By RFIPosted on 04-10-2019Modified on 04-10-2019 at 23:28

The "grand national dialogue" closed this Friday, October 4 in Cameroon. A dialogue convened by President Paul Biya to try to end the conflict in the two English-speaking regions of the country.

The closing ceremony was held Friday afternoon at the Palais des Congrès in Yaounde in a relaxed atmosphere. These foundations lead to the reaffirmation of the principle of decentralization , with the granting of a special status to the two English-speaking regions. The outlines are still unclear.

Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, who chaired these discussions, said the "grand dialogue" was " a success ". Cardinal Christian Tumi, archbishop emeritus of Douala, who had been calling for dialogue for many months, is also very optimistic. It is " a success ", according to him. " Everyone said what he thinks so we leave with a game in our hunting bag. He believes that this dialogue is likely to bring peace.

As for the separatists, who do not want decentralization, the cardinal assures: " We will get in touch with them, they are following us. The fact that 333 political prisoners have been declared released by the president is already something. We can not do everything at the same time. You have to start somewhere. Joy and peace have already begun. "

In addition to stopping the prosecution of 333 detainees , President Paul Biya on Friday ordered a halt to the prosecution of " some " opposition leaders, including those of his rival 2018 presidential candidate, Maurice Kamto. for nine months.

I decided to stop the prosecution of some leaders and activists of political parties, including the MRC, arrested and detained for acts committed in the context of the challenge of the results of the recent presidential election # CmrDialogue # PaulBiya

President Paul BIYA (@PR_Paul_BIYA) October 4, 2019

Professor Jacques Famé Ndongo, Minister of State, Secretary of Communication of the CPDM, the party of President Biya, emphasizes the quality and seriousness that animated the work of the dialogue. " We are happy, we are satisfied. The dialogue was a real catharsis. The proposals have been relevant and fruitful. I knew that the head of state was a man who does what he says and says what he does. There is no doubt that in general these proposals will materialize. "

As for when, " the timing depends on the head of state because there is also a cost, " says the minister. " Financial sustainability is relatively high. There will be measures that will be taken in a very short time. And others that will come gradually. Decentralization: the maximalist separatists do not want it. But we are convinced that with time, they will return to the legality ".

This dialogue is a meeting place for people who, perhaps yesterday, were looking at each other in faience dogs. This is a major event of the last 20 years. We have just taken a very important step.

Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo

04-10-2019 - By Carine Frenk

While waiting for the implementation

Several moderate Anglophones, who favor a return to federalism and not in favor of the independence demanded by the most radical, have also welcomed the recommendation on the special status of the English-speaking regions and the implementation of true decentralization, but they remain on their guard and wait to see if these resolutions will be implemented and implemented quickly.

This is the case of the SDF, one of the main parties of the Cameroonian opposition whose fiefs are in English-speaking regions. " The SDF members have been working hard and we are now waiting for the implementation of the commissions' recommendations, " said John Fru Ndi, the historic leader of the opposition and president of the SDF. And if these recommendations are followed, we can say: "Well, we did something". But it was already good to participate. "

" It is true that we want a federation and not just decentralization and it is the federation that would solve the problems of Cameroon , said John Fru Ndi, but they have scrutinized the Constitution and they have identified Article 6-2 which gives special status to certain areas and I hope they will do so for the English-speaking regions. The separatists do not want decentralization. If federalism had been achieved, we could have gone to see them and say, "That's what we got" and move on from there. "

Reverend Samuel Fonki Forba, president of the Council of the Protestant Church of Cameroon, also expects concrete. " The problem is the content, because when you write good content on decentralization or federation, it will return to the same thing. For me, now is the implementation. What was said for decentralization. I say that because we have seen in the past that the president, that the government does not implement the text. If we do not set up a follow-up commission to see the application of all the resolutions, we will not have made progress. So, we lost our time here in Yaoundé. "

It is likely to bring peace, if the work is completed. There, it is a beautiful leader. The granting of a special status can not suffice, just as the granting of federalism itself would not suffice. It's always a matter of content.

Cabral Libii

04-10-2019 - By Carine Frenk

    On the same subject

    English crisis in Cameroon: national dialogue opts for decentralization

    English crisis in Cameroon: Paul Biya orders the release of 333 detainees

    "Great national dialogue" in Cameroon: first polemics

    Cameroon: the great national dialogue is launched, without its initiator Paul Biya

    comments