By NOELA EBOB BISONG
Leaders of the Separatist Movement have split over alleged ongoing talks with the government of Cameroon in Switzerland. The said talks which began on June 26 is said to be between the Cameroon government headed by President Biya, and some factions of the Separatist Movement,(notably the Sako arm) with the Swiss government, through the Swiss Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) mediating. The HD is a private diplomacy organization in Switzerland that specializes in mediation between conflicting parties to prevent and end armed conflicts.
However, while the talks are said to be on to strike a balance and bring the warring parties together for peace to reign in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, other factions of the Separatist Movement, notably the Ayaba wing have remained put, describing the move as premature and lacking a thorough evaluation of the whole situation.
Though the ‘Ayaba faction’ reiterates its openness to resolve the ongoing conflict, the Executive Office of the Ambazonia Governing Council, with Dr. Cho Ayaba as President, on June 25, 2019, released a statement, in which they declared their position with respect to the ‘Swiss talks’.
While noting that they had been previously, on several occasions approached by Switzerland for direct talks with the Government of the Republic of Cameroun, they state that they had turned down the offer because “These exchanges were both informal and over direct voice calls”.
“The Executive Office will like to now confirm that our Secretary of State Dr. Larry Ayamba did in fact have a direct phone conversation with a very high ranking member of the Swiss government. Due to the sensitivity of those discussions, the content of what was discussed have been CLASSIFIED. However, it is important for our people to know that after careful analysis of all the facts and based on the unwillingness for the Swiss Government to clarify the concerns our officials raised, AGovC resolved that it was not for the best interest of Ambazonia to be part of any direct talks with the French government of Cameroun and Switzerland acting as a broker”.
The council furthers that “we understand that the decision of AGovC not to be a party at these much talked about ‘Swiss Talks’ could be viewed by some of our citizens and/or the international community as though the leadership is taking a hardline approach to seeking a solution to this war. Our people and the international community must however know that no one wants to see an end to this conflict more than the leadership of the Ambazonia Governing Council”.
According to the Council, “Certain key issues such as security guarantees of those to attend such direct talks had not been evaluated by our security teams including a host of other parameters. With such deficiencies, a direct engagement with Cameroun under the current circumstance was deemed premature and reckless especially considering the fact that the only mediator involved is one appointed and fronted by the same government”.
The SUN gathered that Ebenezar Akwanga championed a mission from June 18 to 19, 2019, that included Boh Herbert, Kizito Elad representing the Ikome Sako IG faction, Dr. Bernadette Ategha representing the Sisiku Ayuk Tabe IG faction, and Elvis Kometa to a meeting with the Swiss Center for Humanitarian Dialogue.
While the talks are said to be on, the Separatist Movement continues to be divided, following leadership tussles.