“It is our hope that the members of the international community, especially the African Union, the European countries that colonized Africa, and the United Nations Organization, will show an indefectible interest in this crisis in the North West and South West Regions and assist without bias or prejudice in the resolution of the crisis for the common good of the people of Cameroon,” they add.
On its part, the government of Cameroon has faulted Canada, describing it as a an “external entity” that does not have the mandate to settle the Cameroonian crisis.
A statement issued by the government's spokesperson on Monday, January 23 said, “The Government of the Republic of Cameroon has not entrusted any foreign country or external entity with any role of mediator or facilitator to settle the crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions.”
“It is first and foremost up to the Cameroonian people, to the institutions and leaders that they have freely chosen, to seek appropriate ways and means to address problems facing our country,” Communications Minister, René Emmanuel Sadi, further said.
However, in a January 23 statement, Ms. Joly’s Press Secretary, Adrien Blanchard said, “We are in touch with the parties and our previous statement still stands.”
(Story continues below)
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
At ACI Africa, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news from Africa, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church - so that you can grow in your Catholic faith.
When you subscribe to the ACI Africa Updates, we will send you a daily email with links to the news you need.
Use the form below to stay informed, and to tell us where we can send the ACI Africa Updates!
As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
He said representatives of Cameroon’s government had “attended all of the earlier meetings in Canada that led to the agreement.”
In their January 23 collective statement, the religious leaders in the Anglophone regions appeal for prayers.
They say, “We call on everyone who believe that the Almighty God of peace can resolve any and every conflict amongst humankind, to join us in prayer that the Devil and his agents (both human and otherwise), may not destroy this peace process which announcement concomitantly announces hope to our suffering people.”
“We appeal and pray that all of us should be positive and be pro-peace in this process till we attain it,” they further implore.
On January 22, after the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis turned his thoughts to various places of conflict including Cameroon.
The pope expressed hope that progress is being made toward a resolution of the conflict in English-speaking regions of Cameroon.
“I encourage all the signatory parties to the agreement to persevere on the path of dialogue and mutual understanding because the future can be planned only in encounter,” the Holy Father said.
Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.