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Cameroon:As National Dialogue Ends: Massive Changes Awaited in NW, SW

October 04, 2019

the dialogue has not met expectations according to many people

House of Chiefs re-established, Special status for North West and South West

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

The Major National Dialogue convened by Cameroon’s President Paul Biya is expected to end this Friday, October 4, 2019, with major recommendations already coming out of various committees.

Various delegates have ditched the call for federation that is the goal of many personalities in favour of effective decentralization. According to officials, federation will go a long way to appease and quell the violence in the North West and South West Regions.

Prior to the dialogue, traditional rulers, members of the civil society organizations, and Diaspora leaders had reiterated the need for 10 decentralized federal states as a means to solve the crisis in the Anglophone Regions.

One of the major recommendations that have been made known is for the South West and North West regions to be giving a special status. Late Thursday, delegates adopted a resolution at the dialogue’s plenary session recommending “special status” for the English-speaking areas aimed at re-enforcing the autonomy of administrative areas.

They (delegates) have equally recommended the re-establishing of the House of Chiefs-something that was greatly demanded by Traditional rulers in Fako and their counterparts across the South West. Speaking to Chief Etina Monono of Great Soppo Buea, He said Traditional rulers across the South West have many things they want to see being achieved. “We have a standpoint. We want a house of chiefs and elected officials”, He told Panafrican visions.

Delegates have equally proposed the position of government delegate to be scrapped. The delegates are just not in favour with such a position in the English-speaking Regions. If this issue is passed, it will spell trouble for some government delegate across the Anglophone Regions. What it will mean is the position of government delegates to the Limbe City Council, Kumba City Council and Bamenda City Council will all be abolished.

The decision will however bad news for the Mayor of the Buea council who has been working tirelessly to see the Buea council be upgraded to a city council-with him probably as government delegate.

Other recommendations made known included amongst others the reducing of the position of the Governors, Senior divisional Officers, Divisional Officers, Governors and Co. staying off council affairs, mayors to be consulted before appointment of council SGs and treasurers, council to be empowered and giving kickoff grants, and the powers of the Governors to be reduced.

As indicated in the program, the restitution of the work of various commissions will be held under the effective coordination of the President of the Grand National Dialogue, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute from 11 am local time. The restitution session will be followed by the adoption of the final report of the Grand National Dialogue,” said George Ewane, spokesperson for the dialogue.

The event that is held at the Yaounde conference center aims at seeking solution to the crisis in two English-speaking regions of Cameroon. In a report published last week, International Crisis Group (ICG) estimated that around 3,000 people have been killed by separatist violence and the military crackdown.

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