By NOELA E. BISONG & NDIMUH B. SHANCHO
Days after Cameroon’s President Paul Biya addressed the nation in an extra-ordinary outing which got many Cameroonians seats-tight and screen/radio-fixed prior to the big event last Tuesday, September 10, 2019, many, within and out of Cameroon have continued to air their views on the subject. As the number of those who salute the leader’s move continues to increase, including the United Nations, so it is for those who remain pessimistic on his version of ‘dialogue’.
EU
In a press release published on September 11, 2019, the Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Union commission, Maja Kocijancic, said “the announcement by President Biya to convene a national dialogue constitutes a positive development in the search for a solution to the crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon”. Availing EU and partners’ support to the dialogue, he implored all actors, including armed groups and the diaspora, to “take this opportunity and contribute to an inclusive process that would take full account of the expectations of the population.”
Commonwealth
On her part, Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland, welcomed the dialogue as a significant positive step towards bringing lasting peace to Cameroon but insisted that the dialogue should address the root cause of the crisis. “I encourage a process that will enjoy the trust of all parties and that addresses the root causes of the crisis in order to bring sustained peace. The Commonwealth stands ready to assist, and I call on all parties to participate fully in the process,” the Commonwealth SG underscored. According to her, the people of the North West and South West regions, most especially children, deserve a return to normal life free from fear and gross violations of human rights and atrocities.
African perspective
Within the African continent, ECCAS’ Chair, Ali Bongo, who is also President of Gabon, has welcomed the peace initiative. Bongo called on “all positive and constructive forces to seize the opportunity of the dialogue to preserve peace, security, social cohesion, national harmony and promote the return of displaced persons and refugees.” The Gabonese leader urged Cameroonians to give priority to dialogue and forgiveness in order to definitively turn a page and a return to normalcy.
Prof Maurice Kamto’s CRM, positive
Detained Prof Maurice Kamto and his comrades of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) Party are in the positive, following President Biya’s call for a national dialogue. The CRM on Thursday, September 12, 2019, issued a communiqué in which they welcomed the initiative. According to the release signed by Tiriane Noah, second National Vice President of the Party, the dialogue call is one to applaud, since discussions will not only be centered on the Anglophone crisis, but will equally pave the way to address other issues plaguing the nation.
Ernest Molua hopeful
Meanwhile, the Registrar of the University of Buea, Professor Ernest Molua, prays that those who shall be selected to sit at the dialogue table truly represent the aspirations of the people of the North West and South West regions; shall have good faith, energy, foresight and vision to make sure that this country realizes it’s potential through the recommendations and suggestions that they are going to be put in place and later adopted.
Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe says it’s a none-event
Incarcerated leader of the separatist movement, Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe has dismissed president Biya’s call for dialogue, terming it a ‘non-starter’. “The speech was a non-event and a non-starter,” he says in a message relayed by his lawyers. He is said to have described the Biya initiative as “an awkward and grudging attempt timed to avoid UN sanctions, considering that the UN will be deliberating on the anglophone crisis this September and Mr Biya and his regime has been amply put on notice.”
Herman Cohen says the solution lies with the US
Meanwhile, one-time United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Herman Cohen believes only an international mediator, preferably from the US can end the violence in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions. In a twitter post, Herman Cohen maintained that “by offering a national dialogue to end violence, Cameroon’s Biya has, for the first time, recognized the legitimacy of the Anglophone rebels who are fighting for political separation.”
Prof. James Arrey Abangma pessimistic
Pessimistic also on the issue of a “National dialogue’, is Prof. James Arrey Abangma, President of the National Syndicate of Teachers of Higher Education (SYNES) University of Buea Chapter and Head of the Department of Political Science and Comparative Politics at the University of Buea. According to him, the whole point will be diluted: “What I have seen is characteristic of whatever is been done in the country. I will take you backward. When the people wanted Mayors to take charge of councils, they imposed Government Delegates. When we went for the Ad-hoc Committee meeting to address the grievances of Anglophone teachers, we wanted a number of teachers to be recruited from Anglophone regions to address the shortage of Anglophones in professional schools. They ended by saying that Bilingual teachers will be recruited. It watered down the whole issue. I don’t see how a crisis in the North West and South West will be addressed in the interest of Anglophones by the whole country, in a national dialogue. If there is need for a national dialogue to address other inadequacies of the whole country, it is welcomed. What the President said can be likened to asking the whole country whether Anglophones like something or not. You dilute the whole point. So calling for a national Dialogue dilutes the whole point because people from other Regions will come there with ideas that have been injected into them, to suppress every other point that will be raised by Anglophones. In a national dialogue, how can you be thinking of armed groups? I feel that they would have organised two dialogues, one that is specific for the Anglophone crisis and one that is national. The one on the Anglophone crisis should have limited participants to the two Anglophone regions. When they talk about involving the Diaspora, there is Anglophone Diaspora and Francophone Diaspora. They will swell the Francophone Diaspora and everything will be watered down. That is the way I see it. The country is not ready for a solution.”