Cameroon’s Prime Minister Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute’s address to the people in Matazem, Santa, gateway into the North West region of the country this Tuesday afternoon was greeted by gunshots allegedly fired by separatist fighters from a distance. He is in the restive Anglophone region on a four-day working visit to evaluate the level of implementation of resolutions of the two-year-old Major National Dialogue convened to seek solutions to the Anglophone crisis.
After the South West region where he was given a hero’s welcome, the Prime Minister Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute is in Bamenda, Chief town of the North West region of Cameroon on a four-day working visit.
During his stay in the region, the Head of Government is expected to hold a series of meetings and consultations with the population and different groups in the region to seek ways for a return to normalcy, as well as evaluate the level of implementation of the Major National Dialogue two years after.
Before he got to Bamenda, PM Dion Ngute made a stopover at Matazem in Santa, gateway into the North West region where hundreds had converged to welcome him, including administrative authorities and students.
Known for his down to earth nature, the Head of Government went to the people and thanked them for the warm welcome. Before he could end up his speech, it was saluted by gunshots fired from a distance by suspected separatist fighters.
PM Dion Ngute was hurriedly led back into his car and the convoy drove out of Santa, en route to Bamenda where the situation was much different. When he got to Up station, Bamenda, the Head of Government was greeted by hundreds singing messages of peace.
This visit is expected to culminate in a recommitment of all to the restoration of peace in the region that has suffered so much losses in the course of the five-year-old Anglophone crisis.
Ariane Foguem
Today October 1, 2021 marks 60 years since former British Southern Cameroons gained independence by voting to re-unify with La Republique du Cameroun. Separatists in the two English-speaking regions of the country consider this day as their ‘Independence Day’ declared by jailed Ambazonia leader, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe in 2017.
Parts of the North West and South West regions of Cameroon often experience clashes between separatists fighting for the ‘independence’ of a State they call Ambazonia and Government forces on this day, October 1 since 2017 when jailed Ambazonia leader, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe declared the independence of the said State.
This independence, they say is in remembrance to the day the former British Southern Cameroons voted overwhelmingly to achieve their independence by joining La Republique du Cameroun, the former French Territory of East Cameroon which had gained its independence in January 1960.
A referendum was held in British-ruled Cameroon over whether to join the newly independent Cameroon or Nigeria. The option of independence was not on the ballot. The territory's northern half opted to join Nigeria, whereas the south chose to merge with Cameroon for a federal status. Since then, Cameroon has been split between a French-speaking eastern and an English-speaking western half.
The federal status was later changed to United Republic of Cameroon in 1972 by late President Amadou Ahidjo and finally to the Republic of Cameroon in 1984 by President Paul Biya.
October 1 according to historians therefore stands as a very important date in the history of Cameroon. Late Barrister Bernard Muna once said that “without the October 1 plebiscite, there would never have been any May 20, without the re-unification on October 1, 1961, East Cameroon would have been stuck with January 1 as its National Day…”
Today, separatists in the two English-speaking regions demand the independence of a State they call Ambazonia over what they termed ‘Anglophone marginalization’. A crisis that began with a protest by lawyers and teachers calling for the English language to be given full recognition in public administration, the judiciary and the education and health care sectors, as guaranteed by the constitution soon escalated and saw the birth of a separatist movement.
Despite efforts by the Government to weaken the separatist groups which reports say benefit from support out of the country, the situation is yet to return to normal in the two English-speaking regions. The United Nations report of April 2021 indicated that attacks between Government and separatist fighters so far displaced more than 700,000 civilians and forced another 63,800 across the border to Nigeria. Added to that, civilians, children, students, soldiers and separatists continue paying with their lives.
The Major National Dialogue
In September 2019, the Head of State, Paul Biya convened the Major National Dialogue during which delegates had to seek solutions to the lasting crisis.
At the 76th United Nations General Assembly, President Paul Biya who was represented by the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella said the implementations of the recommendations of the dialogue, including the granting of a special status to the regions and the reconstruction plan have contributed a long way to reduce tension in the troubled regions.
He stated that despite “sporadic acts of banditry still perpetrated by armed gangs”, peace is gradually returning to the regions.
It is worth mentioning that ahead of this October 1, administrative authorities in parts of the North West and South West regions restricted movements and banned undeclared gatherings to frustrate any move by separatists to celebrate their “Independence Day”.
Ariane Foguem
The President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya has indicated that the Major National Dialogue convened two years ago to seek solutions to the close to five-year-old Anglophone crisis rocking the North West and South West regions of the country has been yielding tangible fruits.
The declaration was made last September 25 by External Relations Minister, Lejeune Mbella Mbella on behalf of President Paul Biya, at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, America.
Speaking at the session, Minister Lejeune Mbella Mbella outlined some of the implemented recommendations of the Major National Dialogue convened two years ago to seek solutions to the crisis which have contributed a long way to reduce tension in the crisis-hit regions and is making way for peace.
Among others, he cited; the creation of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration centres; the humanitarian assistance plan; the reconstruction plan of the two regions; the special status conferring on the North West and South West regions a regional assembly, a House of Chiefs, a regional executive board and Public Independent Conciliators.
After outlining these implemented recommendations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella said actions on the ground have been yielding tangible fruits with a “gradual return to peace.”
He nevertheless mentioned that some sporadic acts of banditry are still being perpetrated by armed gangs but defence and security forces deployed to the regions are determined to ensure the protection of people and their property in total respect of human rights.
It is worth mentioning that recently, the Anglophone regions, especially the North West was the theatre of despicable violence perpetrated by separatist fighters on security forces. After losing at least 15 men in less than a week, the military announced a change in strategy.
More sophisticated weapons have been dispatched to the regions to reduce the rate at which soldiers fall during Ambazonia ambushes.
The Anglophone crisis which started as a street protest by teachers trade unions and lawyers associations will enter its fifth year this November. As the conflict continue to rage on, calls for a genuine dialogue as the only way out of the situation intensify.
Attacks between Government forces and armed separatists have displaced more than 700,000 civilians and forced more than 60,000 across the border to Nigeria with thousands of deaths according to the United Nations report of April 2021.
Ariane Foguem
Former US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Tibor Nagy, well known for his stance against the use of violence to end the Anglophone crisis has reiterated that a military option cannot stop the armed conflict that is gradually taking a disturbing twist.
In the space of a week, Cameroon lost at least fifty soldiers in two targeted attacks perpetrated by suspected separatist fighters, one of which has been described as one of the most gruesome on the military since the Anglophone crisis went violent.
Confirming the deadly attacks, Cameroon’s army revealed that the “terrorist” armed separatists are cooperating with external violent fundamentalist groups thanks to which they have been able to acquire sophisticated weapons such as anti-tank rocket launchers that they used in one of the attacks to immobilize the soldiers’ convoy.
The army spokesperson said these attacks and many others suffered by the military recently will in no case stop the soldiers from accomplishing their mission in the two troubled regions, that is do everything possible to restore peace and guarantee the free movement of people and goods, an opinion not shared by the former US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Tibor Nagy.
The American Diplomat who has on several occasions warned against the use of violence to solve the crisis in a fresh outing Tuesday September 21 on the situation reiterated that the military option will fail the Government.
“So sorry to see increased violence in Cameroon Anglophone conflict. I’ve warned for years that if not resolved conflict will get deadlier and spread. There is no military solution…” Tibor Nagy wrote on his twitter page.
“What’s in the human spirit cannot be extinguished with force.” He added.
Tibor Nagy has always advocated for a genuine dialogue between both parties to see an end to the armed conflict. In one of his outings, he cited the US-Vietnam war and advised that only dialogue would end the sufferings of the people in the regions.
As far as dialogue is concerned, in 2019 the President of the Republic, Paul Biya convened a Major National Dialogue that aimed at looking for solutions to the crisis. Recommendations to see into that were adopted, some of which have been implemented.
That notwithstanding, two years after, the prospect of peace in the two English-speaking regions is still distant.
Ariane Foguem
Cameroon’s Prime Minister Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute is in Buea, chief town of the country’s South West region to evaluate the extent to which the recommendations of the Major National Dialogue held two years ago have been implemented.
Ahead of the evaluation meeting that holds this Wednesday, the Head of Government arrived Buea Tuesday September 21 and was given a hero’s welcome by the population who defied the two-week lockdown imposed by separatist fighters and turned out in their numbers, including administrative and traditional authorities and students.
He will chair the second session of the committee to charged with the follow-up of the implementation of recommendations arrived at at the Major National Dialogue convened by president Paul Biya two years ago.
A good number of issues will be on the PM’s table, including the level of implementation of the special status granted the two English-speaking regions whose process officially kicked on with the appointment of the pioneer Public Independent Conciliators for the two regions in June.
Apart from evaluating the recommendations of the Major National Dialogue, the population equally expects the Head of Government to address the current wave of violence targeting security officers as well as the situation of the Ndian Divisional Officers abducted months ago by suspected separatist fighters whose whereabouts is still unknown.
PM Dion Ngute upon arriving Buea
Before today’s gathering, PM Dion Ngute had a word with pressmen upon arriving Buea Tuesday September 21 at the Conference hall of the Buea Mountain Hotel. The Head of Government challenged the men and women of the press to change their narratives on the crisis and begin reporting on Government’s efforts in bringing the situation back to normal in the regions.
The Anglophone crisis that started as a street protest staged by Teachers trade unions and Lawyers associations enters its fifth year this November. Confrontations between separatists fighting for an independent State of Ambazonia and Government forces have led to thousands of deaths, displaced more than 700,000 and forced some 63,000 across the border to Nigeria, according to a United Nations report of April 2021.
Fresh violence targeting soldiers with the use of sophisticated weapons acquired thanks to their alliance with violent fundamentalist groups operating out of the Cameroonian borders according to the Government have contributed in intensifying the climate of insecurity that reigns in the regions. The military in return has promised not to relent efforts aimed at crushing down the armed groups.
Cameroonians seek to see an end to the violent hostilities and have prescribed a genuine dialogue as a way out of the current situation, which according to many is going out of control.
Ariane Foguem
