By NOELA EBOB BISONG
The US Congressional delegation that visited Cameroon recently to ascertain the situation on ground, in relation to the ongoing arm conflict in restive North West and South West regions, has released a statement, following their findings. In a video circulating on social media, a member of the delegation supposedly in a press briefing to some media houses in the US explained to the media that most of the atrocities committed in the two regions were carried out by the government of Cameroon and security forces.
A Member of the US Congress, Ron Kind from Wisconsin, who spoke to the Press in his office said, the congressional delegation, led by Karen Bass spoke with the government of Cameroon, members of the diplomatic community and some Cameroonians in the two regions. “To members of the diplomatic community we encourage them to speak out against the violence and the need for the cessation of violence in the Southern Cameroons while addressing the root causes”.
Ron Kind explained that “We spoke to the Cameroon government about various programs that enable Cameroon to freely export goods to America and why we cut off security aid to Cameroon”.
He further said “However whether by design or deliberate intentions, Mr. Biya took off to Geneva a day before we arrived so we didn’t get to see him”.
The delegation also spoke to the Kumbo diocese and some Reverend Sisters who gave information on the atrocities being committed in the North West region.
Separatist fighters have also been accused by the delegation, of committing atrocities against civilians.
The congressional US delegation after having visited Cameroon (Yaounde), intends to pass a resolution in Congress calling for an all inclusive Dialogue to arrest the situation of Cameroon’s two English-speaking regions and the immediate cessation of violence.
It should be noted that following their visit and subsequent departure from Cameroon, some in and out of the country did criticize the delegation, for failing to visit the two regions and seeing for themselves what obtains. They had maintain that limiting their visit to Yaounde alone, meant the delegation will only be fed with assumptions.