Récapinfos

CAMEROON - HONOR AND LOYALTY : SURRENDER OF SECESSIONIST SEPARATISTS: HARMFUL SILENCE OF LOCAL MEDIA

It is an understatement to say that the outbreak of armed violence in our North-West and South-West administrative regions made the news. It was in the news, and talking about it was news. Newspaper columns, radio stations and television channels teemed with articles, debates and other reports all focusing on the issue.

These were opportunities for ordinary citizens to share their concerns, for the authorities to give their assessment of the situation, and above all for all sorts of experts, both established and spontaneous, to develop theories of predictive analysis on the evolution of the unprecedented tragedy that was plaguing our people.

Every town and village in the affected area had its own experts, local or foreign, who were able to say how many mentally disabled people had been massacred by the Law Enforcement Forces, while at the same time, in abject cynicism, raving about the glorious feats of arms of the hordes of cutthroat looters.

As for the ways and means to promote the restoration of a climate of security, all were unanimous in advocating a peaceful way out of the crisis, through dialogue and consultation with all the protagonists. They couldn’t have been more right.


The response of the authorities took place in two stages. On 30 November 2018, one year after the start of the violence, a national committee was set up with the mandate to organise, supervise and manage the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former Boko Haram fighters and armed groups from the North-West and South-West Regions, who wanted to respond positively to the Head of State’s peace offer by laying down their arms.