Resolving the Anglophone Crisis: ‘Time is not on the government’s side,’ Dr Christopher Fomunyoh

Senior Associate for Africa and Regional Director at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, Dr Christopher Fomunyoh has told the Biya regime that time is running out for to resolve the crisis in the English Speaking regions of the country.

The diplomat was speaking in an interview with the country’s lone English language daily, the Guardian Post newspaper.

Among a number of issues raised, he urged the government to seek third party mediation in resolving the crisis.

The government, he said, “underestimated the pent-up frustrations that Anglophones have felt about being marginalised and underrepresented.”

He noted that the government actions radicalised the Anglophone movement. Dr Fomunyoh added “the reality on the ground is that the situation is worsening and deteriorating.”

“The root causes are known to the leadership of Cameroon and to almost every man, woman and child in the North West and South West regions and must therefore, be addressed in an honest and sincere manner.” he explained.

Failure to intervene immediately, he said, is taking the country to a point of no return.

“Each passing day, minds would be so hardened that even what looked attractive a few years ago may no longer be acceptable to a vast majority of Anglophones.”

He further dwelled on other aspects including the regional elections, adding that its impact would hardly be felt by the common man.

The diplomat added that “the country’s overall state of democracy scorings are worse now than they were three decades ago.”