By DOH JAMES SONKEY & ELAH GEOFFREY MBONGALE
Pressure is increasingly mounting on government to release detained Anglophones arrested during the current socio-political crisis rocking the two English parts of the country and return to the dialogue table.
The pressure has been coming from a plethora of front including the recent outing by the Special Representative of the SG of the UN in Central Africa, Francois Lounceny Fall.
Accused of holding long silence by keen observers over the Anglophone problem in Cameroon, the United Nations finally made its voice heard last April 12, 2017 during a press conference granted in Yaoundé by the Special Representative of the SG of the UN in Central Africa, Francois Lounceny Fall.
While calling on both parties in the crisis to make concessions for frank dialogue to take place, the Special Representative of the UN SG urged the government to release all Anglophones arrested and detained in connection with the socio-political unrest in the North West and South West Regions and restore internet in these two regions in order to facilitate the reopening of dialogue with strikers.
Mr Francois Lounceny Fall told reporters that after meeting with those detained in connection with the crisis especially the leader of the outlawed Consortium, Barrister Agbor Balla as well as their lawyers, civil society and political leaders, the unconditional release of all Anglophones and the restoration of internet in the two Anglophone regions were major conditions advanced by the affected population for the return of peace. He equally held discussions with some Ambassadors and top government officials to discuss the way forward for students to return to schools in the North West and South West Regions.
After appreciating government’s measures taken to redress the situation, Mr Francois Fall equally used the occasion to refute claims that the UN will intervene and restore a federal system of government in Cameroon “the UN does not interfere in the international management of its member countries. The form of a state is decided by the people of that country and not by the UN.”
Francois Lounceny Fall who is the Special Representative of the UN SG and Head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa visited Cameroon on instructions of the UN SG, Antonio Guterres to come and discuss how to put an end to the current stalemate in the Anglophone crisis.
The UN pronouncements comes on the heels of incessant calls from political outfits like the opposition SDF party, professional groups like the striking Anglophone lawyers who have preconditioned the release of one of theirs Barrister Agbor Felix Nkongho on the resumption of work.
Several other bodies including the AU, National Commission of Human Rights and Freedoms and other civil society organizations have also called for the release of the detained Anglophones to allow for frank dialogue that would lead to lasting solutions to the Anglophone problem.
Reports have it that while the president was in the Vatican on March 23, Pope Francis reaffirmed “the importance of National cohesion with respect for human and minority rights “.
According to an online publication of Jeaune Afrique, The United states of America is also following with great attention, the arrests and hearings of Anglophone personalities and have threatened to re-examine the conditions of their military cooperation with Yaounde. It should be recalled that the US deployed 200 soldiers in the Far North to help Cameroon Fight against Boko Haram).The Sun has however not been able to independently confirm the alleged threats from the Americans.