Report of the armed conflict in the Northwest and southwest regions of cameroon

MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CAMEROON By Aye Brandon Kiven

Most parts of Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon were under lockdown from September 4 to September 8, 2023. It was a reminder that the citizens in this part of the country are still in fear’s grip, and that the separatists still wield power. It was a reminder that the National Dialogue of late 2019 was not enough. It was a reminder that the call for the separatist fighters to put down their arms and go to the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Centre has had no substantial positive effect. It was a reminder that many other efforts have had no substantial positive effect. It was a reminder that Anglophone conflict does not need mediocre efforts to resolve it. It is saddening that the military approach is still considered as an option. It has failed, and would continue to fail.

Inclusive dialogue is the way forward. It should be now because now is the right time for the killings to stop, because now is the right time to end the displacement, because now is the right time for people to go about their affairs with sense of certainty, because now is the right time to end the burnings, because now is the right time to get rid of the spirits of fear and enmity, because many government schools are not operational, and many villages have not experienced teaching and learning since late 2016.

The dialogue is not for the separatists – it is a demonstration of love for country and victims of Anglophone conflict. Compromise is not optional.

Reluctance to take the lawyers and teachers seriously when they called for judicial and educational reforms respectively in late 2016 got us to this point. Listening to the voices of lethal force and derisions was a mistake. We did not do enough. Now, look at where we are. It is high time we had a rethink. Otherwise the situation would continue to deteriorate.
Peoplesmind