Dialogue As Recourse In Solving Problems

Upheavals in the North West and South West regions that have been raging on for over four years now may not have abated yet but the Head of State believes the option of dialogue, which he took from the onset, is the best in handling the problem. He sees Cameroon as a family where the problem of one is that of all. A setting whereby no problem can overwhelm the people if they look eye to eye, speak with one voice and focus on a common good. 
In his end-of-year speech to Cameroonians on December 31, 2020, President Paul Biya, like before, reminded the world that Cameroon holds dialogue in high esteem. Even though some friendly countries continue to host the sponsors of and the organisations financing and running the armed gangs in the North-West and South-West Regions, to whom President Paul Biya prayed for responsibility, the Head of State however said,   “Yet our Government has continued to demonstrate its commitment to openness and dialogue by, for example, releasing many former secessionists and facilitating their reintegration into society.”   
There have been formal and informal dialogues all geared towards finding durable solutions to the problems in the North West and South West Regions. Keen observers can at least agree that after the Major National Dialogue which held in Yaounde from September 30 – October 4, 2019 and which came out with far-reaching recommendations, the government has gone places in applying them. Mr Biya said government, “fast-tracked the implementation of an ambitious decentralisation policy which includes a Special Status for our North-West and South-West Regions, which takes into account their specificities and aspirations.”  
It may be necessary to underline here that when members of the English-speaking teachers’ and Common Law Lawyers’ Trade Unions tabled their complaints against inadequacies in their respective corps, the guarantor of Cameroon’s constitution, the President of the Republic, took measures to bring solutions to the problems raised in line with Republican legality. Actually, President Paul Biya first ordered the setting up of two inter-ministerial ad hoc committees: One to look into Teachers’ concerns and the other into that of Common Law Lawyers. All were to at term propose lasting solutions to harness the sectors for the good of all. Though the legitimate grievances soon got out of hand when secessionist agenda arose, ushering in revolt and violence of all sorts, the Head of State remained constant that dialogue was the best option in resolving problems. For instance, in his speech announcing the holding of the Major National Dialogue, Paul Biya said, “From the outset, and true to an option that I hold dear, I instructed the holding of dialogue between the Government and trade unions to seek appropriate solutions to these demands. The measures taken by the Government at the en...