Cameroon: Global Campaign for Peace & Justice Wants Peaceful, Just Resolution to Anglophone Crisis

Global Campaign for Peace & Justice in Cameroon urges all warring parties to commit to a cessation of hostilities, refrain from committing further atrocities, and uphold national and international laws

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

BUEA, Cameroon – As the conflict in the North West and South West regions edges into its eighth year, the Global Campaign for Peace & Justice in Cameroon calls on all parties to replace guns with peace plants and take concrete steps to bring about a peaceful and just resolution to the ongoing crisis.

In a May 12, 2024 statement on the Cameroon Anglophone crisis, the Global Campaign for Peace & Justice in Cameroon said this is a unique opportunity for the Cameroon government and all non-state armed groups to put the interests of their people first.

“We take note of the recently reported call for a negotiated settlement and nonviolence to resolve Cameroon’s ‘Anglophone Crisis’ by a former spokesperson and commander of one of the armed separatist groups,” Global Campaign for Peace & Justice said.

“We urge the Cameroon government to recognize that a solution to the conflict must address its root causes and grievances. Without a peaceful political resolution, the country’s 2025 elections are likely to be marred, and Cameroon’s economy will continue its decline.”

English-speaking separatists have been fighting government forces for the past years to carve out an independent state called Ambazonia. The clashes for the past seven years have killed tens of thousands and displaced hundreds more. Some figures put those killed at more than 6,000.

Government forces have been criticized by Human Rights Watch for responding to separatist attacks with a heavy hand, often targeting civilians across the North West and South West Regions. Separatist fights have also been condemned for killing, torture, assault, and kidnappings of civilians – the very people they seek to liberate.

The Global Campaign for Peace & Justice in Cameroon is a loose grouping of academics and activists who advocate for a peaceful resolution of the Cameroon conflict through inclusive negotiations. They seek a sustainable constitutional settlement, and an end to impunity, while remaining impartial on the form that will take.

“We plead with the Cameroon Head of State to acknowledge this ‘ripe moment’ and meet at a dialogue table with Anglophones committed to a negotiated solution to find a non-military end to this deadly and senseless conflict,” Global Campaign for Peace & Justice said.

In a recent report from the Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA detailing the Human Rights Report for the year 2024, the organization notes a drop in the number of rights violations across the North West and South West regions.

The report from CHRDA (January to March 2024) notes that among the most violated rights in January were the right to life, freedom of movement and association, freedom of speech, and the right to own and dispose of one property freely among other rights.

In the first Quarter of the year 2024, CHRDA recorded a significant number of killings Arbitrary and extrajudicial killings as well as targeted killings, a total of 52 deaths were recorded. The majority of people killed in this first half include civilians, Defense and security forces as well as Separatist fighters.

"We urge all warring parties to commit to a cessation of hostilities, refrain from committing further atrocities, and uphold national and international laws," the Global Campaign for Peace & Justice in Cameroon added.

“We implore the international community, including the African Union and the United Nations, to offer necessary technical support and assistance to all, including civil society, so that everyone can work together to end this destructive conflict.”

“The government should not be afraid of peace. As custodians of the nation’s destiny, the president and government should welcome the opportunity to sustainably affirm to Cameroonians and the world through concrete actions that one-fifth of the population is not treated as second-class. Negotiations remain the most reasonable way out.”