By Kelly van Eeten and Francisca De Castro, Junior Research Associates PILPG-NL
October 2019 - Southern Cameroon Updates
Lawyering Justice has resumed the Monthly News Updates segment. This post provides an overview of the developments that took place in Southern Cameroon in October 2019.
Peace negotiations
Cameroonian President Paul Biya initiated a National Dialogue in October 2019, in an attempt to end the fighting against the separatists. A number of proposals were made during the Dialogue. These included the adoption of special status for the two Anglophone regions, and changing the name of the country back to the United Republic of Cameroon.
The National Dialogue was embraced and critiqued in equal parts. René Emmanuel Sadi, the Minister of communications, rejected all criticism of the National Dialogue. He called it an inclusive and historic event, and states that no major subject was eluded. However, the rebel groups declared that they would only agree to the Dialogue only if negotiations are held in a foreign country, in the presence of UN mediators.
Release of opposition leaders
Alongside the National Dialogue, Paul Biya dropped charges against 300 people who were detained in connection with the Anglophone violence. One remarkable release was that of Maurice Kamto, an opposition leader who had been in prison for nine months facing charges of insurrection. The rebel groups additionally demanded the release of their leader Julius Ayuk Tabe before they could start thinking about peace negotiations.