Salutary Presidential Clemency

The decision yesterday 13 December, 2018 by the President of the Republic to “order the discontinuance of proceedings pending before the military Tribunals against a number of people arrested for misdemeanours, in connection with the crisis in the North-West and South-West Regions,” is more than salutary. It adds to that of 30 November, 2018 creating the National Disarmament, Demobilisation and Rehabilitation Committee (NDDRC) to bring back those who accept to drop arms and contribute towards building a harmonious society in the country. Yesterday’s decision that concerns 289 detainees coincided with the commissioning of the National Coordinator of the NDDRC, Fai Yengo Francis who also has to look after exfighters of the Boko Haram insurgency which afflicted the Far North Region for over two years. Since the degeneration of the situation in the South-West and North West Regions, President Paul Biya has multiplied measures to ensure that calm should return. Other persons of goodwill and Cameroonians from all walks of life have equally got on board making proposals and calling for a return to normalcy. When the Head of State announced the creation of the NDDRC many people received the news with reservation asking questions about the possible step that could be taken to convince those with arms to willingly hand over their weapons. Such doubts did not take into consideration the vast overtures that the Head of State is capable of using to make good his promises. Not only has the Head of State been confident about the measures being put in place to bring back normalcy in the two regions, he has equally factored proposals made by development partners, the civil society and well wishers to demonstrate his desire to build a strong Cameroon where citizens can contribute to nation-building. He has repeatedly insisted on the importance of peace and unity saying Cameroonians can achieve much by understanding the importance of unity in diversity. While seeking for the current tenure of office as President of the Republic, Mr Biya assured Cameroonians that he was going to do everything in his powers to bring about peace throughout the country. President Biya was even clearer during the oath-taking ceremony on 6 November, 2018 when he announced that; “With the support of the Cameroonian people as a whole and convinced that there is an honourable way out in everyone’s interest, I will strive to restore peace and calm in the two regions concerned, with due respect for the institutions of which I am guarantor.” Those who might not have understood him may now start having reasons to see the vision that the Head of State has for the country. The countdown to the appeasement measure yester...