North West/South West Crisis : US Ambassador Goes Fact-finding In Bamenda

The Ambassador of the United States of America to Cameroon Christopher John Lamora carried out a fact-finding visit to the North West Regional capital Bamenda where he got information on the ongoing socio-political and security crisis that have been rocking the English-speaking North West and South West Regions of Cameroon for some years now.
During his stay in Bamenda, the US diplomat visited some parts of the town to have an eye-witness account on how people are living in the town. He used the occasion to talk with government officials, religious leaders, representatives of civil society organisatioons and the journalism community.  The visit, he said, is holding to enable him to continue to formulate and recommend to the US government policies vis-à-vis the North West and South West Regions in particular and Cameroon at large.
Ambassador Christophe John Lamora used the visit to grant an interview to the press in which he stated the US government’s position with regard to the crisis rocking the two regions and efforts to ensure a peaceful resolution.

You are already in Cameroon for over two years and this is your first time of visiting Bamenda in the North West Region.  What are the reasons for the visit?
I arrived in Cameroon in March 2022. Indeed, it is almost two years that I am in the country.  It was very important that I come to the North West Region. It has taken more longer than I would like. Cameroon is a big country. I have been to seven of the 10 regions. I have not yet been to the Adamawa and North Regions. What is going on in the North West and South West Regions over seven years and a few months is highly important. It is a great concern and priority for the US government. But I don’t think that rushing to the scene of the North West would have accomplished anything. We needed to get assurance that the security situation allowed me to come. We felt that we had reached that point and so I came as soonest as I thought it was possible.

Concretely what have you come to do?
I can use the term fact-finding. It is important to verify what is going on, see with your eyes, talk directly with the sources on the ground. I engage frequently with members of government, civil society organisations, etc. in Yaounde and elsewhere in the country, but nothing beats coming and talking to people here. I had meetings with government officials, religious leaders, representatives of civil society organisations and journalism community and I have been learning a lot about the prospective on the ground, what the people in Bamenda and the surrounding area are feeling. It will help me to continue to formulate and recommend to Washington US policy vis-à-vis the North West and South West Regions and Cameroon at large.

You have come, seen and heard. What is your evaluation of the situation on the ground?
I have been in Bamenda Upstation and down town. I am pleased that in the areas where I have seen personally, people are going about their businesses. I think it is clear that people have found ways (at least in areas I have seen) to go on with their lives using the best systems possible.  What I hope is that we will quickly come to   a day where the situation is true for everyone in the North West and South West Regions. I came around to find the truest information I can about what is happening, because if I am not well informed, then our policies will not be well informed.
When you talk about the US policy, the population is confused with regard to the role of your country in the ongoing crisis.  People feel that the US is harboring terrorists and separatists and think that your country is not giving them enough support to claim their right.
The US abso...