By Yusinyu Omer
Atanga Paul Nji, Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, MINAT, and Lejuene Mbella Mbella, Cameroon’s Minister of External Relation, jointly opened a two-day Regional Ministerial Conference on Monday, April 25, 2022 to find lasting solutions to crises raging the Central African Republic.
The Regional Ministerial Conference brought together top government officials and experts from Cameroon, Congo, Central African Republic, Sudan, South Sudan and Chad.
In his keynote speech, the MINAT boss appreciated the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, for their efforts over the years to cater for refugees in Cameroon. He said although funding has become an obstacle, the UNHCR has so far done a good job, reason why the Cameroon government has often stood by them.
Atanga Paul Nji stated that under the esteemed instructions of President Paul Biya, the Cameroon government had long taken up the problem of refugees from the Central African Republic living in Cameroon as a priority, just as it has done with other refugees, thus making Cameroon a reference in the handling of refugees. He quoted all international and national legal instruments that govern the management of refugees, stating that Cameroon has often respected these instrument, especially as regards voluntary repatriation of refugees.
According to Madame Millicent Mutuli, UNHCR High Commissioner to Cameroon, more than 1.4 million people were forcibly displaced as of January 31, 2022 by the crisis in the Central African Republic, and more than 734,100 refugees and asylum seekers in countries of asylum. Statistics revealed that of the total number of displaced persons, Cameroon plays host to 343,548, the Democratic Republic of Congo, 212,693, Chad 118,849, the Republic of Sudan 27,619, the Republic of Congo, 28,940 and the Republic of South Sudan is hosting 2,452. Meanwhile, approximately 690 000 people are still in a situation of internal displacement.
She said “the Regional Ministerial Conference is the outcome of consultations between the governments of central African Republic, Cameroon and the UNHCR to seek lasting solutions to the forced displacements linked to the Central African Republic crisis”.
“This comes on the heels of efforts to promote the political agreement for peace and reconciliation in the Central African Republic that was signed in 2019”, she added.
The conference in Cameroon is aimed at carrying out a critical review of the situation in the Central African Republic in order to explore new approaches to solutions. It will also permit participants to share experiences and good practices and equally identify opportunities for the effective implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees.
As a follow up to the two days ministerial seminar which started on Monday, Atanga Nji Paul, Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration this Tuesday 26th April 2022 received in audience, Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, accompanied by Madame Millicent Mutuli, Director UNHCR Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, Mathias Naab, UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator for Cameroon , Olivier Beer, UNHCR Cameroon representative, and Fatoumata Lejeune Kaba, UNHCR External Coordinator for the Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa.
Minister Atanga Nji Paul was assisted in the audience by Mr Kaldaousa Faitsam, the Director of Civil Protection in the Ministry of Territorial Administration.
The audience is on the heels of a two-day Regional Ministerial Conference holding in Yaounde to seek lasting solutions to the preoccupying situation of refugees and internally displaced persons caused by the crisis in the Central African Republic