NAIROBI, FEBRUARY 28, 2020 (CISA) – “Inclusive dialogue involving Anglophone separatists is the only sustainable solution to the violence causing the unacceptable loss of innocent lives in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon,” the superiors of the Jesuits of Africa and Madagascar have said.
In the statement signed by Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator SJ, President, Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM), they joined the Catholic Bishops of Cameroon and across the world, human rights groups and other concerned bodies in condemning the Cameroonian government’s continuous use of force as well as the violence and deaths perpetrated by militia groups.
“We therefore call on President Paul Biya and his government to go beyond repressive measures and take responsibility in order to find more lasting solutions to the crisis through mediated talks,” the statement adds.
They expressed dismay at the recent news of more than thirty people reported dead and their homes burnt in the North West region of Cameroon, in the locality of Ngar-buh close to Ndu in the Donga Mantung Division on February 14.
“This, unfortunately, is only another blot in the litany of killings and torching of villages that have been going on unabated in Cameroon since the recent crisis began in 2016,” they said.
They further expressed their willingness to join in the efforts of the African Union (AU) to bring lasting peace in the region and in Africa.
“It is gratifying that the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government two weeks ago announced as its theme for this year: “Silencing the Guns by 2020”, which is a follow up to a campaign it began in 2013 to end all conflicts and violence in Africa by 2020. The Jesuit Conference of Africa through its Panafrican Justice and Ecology Network is looking for ways to collaborate intimately with these efforts by the AU in order to accelerate action for peace and justice all across Africa,” the statement reads.
