On January 23, the Cameroonian government contradicted the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada on a role of ” facilitator » for which Ottawa claims to have been mandated in the conflict that has bereaved since 2017 the two English-speaking majority regions of Cameroon, the North West and the South West.
The government of Cameroon contradicted on January 23, 2023 Canada’s declarations on the initiation of a peace process for the regions with an English-speaking majority.
After several days without reacting to the remarks of January 20 by Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, Yaoundé issued a press release, saying that it had not entrusted anyone with the role of facilitator or mediator in this file, and this neither to a third country nor to an external entity
” It is first of all up to the Cameroonian people, the institutions and the leaders […] to seek appropriate ways and means to resolve the problems facing our country. »
Press release signed by the government spokesperson, Minister René Emmanuel Sadi, who recalls that there was a Major National Dialogue in 2019.
This declaration of Yaoundé contradicting three days after that of Ottawa raises questions.
► To read also: Anglophone Cameroon: Canada officially announces a peace process
As a reminder, on the night of January 20 to 21, the head of Canadian diplomacy welcomed the agreement of the ” parties to the conflict to begin a process with Canada’s facilitation. A process to reach a comprehensive resolution to a conflict that has been going on since 2017.
In the process, several English-speaking movements acknowledged having participated in preparatory meetings on Canadian soil.
For observers, the fact that this press release from Yaoundé says that it did not ask anyone to facilitate anything illustrates the internal tensions between supporters of a hard line against separatist groups, and those who want a new dialogue.
Faced with this contradiction, the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is in communication with the authorities and maintains its desire to support peace efforts. Ottawa reiterates that three meetings have already taken place in Canada with representatives of Cameroon.