Recent twist of developments resulting to killings, bloodshed and other untold atrocities in the over five years armed conflict the North West and South West regions has left made with fears that there might be more gloomy days ahead.
As gridlock continues over initial behind-the-scene peace talks that was opened in July 2020 by government with the 9 incarcerated separatist movement ringleaders, bloodletting has become the other of the day.
Isn't it time to end the war?
This has left many wondering what is blocking the said peace talks that in less seemingly brought hopes between the cross-section of the population from the national confines and beyond. Government launched secret talks with jailed Anglophone leader Ayuk Tabe and nine others at the beginning of July in an effort to negotiate a ceasefire with separatists over the bloody conflict.Little progress is which was made was however halted in very few days into the talks. Power tussle among regime hardliners and moderates, jockeying for influence over the peace talks, is said to have contributed to stalemate even though civil society groups had mounted pressure on national and international actors to take into account the human suffering that the conflict has and continues to cause and to push for peace talks to progress.
Gov’t holds first peace talks with jailed separatist insurgents
Representatives of government held talks with the main leaders of an Anglophone separatist insurgency for the first time since 2017, when the crisis morphed into a full-fledged armed conflict.
Julius Ayuk Tabe, self-styed president of the putative republic of Ambazonia currently serving a life sentence for charges including terrorism, said the meeting took place on Thursday July 2, 2020, to discuss the possibility of a ceasefire. Tabe said nine members of his ‘cabinet’ participated in the meeting, which followed calls by the United Nations for a ceasefire.
“Be reassured that we remain committed to the restoration of the independence of the homeland,” he said in a statement, without providing further details about the substance of the talks.
Gov’t dispels 'phantom' talks with Amba leaders
Government in a quick twist of events July 6, following viral national and international media reports on the said pre-ceasefire talks, said there was not talks with separatist leaders. Communication Minister, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, in a statement July 6 dispelled the news stressing that the reports “were not consistent with reality.” He added that all efforts were being taken by the government to end the crisis in the two English-speaking regions but that all such measures were aimed at preserving Cameroon’s unity and territorial integrity. Sadi in the release reiterated government’s call for separatists fighters to lay down their arms and embrace a peace offer by president Paul Biya.
Conflict of interest within Biya regime!
Conflict of interest is said to have erupted within regime stalwarts, pitting hardliners and moderates on the move to see a return to normalcy in the two regions. Reports we gathered indicated that some hardliners within the presidency were angered with the procedure with which the talks were held and the reports of the talks forwarded to the president without reaching their office.
Their anger is said to have been more when they got hints that the said reports that didn’t reach them might have been seen by other members within the current government.
In a reported move not to accept defeat, the regime bigwig at the presidency, we gathered engineered moves that led government to debunk the said talks. The outing of MINCOM boss, observers suggested, might have been ordered by those who decided to frustrate the talks for not been duly informed.
Diplomatic missions angered
The halting of talks is said to have sent out a sentiment of frustration and anger among heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Cameroon. Diplomats are said to have been relief with news about the talks, which fell in line with the recommendations they had on incessant occasions made to government as a means towards ending the four-year long conflict.
The joy of the diplomats, we gathered, was more, because Sisiku Ayuk Tabe had confirmed there were talks, promising to inform the public once any significant progress is made.
Desolation within ministers, Cameroonians
The twist of events is said to have brought untold surprise, consternation and desolation among a wider Cameroonian public and those within government. All hopes that had been expressed for a possible end to the violence were dashed. This left many angered. To them, if will be sheer wickedness for power tussle between officials to be given priority over talks the suffering of the masses.
Dion Ngute bent to see return to peace
All the infighting notwithstanding, the Prime Minister, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, sources have hinted, has not given up in seeing return to normalcy at all costs by pursuing the talks with the separatists.
Sources say, Dion Ngute, as head of the presidential plan for the reconstruction and development of the North West and South West regions, he must do all for peace since the reconstruction can only work well with a ceasefire which will permit kick-off.
To do all these, we learnt, Dion Ngute, has a hard nut to crack in the strong bond put up by hardliners, working hard to frustrate all peace efforts. Many are said to be eating fat from the ongoing war.
Demands of Anglophone detainees
When news of the pre-talks went viral, some 42 detainees of the Anglophone crisis in Kondengui issued a release giving their consent for the talks for proper mediated dialogue. They however, made demands which they said their leaders must consider and ensure government heeds to them before the talks proceed. The demands among other things included: the withdrawal of military in the NW, SW; unconditional release and general amnesty to all those arrested in connection to the crisis; granting of general amnesty to Ambazonia refugees; setting up of time frame for negotiations in the presence of third party among others.
Renewed atrocities
There has been a renewed wave of violence and bloodbath across the two Anglophone regions. Last week, a Christian was shot in a church in Bali while a pastor was left with injured arms. Few days back, 62-year-old humanitarian worker with the Red Cross was shot dead in Bamenda while the National Road No. 6 was blocked for hours at Akum by separatists.
A 7-year-old pupil in Kumbo was killed in crossfire in Kumbo following fighting that erupted when separatist ambushed a military vehicle also leaving another pupil injured.
Two children belonging to same parents were rushed to the Kumba District Hospital after being caught in Amba-military crossfire.
Stray bullet is said to have caught a woman on board a private travel agency during the fighting. One suspected separatist fighter was also killed following the clashes. Recently, soldiers neutralised five hardened kidnappers in Mforya, Bafut in the outskirts of Bamenda.
Major road networks across the two regions have repeatedly been blocked by separatists. Atrocities have increased as resumption for the 2021/2022 academic year draws near. Separatist fighters have maintained their school boycott stand since the crisis morphed to armed conflict.
By Doh Bertrand Nua
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