Six religious leaders of the North-west and South-West regions of Cameroon have issued a statement in favour of Canada to lead a peace process among conflicting parties in Cameroon.
The document with the statement in favour of peace, has six appended signatories. The signatories to the statement are: Most Rev. Andrew Nkea- Archbishop of Bamenda, Rt. Rev Fonki Samuel Forba – Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Rev Dr. Nditemeh Charlemagne – Executive President of the Cameroon Baptist Convention, Tukur Mohammed Adamu of Bamenda Central Monsque, Alhadji Mohammed Aboubakar -Imam of Buea Central Mosque and Rt Rev Thomas Elango of the Anglican Church of Cameroon.
The document is titled statement of religious leaders of the North-west and South-West regions following an announcement on 20 January 2023 by Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs of a peace process to resolve the ongoing socio-political crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon
In the document, the six religious leaders admit to have read from Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, on Canada’s openness to reach a peaceful solution of the conflict.
The Faith leaders go ahead to state “we the religious leaders of the North-west and South-West regions welcome this statement as a major step towards the search for true, sustainable and lasting peace in these two regions. This has been our prayer and we are thankful to God that a hopeful corridor is beginning to open for inclusive dialogue that should usher in a peaceful resolution of the distressful socio-political crisis in the English speaking regions of Cameroon”
Further in the document, the leaders say they are “independent and sovereign” given that they are “the voice of the voiceless”
They are also appealing that stakeholders should stick to honesty. They should “keep aside their personal and or political or other exclusive interest” so as to “work for common good”, inspired by truth, justice, love and equity.
“… It is our hope that the members of the international community especially the African Union, the European countries that colonized Africa and the United Nations Organisation will show an indefectible interest in this crisis in the North-west and South-west regions and assist without bias or prejudice in the resolution of the crisis for the common good of the people of Cameroon” part of the statement reads.
The Faith leaders also cite the consequences of the ongoing crisis including violence, human killing, kidnapping, road blocks and abuse of human rights.
They call on “everyone” to pray for God to resolve the conflict.
The document containing the statement of the religious leaders was signed in Bafoussam, West Region of Cameroon on January 22nd, 2023 and published on January 24, 2023.
