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
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
