Jul 25, 2018

Ambazonia: Real Solutions Needed for a Complex Case


Recent events in Ambazonia, with a conflict between Southern Cameroons and the government of Yaoundé that has brought thousands of people dead or displaced from this region since 2016, are starting to become a subject of deep concern for the international community. In a speech given at the 2018 Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) awards in London, Jerry John Rawlings, former President of Ghana and current UN Special Envoy to Somalia, called international actors involved in the conflict for a proper commitment to find an adequate solution that might bring the people of Ambazonia the chance to find justice and respect for their human rights.

This article was published by bareta.news:

Jerry John Rawlings, born 22 June 1947, former head of state and president of Ghana has called on the UN, AU and France not to impose superficial solutions to the current conflict rocking the Cameroons. Rawlings was speaking today [24 July 2018] during the GUBA 2018 awards in Britain. It should be noted that the Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) Awards is an annual awards ceremony based in Britain which recognises the “hugely significant” contribution that British-Ghanaians make to society. Addressing the large turnout in Britain Rawlings had this to say:

“In Cameroon for instance; a twin nation of two former UN trust territories that had enjoyed a semblance of peace for 57 years since 1961 but is currently deteriorating rapidly into a place of full scale conflict. I will urge the UN and AU to look into Cameroon’s case because we cannot impose superficial solutions on the English speaking half of the country. I will also urge France and President Macron to be seen as part of the solution to salvage the situation and restore justice and equity to that part of the country. Mankind has had enough of its bloodshed over natural resources which should rather benefit their lives!”

But first, who is JJ Rawlings? According to Wikipedia, he initially came to power in Ghana as a flight lieutenant of the Ghana Air Force following a coup d’état in 1979 and, after initially handing power over to a civilian government, took back control of the country on 31 December 1981 as the Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council. In 1992, Rawlings resigned from the Armed Forces, founded the National Democratic Congress and became the first President of the Fourth Republic. He was re-elected in 1996 for a further four years. He currently serves as the African Union envoy to Somalia.

The Southern Cameroons were a British Trust Territory, and currently under annexation by La Republique Du Cameroun. Since 2016, it has been involved in a deadly war with thousands of civilian lives lost, houses destroyed, refugees in Nigeria as well as internally displaced persons. Several countries, including the United Stations have requested dialogue based on the root causes of the conflict, a request which President Paul Biya of Cameroun has refused and instead declared war to the people of Southern Cameroons.

The statement from President Rawlings has in it lots of interpretation. He is aware of the unique status of Southern Cameroons. He is aware of the root causes of this conflict. He is aware that any solution that does not restore the rights of self-determination to the people of Southern Cameroons is as superficial as the word itself and will not restore the so-called semblance of peace as President Rawlings rightly said.

BaretaNews is aware that President Rawlings is sending a message in the most diplomatic ways, for a former President and present UN envoy to Somalia to address the Cameroons war during the event in Britain means a lot to the people of Southern Cameroons. We hope the world is watching to take adequate solutions.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons