Anglophone Crisis: Community Actors tell belligerents to Down Weapons as Canada Mediates for Peace

By Martial Gnoukapasi

MDDT team members with local community leaders in a group picture

At a round table conference organized by the Movement for Democracy, Development and Transparency (MDDT), in Bamenda, local leaders have urged belligerents of the ongoing Anglophone crisis to down their weapons as Canada sues for peace.

The apolitical organisation engaged grassroots stakeholders in a peace crusade discussion at the Epic Event Center were they look at possible ways of putting the crisis facing the two regions and counting, at bay.

Former member of parliament for Bafut-Tubah Constituency, Hon. Fusi Wilfred Naamukong, said " anglophones should on the dialogue table, be allowed to air their grievances freely at the Canada mediation talks on all the subjects, including Secession, Federation as well as the Decentralized Unitary State"

Hon. Fusi Naamukong addressing panelists at roundtable discussion

He said after the talks, a referendum should be organised in the North West and South West for the people to decide the future they want for themselves.

All these, he said, must be bound by a timeline which should clearly state the timeframe for each activity.

To achieve all these, he insisted that there must be ceasefire by both parties, liberation of the incarcerated detainees and a general pardon to activists in the diaspora

On the future of Amba fighters he keyed in to say after downing their weapons the government can begin a gradual recruitment process to integrate them into the security and defense force.

Tse Louis Angwafor, first deputy to mayor of the Bamenda council shared a contrary view at the panel discussion.

He said anglopones have been fighting themselves since the start of the crisis and there was need to revisit their strategy.

He opined that there's need for all the local leaders to work at their different levels in educating young Cameroonians, that there was hope in belonging in a Cameroon which is United in purpose and action.

Tse Louis Angwafor addressing panelists at roundtable discussion

To him, the atrocities committed by Ambazonian fighters is eloquent prove that they will be general chaos should any happened to the current form of state.

Citizenship he recommended, must be taught in all facets of national life so as cause everyone to be patriotic towards state institutions and symbols.

The National Coordinator of MDDT, Barrister Clifford Niba Akunteh at the round table discussion, joined the others to welcome the Canadian peace talks initiative, greeting the coming of a 3rd party onboard the process.

"I welcome the coming of a 3rd party. They should have acceptable plans so that the outcome should be accepted by all." Hon Fusi told journalists

Bar. Clifford Niba on the other hand said, the denial syndrome of government via it's communication minister to acknowledge that earlier talks had taken place are very normal in any peace process

"In the peace building process, there is suspicion and counter suspicion. Parties will withdraw, they will be conflicting ideas. What the Canadian government has done has shown us good faith. We should continue to advocate for the process to continue."

Barrister Clifford Niba - National Coordinator MDDT

The journalists who were part of the panel discussion used the occasion to remind the community leaders of the necessity to always make good use of the media in building community spirit during conflicts.

"There was a problem at the start of this crisis where opinion leaders decided to have a blackout on the media. It created an information gap and people at the grassroot were listening just to the same administrative authorities. This did not instill confidence in the youth and they were somehow abandoned. This gap was well exploited by those in the diaspora.

"MDDT should run opinions on Newspapers, craft peace messages both audio and video and ensure that media organs carry them. One way or the other, it will change the mindset of some people." Ndi Tsembom Elvis, out-gone CAMASEJ Bamenda Chapter President told the panelists.

The panelists while acknowledging that dialogue is a process that can take up to 10+ years, took some pertinent resolutions which were reviewed.

They include:

1) Need for strict respect of the International Humanitarian Law by the belligerents of the conflict,

2) Improve and strengthen the private sector to help youths gain decent jobs,

3) As well as mobilisation of youths by community leaders constantly for empowerment programmes.