By Nukapuh .P
Cameroonians and the world were taken aback on Monday, January 23, 2023, when Cameroon’s minister of communication published a press release, reiterating that the government has not entrusted any country to mediate in the ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.
In the press release made public by the government’s spoke person, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, it clearly stated that the government of Cameroon and the citizens are the only ones who can decide or invite any party to mediate its affairs, hence furthered that they have not agreed with Canada to facilitate any dialogue in regards to the conflict.
“Following recent information disseminated by certain media, the government of the Republic of Cameroon informs the national and international community that it has not entrusted any foreign country or external entity with any role of mediator or facilitator to settle the crisis in the North West and South West regions,” a section of the press release states.
Minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi in the same release furthered that, the government held the Major National Dialogue in 2019, which was an opportunity for all Cameroonians to free their minds. He went ahead to say that the Cameroonian government has been trying to implement recommendations of the dialogue in both Anglophone regions through reconstruction and assistance to the population.
On January 20, 2023, the government of Canada through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honorable Melanie Joly, announced that they are stepping in to join the peace process as facilitators.
“Canada welcomes the agreement by the parties to enter a process to reach a comprehensive, peaceful, and political resolution of the conflict,” a section of Minister Melanie’s statement said
The move by Canada was almost welcome by everybody, as even some separatist leaders like Chris Anu said they were ready to carry on with the dialogue process.
“We were invited by the Canadian government to attend the peace talks. We are ready to go in and to lead the process in a way that when we come out, Ambazonians will know that they were effectively represented,” Chris Anu said over Voice of America.
Other personalities like the Pope, Former US diplomat, Tibor Nagy added their voices to that of the Canadian government in support of the peace talks.
Cameroon government’s decision has not only dribbled Canada and separatist leaders but caused many to wonder if the Biya’s regime really wants an end to the over six years of conflict which has resulted in over 6, 000 deaths and over 800, 000 displaced, according to humanitarian sources.
Other Ambazonian groups like Amabazonia Governing Council and the African Peoples Liveration Movement, had given their consent for the process but frowned at the communique that was released by the Canadian foreign ministry.
A faction of the Interim Government’s led by Marianta Iya, said they were not allowed to participate in the last meeting that sanctioned the communique.
