As Anglophone Crisis Deepens: Agbor Balla’s Human Rights Center Says Economic, Political Diplomacy Can Hasten Dialogue

The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa is disturbed with the deteriorating crisis in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon as the violations/abuse of human rights and democratic principles are increasingly being committed as days pass by. The crisis which started in late 2016 has claimed thousands of souls, inflicted pain and suffering on the civilian and there has been economic, political and social insecurity.
More than 200 villages have been partially or severely burnt and property destroyed, thus rendering helpless civilians to no other option than to seek refuge to bushes as internally displace persons and to other neighboring countries as refugees.
These internally and externally displaced population of the Southwest and the Northwest Regions of Cameroon are facing massive humanitarian needs.

Notwithstanding, there has been calls from the national and international community for a genuine dialogue between the government authorities and the separatist activist. But the question is who between the two parties was/is in the best position to call for a genuine dialogue? Taking a detailed look at this question, it is clear that the Cameroon government stands in the best position to call for an inclusive dialogue.
Despite calls from a number of Non-Governmental Organizations and stakeholders within the globe for a genuine dialogue to commence in Cameroon between the conflicting parties, there has not been any concrete dialogue. What can be term as a refusal to save souls from perishing in a senseless war is the refusal to call for a concrete dialogue by the government of Cameroon.

Because of the refusal/delay in calling for a genuine dialogue in Cameroon, the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa calls on the international community to use political and economic diplomacy to encourage dialogue between the government of Cameroon and the separatist activists so that justice can be render and the subsequent return of peace in the English speaking regions of Cameroon.

MMI