Cameroon Government Takes Credit for Trial of Separatist Leaders Abroad

The Cameroon government has attributed judicial proceedings against Ambazonia separatist leaders abroad to its diplomatic efforts. Without specifying the countries or individuals involved, the government stated that its diplomatic initiatives have led to the disruption of separatist activities.

Prime Minister Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute revealed this during an evaluation of the achievements from the Major National Dialogue (MND), which aims to resolve the crisis in the Anglophone regions. The prime minister held a meeting with stakeholders at his office in Yaoundé on Tuesday, March 17.

He highlighted several accomplishments and emphasised the government’s efforts in curbing 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. This has amounted to judicial proceedings in the majority of countries hosting identified terrorist groups,” he said.

Ongoing trials of Anglophones accused of sponsoring separatist activities in Cameroon have surfaced only in the United States and Norway. However, authorities prosecute most of those individuals not for their involvement in the Cameroon crisis but for violating laws in their host countries.

According to the prime minister, these disruptions have contributed to the restoration of normalcy in the two Anglophone regions. He cited cocoa production in the Southwest region as an example, noting that farmers have returned to their fields and are benefiting from higher prices.

Other Gains of the Major National Dialogue

The prime minister highlighted additional achievements attributed to the MND, including the effective functioning of the Northwest and Southwest Regional Assemblies under the special status arrangement.

“The effective, fast-tracking of the decentralisation process has continued with the Northwest and Southwest Regional Assemblies and the special status becoming more and more operational,” he said.

He also disclosed that over 3,500 former separatist fighters are currently residing in Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) centres in Bafut (North West) and Misselele (South West).

Another notable achievement, according to the prime minister, is the establishment of the Higher Teachers Training College at the University of Buea, which has since become operational.

The evaluation presented an optimistic picture of the situation on the ground, with the prime minister commending the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development.

The Cameroon government has implemented measures to enhance the plan’s strategies.

“Our regions have had their development plans approved and are ready for implementation. The law on local taxation has been enacted, and the issue of transfer of resources to decentralised local authorities will soon be a thing of the past. The presidential plan for reconstruction and development has adopted a more inclusive strategy of engaging the grassroots in their strategic framework. The impact of this pivotal adjustment will be measured in efforts to improve social cohesion, infrastructure rehabilitation, and the revival of local economies in these regions,” he added.

The Major National Dialogue, which took place in 2019, aimed to tackle the concerns that sparked the ongoing armed conflict in the Northwest and Southwest regions.

Mimi Mefo Info