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.
7 comments
Who would tell issa Tchiruma and his gang that this ambassador is also a criminal for speaking about federalism, a topic banned in cameroon and punishable by abduction and imprisonment. Someone should please tell Tchiroma to send the boko haram forces of La Republique to arrest this terrorist of an ambassador.
Federalism cannot work between Southern Cameroons and La Republique du Cameroun, because the French colonial masters of La Republique du Cameroun are against it and more importantly, the French political system is not familiar with the art of federalism. We tried it after 1961 and failed. The only solution is for us Southern Cameroonians to have our own independent sovereign nation state. We have seen and had enough of those francophone hirelings to know that they cannot be trusted to play fair.
Of la republique. It is a petty
In the Beginning was Southern Cameroons, UN Trust Territory Cat B under UK, and Republic of Cameroon, UN Trust territory Category B under France. Republic of Cameroon attained Independence from France on January 1, 1960 while the Southern Cameroons was still self governing under UK Administration. After the plebiscite in 1961 when the UN decided in accordance to UN Res 1608(5) for Southern Cameroons to attain Independence by Joining, the Southern Cameroons Independence and sovereignty journey has been a nightmare and travesty to Justice in a civilized World.
On September 30, the UK in a strange way handed the instruments of power to Ahidjo instead of handing to Foncha, the Prime Minister of Southern Cameroons. This placed Foncha in a helpless situation as Ahidjo next day on October 1, brought in his army of occupation to start beating and intimidating Southern Cameroonians on the very day that was set for Independence by Joining. Ahidjo brought in the Constitution of the independent Republic of Cameroon that was agreed in their Parliament in April 1960 when Southern Cameroons was not part of them. Therefore, the Union was illegal from day one. To make matters worse, Ahidjo and France manipulated the Southern Cameroons delegation in Foumban . Thank God, the Southern Cameroons never signed any Union agreement and the Southern Cameroons House of Parliament never ratified the Constitution nor Union Agreement. As per UN RES 1608(5), such an Act of Union would have been deposited at the UN Secretariat in conformity with UN Art. 102. More trouble and manipulation ensued as Ahidjo in 1972 Changed the Country from Federal Republic of Cameroon to United Republic of Cameroon. In 1984, President Paul Biya single handedly changed the name from United Republic to The Republic of Cameroon. This was secession from an illegal union in the first place. Such restoration of the Republic of Cameroon, rendered the Southern Cameroons stateless and simultaneously restored it in accordance to International Laws. Case in point is Senegal and Gambia (Senegambia)
Because of the manipulations, ill will, annexation, recolonization, human rights abuses, and blatant lies telling, it is difficult for the Southern Cameroons and the Republic of Cameroon to live in any Federation.
I agree completely and totally as already stated elsewhere.
The said a refrandum was done, to become a republie,
That so call refrandum at that time is not the will of the people that why Biya is in power for 35yrs where democracy none
Restoration of our State is the solution. Federalism is a red herring