Barrister Agbor Balla calls on Cameroon Government to resolve the Anglophone Crisis in his End of Year Speech
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End Of Year Message To Cameroonians From Felix Agbor Nkongho, President Of The Centre For Human Rights And Democracy In Africa (CHRDA), Winner Of The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (RFK) For 2022
“The Government Must Resolve The Anglophone Crisis And The Crisis In The Far North Region, Fight Against High Cost Of Living, Eradicate Corruption And Fight Against Unemployment In 2023”
Dear Country men, despite the many challenges our country has faced over the past decade, we have the opportunity to celebrate the beginning of the year 2023. I remain convinced that 2022, which has just ended, was a very difficult year for our dear and beautiful country. There were Difficulties linked to an international context marked by several tensions, as well as those caused by the multiple security and economic crises that our country is still facing. Some of which include:
1- The Anglophone Crisis in the North West and South West Regions*
Since October 2016, the North West and South West of the country have continued to face a serious security crisis. This situation continues to cause human and material damage, not to mention consequences on the national economy. Because of this crisis, many of our people have left their villages to seek refuge in a safer city. I would like to use this opportunity to thank our compatriots for their exceptional hospitality towards the populations affected by the security crisis in the two regions.
Given the magnitude of this situation, CHRDA has been calling on the Cameroonian government, especially President Paul Biya, to take urgent measures to resolve this crisis. These measures include the organisation of a genuine and sincere dialogue involving representatives of the secessionists, civil society and religious leaders, state representatives and many other sectors of national life. For a peaceful and final resolution of this crisis, our civil society organisation keeps calling on the government to release the incarcerated Anglophone leaders, to lift the arrest warrants issued against some leaders and to promote good governance by fighting against corruption to enable Cameroonians live decently.
In our fight for a return to normalcy in the Anglophone regions, CHRDA through my person as President was awarded a prize in May 2022 in the United States of America. I was the very first Cameroonian and one of the few Africans to win the ROBERT F. KENNEDY HUMAN RIGHTS PRIZE (RFK). This prize, which was awarded to me together with compatriot Maximilienne NGO MBE, Executive Director of the Central African Human Rights Defenders Network (Redhac), acknowledges individuals and organisations that work in a non-violent manner to promote and protect human rights of all races, creeds, religions and nationalities. With this award, I pledge to work harder for the promotion and protection of human rights in our country.
2- Providing A Solution To The Security Crisis In The Northern Regions*
The year 2022 which just ended has been marked by sporadic attacks by elements of the Boko Haram group in some localities of the Far North region of Cameroon. Since 2013 when the region was shaken by Boko Haram attacks, several necessary measures were taken by state authorities. With the persistence of the threat, it is also essential to call on the government to take other measures to fight against poverty in order to prevent our young compatriots from being enrolled in Jihadists groups.
3- Fighting Against High Cost Of Living
Since the end of 2021, we are all affected by the soaring prices of foodstuffs in our markets as well as some building materials like cement and iron. This increase, although justified by the increase in taxes worldwide, an increase linked to the Covid 19 pandemic and the situation in Ukraine, deserves special attention from our government. In response to this threat to the market-basket, it is important that the government take some measures, notably to increase the salaries of civil servants, raise the minimum wage and above all, in a bid to reduce cost of living.
4- Fighting Youth Unemployment And Corruption
For this year 2023, we draw the Cameroon government’s attention to take measures to create jobs, especially through financial allocations to fund youth projects in our country. It is clear that our young people who graduate from universities today do not have the opportunity to enter the professional world. This is justified by the unmatched nature of our educational system with the opportunities offered by our country. We appeal to the government to promote the training of entrepreneurs in various fields that can create jobs.
This goal cannot be achieved if the government does not show its willingness to fight against corruption. To root out this scourge that keeps on crippling our country, it is imperative that Article 66 of the Constitution of Cameroon on the declaration of assets be applied.
I wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023 .
Felix Agbor Nkongho (Balla)
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
