Armed conflict in NW, SW: govt’s diplomatic claws clipping wings of separatists

The Prime Minister says Cameroon’s savvy diplomacy to restore normalcy in the two English-speaking North West and South West regions has started yielding fruits.

The Prime Minister and Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute has revealed that diplomatic efforts are yielding fruits in government’s bid to disrupt Ambazonia separatist activities stemming from abroad. Despite not naming specific countries or individuals, the government suggests that the diplomatic disruptions led by Cameroon and its partners have contributed to restoring normalcy in the troubled North West and South West regions.

Dion Ngute made the declaration last Tuesday March 18 during the Sixth Session of the Committee for the Follow-up of the Implementation of the Recommendations of the 2019 Major National Dialogue. Speaking during the gathering, the Prime Minister and Head of Government highlighted what he characterized as significant accomplishments resulting from the Major National Dialogue known shortly as the MND.

A key focus was efforts made by the government to curb the activities of separatist leaders residing abroad. “One particularly rewarding action of our diplomacy has been the engagement of partners in disrupting the activities of secessionist leaders residing abroad,” the PM stated. Dion Ngute said the efforts have among other promising actions, led to judicial proceedings aimed at bringing the suspects who are believed to be mainly residing in the United States of America and Norway, to book. “This has amounted to judicial proceedings in the majority of countries hosting identified terrorist groups,” the PM added.

This, without directly touching on concerns that have been raised concerning the fact that most of the foreign-based individuals that the government is targeting in the fight have over the years, been rather often prosecuted for violating laws within their host countries rather than directly for their involvement in the crisis in Cameroon. Despite the lapses, the Prime Minister maintains that the disruptions resulting from multiple efforts made by the government have played a role in restoring normalcy in the Anglophone regions.

He cited increased cocoa production in the South West Region as evidence of the improved security and stability in the regions. He noted that farmers have returned to their fields and are benefiting from improved prices. Beyond the disruption of separatist activities, the Prime Minister highlighted other achievements attributed to the MND, including the operational effectiveness of the North West and South West regional assemblies under the special status arrangement.

The PM stated: “The effective, fast-tracking of the decentralization process has continued with the North West and South west Regional Assemblies and the special status becoming more and more operational.” Additionally, he reported that over 3,500 former separatist fighters are currently residing in Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration, DDR, centers in Bafut in the North West and Misselele in the South West. The establishment of the Higher Teachers Training College at the University of Buea, now operational, was also cited as a success.

The evaluation presented a largely optimistic view of the situation, with the Prime Minister praising the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development. He highlighted implemented measures to enhance the plan’s strategies, stating that the regions have approved development plans ready for implementation. He also noted progress on local taxation and the transfer of resources to decentralized local authorities.

The government has also focused on improving infrastructure, the Prime Minister and Head of Government further noted.