods ;we send our children to school thanks to farming.”

He disclosed that their villages have been welcoming to the IDPs there, and urged CEFORA to design other projects which can funded by donors  to enhance development in the villages.

Cameroon:CEFORA installs crisis management, assists 100 IDPs

By Christopher Ambe

CEFORA donates to some Buea IDPs

The Center for Rural Action (CEFORA), a Buea-based civil society organization aimed at empowering rural communities and improving on their livelihoods, last Thursday, September 19, assisted  one hundred (100) IDPs  in Buea rural with farm inputs and seedlings. 

CEFORA is one of eighteen (18) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with the support of Japanese government recently granted about 180 million FCFA to them to help effect “Early Recovery and Social Cohesion” in the crisis-stricken English-speaking regions of Cameroon.

CEFORA was selected by the UNDP as one of its grant beneficiaries based on a project, it designed that aimed at ensuring food and nutrition security for IDPs/host communities through on-farm training, transformation and consumption of improved varieties of selected short cycle crops.

The assistance given out by CEFORA  to the 100 IDPs  included farm inputs and tools, as well seedlings) and it came immediately  after  CEFORA  installed a  12-member local crisis management committee, headed by Chief Ndongo of Bonakanda village.

The double-event, which took place at the palace of Chief of Bova 1, was presided at by Hansel Ekwa Itue, founder/project coordinator of CEFORA, which was created in 2010 and gained legal status in 2013.

Mr.Ekwa Itue said since 2013 CEFORA’s activities have focused on empowering local communities with the view to improving their standards of living.

“ We have been working with women on advocacy; campaign against  violence against women; equipping women and girls with sustainable agricultural practices; training women to be economically viable by upgrading their leadership skills,” the coordinator of CEFORA said.

He said although CEFORA is headquartered in Buea, it can intervene in other rural communities across Cameroon.

For now “we are working with IDPs in Upper Buea villages such as Bova, Bonakanda, and also IDPs in IRA-Ekona”

He said the 100 beneficiaries of the farm tools and seedlings were expected to carry out sustainable agricultural practices and to cultivate short-cycle crops such as maize, beans and vegetables

“By so doing these IDPs can recover within a short period to become independent somehow; they will harvest crops from their farms for home consumption and sell some to meet their other needs. We shall follow-up to ensure we cultivate with them through our technical expertise.

“CEFORA thought it is far better for them to cultivate their own crops than waiting for a bag of rice from donors which comes after six months or so.”

CEFORA coordinator pointed out: “Through this initiative, we are promoting social cohesion, which will lead to peace-building”

Prolonged Anglophone Crisis: President Biya reiterates indivisibility of Cameroon as he announces national dialogue

By Christopher Ambe

For close to three years, the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon, (formerly the British Southern Cameroons) have been plunged into a deadly conflict, which has led to the deaths of over 2000 people and over half a million others internally displaced. The conflict has resulted to a serious humanitarian crisis, as armed separatists seeking for the statehood of Anglophones clash, on regular basis with government forces.

Amidst clarion calls for an immediate cease fire and meaningful dialogue to resolve the crisis, President Biya on September 10, 2019 announced the coming of the much-awaited dialogue, but  quickly insisted that it must take place within the constitution of Cameroon, which country he added "remains one and indivisible”

Following is President Paul Biya’s address to the nation:

Fellow Cameroonians,
My Dear Compatriots,

For close to three years now, the North-West and South-West Regions of our country have been going through a crisis that not only jeopardizes the safety and        well-being of the population living there, but also has far-reaching consequences for the national community as a whole.

It should be recalled that the crisis was triggered by corporate demands made by lawyers and teachers calling for the translation of the OHADA Uniform Acts into English and the preservation of the specificity of the Anglo-Saxon judicial and educational systems in the two regions.

From the outset, and true to an option that I hold dear, I instructed the holding of dialogue between the Government and trade unions to seek appropriate solutions to these demands. The measures taken by the Government at the end of these consultations went well beyond the initial demands and include:

- the translation into English of the OHADA instruments which are now available in the two official languages;

- the creation of a Common Law Section at the Supreme Court to handle appeals filed against the decisions of lower courts in Common Law matters;

- regarding the training of judicial and legal officers, the creation of a Common Law Section at the National  School of Administration and Magistracy. This measure was accompanied by a programme for the recruitment of English-speaking pupil judicial and legal officers and court registrars;

- the launching of the special recruitment of bilingual teachers in secondary schools;

- at the level of the judiciary, the stay of proceedings against some persons arrested in connection with the demands;

- the setting up of a national Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and  Multi-culturalism to, among other things, carry out an in-depth review of all the sources of frustration suffered by our compatriots in the North-West and        South-West Regions.

Decisions were taken subsequently to fast-track the decentralization process, with the creation of a new ministry devoted thereto. The upcoming regional elections will complete the process by enabling our compatriots nationwide to fully participate in the management of their local affairs.

My Dear Compatriots,

Despite the efforts made by the Government, radical movements, mainly inspired from abroad, have exploited and distorted the corporate demands. They have thus hatched a secessionist plan to partition our country. In this regard, they have formed and financed armed groups that have caused untold harm to the population of the North-West and South-West Regions.

The whole world has witnessed the atrocities committed by these armed groups: maiming, beheading, assassination of elements of the Defence and Security Forces, administrative authorities and defenceless civilians, destruction of public infrastructure and buildings, and burning of schools, hospitals, etc.

I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to once again extend my heartfelt condolences and those of the entire Nation to those who have lost loved ones in the crisis. I also wish to send a message of comfort to the wounded and all those affected in one way or the other. I want to assure them that they can count on the solidarity of the Government of the Republic and the Nation as a whole.

My Dear Compatriots   

The atrocities committed by armed groups have forced thousands of our compatriots to seek refuge in other regions of the country and, for some, in neighbouring countries where they have been reduced to living under precarious conditions.

In the face of these intolerable acts, the Defence and Security Forces have taken energetic measures, often at the risk of their lives, to perform their duty of protecting citizens and their property.

These measures are currently bearing fruits with the improvement of security and the progressive resumption of economic activities in the two regions.

My Dear Compatriots,

Since the outbreak of this crisis, I have spared no effort, with the help of Cameroonians of good will, in seeking ways and means for its peaceful resolution.

In a bid to calm the situation, I even ordered the discontinuance of judicial proceedings pending before military tribunals against 289 persons arrested for offences committed during this crisis.

In the same vein, I extended a hand of peace to members of armed groups by calling on them to lay down their arms and benefit from the process of reintegration into society. A National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Committee was thus set up. Regional Disarmament Centres are gradually receiving many ex-combatants who willingly accept to lay down their arms.  We will continue to make the necessary efforts to fully operationalize this process.

At the humanitarian level, I decided to launch a large-scale assistance plan for our affected compatriots of the North-West and South-West Regions. I also established a Centre for the Coordination of Humanitarian Action for its implementation. I wish to thank our international partners for supporting us in this initiative.

My Dear Compatriots,

The supposed feeling of marginalization by the people of the North-West and South-West Regions has often been advanced to justify this crisis. On this score, I wish to remind our compatriots in these regions, but also to those in the other eight regions of Cameroon, that marginalization, exclusion or stigmatization have never guided the work of the various governments I have formed since I became president of our country. Though no human endeavour is perfect and, in a developing country like ours with multiple challenges and limited resources, many needs are still to be met, in all the regions.

With the massive support you gave me during the last presidential election, I intend to work relentlessly, with all the sons and daughters of our country, towards meeting the challenges we are facing in order to improve the welfare of our population, especially in terms of infrastructure, water and electricity supply, healthcare delivery and youth employment.

My Dear Compatriots,
On 4 January this year, I made a vast government reshuffle, particularly with the appointment of a new Prime Minister, Head of Government. As usual, the choice of these officials was mainly guided by their human and professional qualities, their competence and experience. However, I would like to underscore that as faithful as I have always been to the regional balance policy, I chose a Prime Minister who hails from the       South-West Region. His predecessor who served in that key position for nearly ten years was from the North-West Region. In fact, since 9 April 1992, Prime Ministers, Heads of Government, have been appointed from among the people of those two regions.

Despite all this, some people will continue to talk of marginalization of the people of these regions. It must be acknowledged that such is human nature and there will never be enough duty posts to satisfy all the regions, divisions, sub-divisions, towns, villages, families and citizens of our country. Any choice that is made will always cause joy whenever one is honoured, and disappointment when one is not.

It is, however, crucial for us to change our mentalities in this regard. Though it is necessary to consider regional balance in new countries with a diverse sociological composition like ours, it should be recalled that ministers and other officials are not appointed to serve only their regions, villages or families, but to serve the entire national community. They must serve the general interest and not specific interests.

That is why since I came to power, I have and will continue to wage a ruthless war against corruption and the embezzlement of public funds, and to promote good governance.

My Dear Compatriots,

Since the outbreak of the crisis in the North-West and South-West Regions, the term dialogue has never been so much talked about, used and even misused.

In and out of the country, people have made proposals and suggestions. Some are realistic while others are clearly less so. There has been a barrage of advice. Some smart, others based on interests. Some people dared to issue injunctions.

There have also been multiple and varied initiatives, most of them made by people of good faith, by countries or organizations that are truly concerned about the future of our country and the well-being of our people. I wish to thank them for their effort and token of friendship.

It is, however, worth noting that the proliferation of such initiatives was sometimes unfortunately based on simplistic and false ideas, born out of secessionist propaganda. Such is the case with the purported marginalization of Anglophones, persecution of the Anglophone minority by the Francophone majority, Government’s refusal to engage in dialogue preferring a military solution to the crisis or even ridiculous accusations of genocide.

Talking about dialogue per se, the issue has always been, with whom?

New information and communication technologies, especially social media networks, have unfortunately facilitated the advent of self-proclaimed leaders, extremists of all shades trying to achieve recognition using insult, threat, hate speech, violence and murder.

However, in no country in the world, has the killing of gendarmes or civilians, kidnapping, mutilation, molestation, burning, destruction of public infrastructure, prevention of children from going to school or people from going about their activities in peace ever been a source of legitimacy to represent or speak on behalf of the people, the very victims of such atrocities.

In democracy, only elections confer such legitimacy.

My Dear Compatriots,

The many consultations I have continued to hold on this crisis have enabled me to size up the strong desire of the people of the North-West and South-West Regions to return to a normal life, to be able once again to safely carry out their economic and social activities, to witness the return of refugees and displaced persons, and to see their children return to school. The Prime Minister’s recent tour of the two regions has helped to confirm this feeling.

I therefore strongly believe that the time has come to rally all well-thinking and constructive forces in our country and in the diaspora to make this desire come true.

That is why I have decided to convene, from the end of this month, a major national dialogue that will, in line with our Constitution, enable us to seek ways and means of meeting the high aspirations of the people of the North-West and South-West Regions, but also of all the other components of our Nation.

The dialogue in question will mainly concern the situation in the North-West and South-West Regions. Since it will focus on issues of national interest such as national unity, national integration and living together, it is obvious that it will not concern only the population of these two regions.

The dialogue will therefore rally all the sons and daughters of our beloved and beautiful country, Cameroon, to reflect on values that are dear to us, namely: peace, security, national unity and progress.

It will also focus on issues that can address the concerns of the population of the North-West and South-West Regions, as well as those of the other regions of our country such as bilingualism, cultural diversity and social cohesion, the reconstruction and development of conflict-affected areas, the return of refugees and displaced persons, the education and judicial system, decentralization and local development, the demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, the role of the diaspora in the country’s development, etc.

The dialogue, which will be chaired by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, will bring together a wide range of personalities: parliamentarians, politicians, opinion leaders, intellectuals, economic operators, traditional authorities, religious authorities, members of the diaspora, etc. Representatives of the Defence and Security Forces, armed groups and victims will also be invited.

Obviously, it will not be possible for everybody to effectively participate in this dialogue, but each person will have the opportunity to make a contribution.

Prior to the effective holding of the dialogue, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, will carry out broad-based consultations to solicit a wide range of views that will serve as a source of inspiration for the conduct of deliberations. In the coming days, delegations will also be dispatched to meet the diaspora to enable them to make their contribution to discussions on the resolution of the crisis.

In this regard, I am appealing to the patriotism and sense of responsibility of all our compatriots in the country and in the diaspora so that everyone, wherever they are, should seize this historic opportunity to help to steer our country on the path of peace, harmony, security and progress.

My Dear Compatriots,

The propaganda of secessionists has tried to present the recent court decisions taken against a number of our compatriots in the context of this crisis as an obstacle to the dialogue envisaged.

That is not the case. I also wish to use this opportunity to stress that respect for the rule of law and the fight against impunity are pillars in the consolidation of a State ruled by law to which we all aspire. Violating the rule of law and granting impunity to some citizens is paving the way for anarchy.

It is therefore crucial, at this stage, to dispel rumours that one can quietly loot, rape, burn, kidnap, maim, murder, in the hope that a possible dialogue will erase all these crimes and provide impunity to their perpetrators.

As shown by the experience of many countries in the world, such way of thinking will only encourage the perpetuation of violence in the crisis regions and even encourage it in crisis-free regions.

Admittedly, however, in the context of a dialogue, a peace process or national reconciliation, the possibility of pardon may be considered, under certain conditions.

It is equally true that in accordance with our Constitution, the Head of State is empowered to exercise the right of pardon.

It was, moreover, on the strength of this authority that I made a peace offer to members of armed groups during my recent swearing-in ceremony.

I wish to solemnly reiterate this offer today.  Those who voluntarily lay down their arms and place themselves at the disposal of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Centres have nothing to fear. Their fellow armed group members who are already there can testify to this. Conversely, those who persist in committing criminal acts and violating the laws of the Republic will have to contend with our Defence and Security Forces and will face the full force of those same laws.

The same applies to promoters of hate and violence who, comfortably settled in foreign countries with impunity, continue to incite murder and destruction. Let them know that sooner or later they will have to face justice.

I am appealing to the countries sheltering these extremists to take action against these criminals if they really care about the situation of the people of the North-West and South-West Regions.

Most of them no longer have Cameroonian nationality, but they spend their time raising funds to carry out terrorist acts in Cameroon, masterminding acts of arson, kidnappings and murder, and issuing calls aimed at preventing children from attending school and fellow citizens from going about their business peacefully.

My Dear Compatriots,

The entire national community has high expectations for the dialogue I have just announced and hopes that this will be an opportunity for our brothers and sisters in the North-West and South-West to close this particularly painful chapter, to forget their suffering and to return to normal life. It also hopes that our country will continue resolutely on the path of progress, through fruitful discussions on ways and means of creating conditions conducive to the optimal exploitation of natural resources and our country's enormous human potential. Therefore, we should all work towards a successful dialogue.

My Dear Compatriots,

Over the years, we have used our linguistic and cultural diversity, the talent of our sons and daughters, and our commendable efforts and sacrifices to build a solid country and a strong Nation. Together we have met many challenges and won uncountable victories. We have proven that united there is no difficulty we cannot overcome and no obstacle we cannot cross. We proved it yesterday. We will prove it again today and tomorrow. The future of our compatriots in the North-West and South-West Regions lies within our Republic.

Cameroon will remain one and indivisible.

Long Live Cameroon!