By Atia Tilarious Azohnwi
Chadian President, Idriss Déby Itno has expressed concerns over the situation in Cameroon’s North West and South West regions.
He was speaking on March 16, 2019 in his capacity as president of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) on the occasion of “CEMAC Day” on the theme “free movement”.
In his message to the people of the CEMAC region, President Idriss Déby Itno called on his Cameroonian counterpart to use his wisdom and savoir faire to bring peace to the troubled regions.
His words: “I urge my brother in Cameroon to use wisdom … in order to bring peace to the English-speaking regions of the North West and South West facing violence on the basis of sectarian and identity claims.“
He adds that Cameroon is a pivotal state in the Central African region and her stability has always been an assurance for other countries.
“However, in recent years, the country is no longer this island of peace, hence, the concern of its partners in the sub-region. There is no doubt that Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya will try to reassure these neighbours [Gabon, the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, the Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea] at the CEMAC summit scheduled for March 23 in Ndjamena,” Deby said.
President Biya was however represented at the CEMAC summit by Cameroon’s Prime Minister, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute Joseph. Biya is expected to take over the leadership of CEMAC at this august assembly.