Once an oasis of peace and stability in Africa, my beautiful home region of Southern Cameroons is currently going through excruciating pains, seemingly worse than the Rwandan genocide of 1994: our people are actually being exterminated like cockroaches. Nearly two years have gone by and, I am convinced, the UN and AU have not demonstrated any real commitment to mediate in this menacing situation. It is well known that France is pulling the strings to keep our nation, full of rich human and natural resources, captive.

In the present circumstances, it is imprudent for Grand Masters to parade the corridors of the Unity palace, and dine with, and confer accolades on, a president whose dormancy is suspicious; a man who, since the advent of the current crisis, has refused to shear the sheep. This crisis that has steadily degenerated to a civil war is no longer an internal affair. It is rather a global threat to peace and stability because Cameroonian patriots all over the globe and Africans of good will are affected. It is no longer an internal affair because the government has violated the universal declaration of human rights in all facets.

What must we do? There is urgent need for cease-fire from both sides. I vehemently condemn all armed robbers and bandits who are taking advantage of the situation to loot and harass peaceful civilians. A peaceful resolution can only be possible with the mediation of a third party because the people of Southern Cameroons have lost confidence completely in the Biya regime. Considering the aloofness of AU and UN, the USA stands in the position to mediate at this time. Notably, the case of Southern Cameroons has been a subject of discussion at Capitol Hill with sufficient evidence of untold human rights abuses and the subjugation of the people of Southern Cameroons. As the crisis worsens by the day, can the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US Congress revisit the case of Southern Cameroons? Sincerely, can my friends in the US advise on what else we can do to encourage the US to step into this bloody crisis? Are the people of Southern Cameroons less human than the people of Libya, North Korea or Syria? Please help us, our people are perishing!

Let us pray! God is not dead. He sits on the throne, and in the end He will be King and judge; but before the end comes, we must commit ourselves here and now to work for justice, peace, and equality.

“African politicians must learn to retire at a minimum age of 70 years, but rather we have packed old men in our leadership, how could we move forward? Some are even above 80 years and still ruling.” (Kofi Annan)

By Father Wilfred Epie