Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon, René Cremonese has said that the Cameroon government can borrow from the Canadian experience to end the ongoing Anglophone crisis in the country.

Speaking during a media exchange organized by Le Club des Journalistes Politiques du Cameroun Tuesday in Yaounde, the Canadian diplomat said through frank political dialogue and debates, his country was able to address grievances raised by minority French-speaking Canadians many years ago.

“I think like I said, the most important thing is to be able to share the experience we had in Canada and to see whether or not these experiences can be used by Cameroon to address the current situation,” ambassador Cromenese told reporters.

He said during the 1960s “the population of Quebec felt that their rights and identities were not being respected or promoted. We spent the last 30 or 40 years debating about that situation and trying to find ways to dialogue and seek solutions to their demands. I think that is an experience that we had and which the government of Cameroon can borrow.”

Asked if a federal system of governance as advocated by a large majority of Anglophones could as well be a solution to the current crisis, the diplomat, who is also Ambassador to Gabon and the Central African Republic, was equivocal in his response, stating that having seen it worked in Germany, USA and others , Cameroon is no exception.

Earlier, in responding to questions from members of the Le Club des Journalistes Politiques du Cameroun including its president, Georges Alain Boyomo of French daily tabloid Mutations, the Canadian High commissioner saluted relations between Cameroon and Canada. He disclosed that some 25,000 Cameroonians are currently in Canada and Cameroon remains one of Canada’s biggest economic partners in the Central African Sub-region.

Canada and Cameroon, Ambassador Cromenese said enjoys long standing and friendly bilateral relations. Amongst other things, he said his country pays focus especially in areas to include economic prosperity, the promotion of democratic values, respect for human rights, good governance and regional security.

The exchange between top Cameroonian and foreign dignitaries and members of the Le Club des Journalistes Politiques Cameroun dubbed ‘’café politique’’ it should be said is a monthly event. Tuesday event was its 6th edition. So far, authorities received by the club include amongst others, leading opposition leader, John Fru Ndi, the National chairman of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement Party, Marice Kamto, Bernard Njonga of Croire au Cameroun, CRAC and the Algerian Ambassador to Cameroon.

By Mua Patrick
With Reports from Cameroon Journal.