Anthony Blinken
The US Secretary of State, Anthony J. BLINKEN announced that the US was ‘establishing a policy imposing visa restrictions on individuals who are believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the peaceful resolution of the crisis in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon’.
This statement was issued within the context of a briefing of the United Nation’s Security Council on same day (07/06/21) during which the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Central Africa and head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), Mr. François Louncény Fall, presented the situation under his jurisdiction.
As regards Cameroon , the UN Special Representative underscored the measures taken by the Government of Cameroon, under the Stewardship of the Head of State, H.E Paul BIYA, to address the situation in the North West and South West Regions, including the fast tracking of the decentralization process, convening of a Major National Dialogue, organisation of Regional Elections and granting of a Special Status to the concerned Regions.
He also highlighted the impact of these measures, amidst the outbreak of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19), in considerably reducing the scourge of violent terrorism acts perpetrated by armed fighters operating in these Regions. In the same light, he reported the continuous violence, combined with human rights violation, despite Government measures.
As it is often the case, Members of the Council took turns to make remarks on the presentation.
In this regard most members expressed satisfaction to the Special Representative for engaging positively with Officials of the Government of Cameroon and securing remarkable progress in the peace process.
It is noteworthy that China and Russia, , reiterated their well known position that the situation in NW/SW regions is an internal matter that Cameroon can and will handle. The United Kingdom and the United States of America on their part took a more positive approach compared to the recent past and offered their full support and encouragement to the Government of Cameroon for the measures taken so far.
The outing of the US Secretary of State, Anthony BLINKEN, is thus evidently in furtherance of the US commitment to the Unity, Territorial Integrity and Peace in Cameroon.
In fact part of the statement reads thus “this decision reflects our commitment to advance a dialogue to peacefully resolve the Anglophone crisis and support respect for human rights,".
It also condemns those who undermine peace through engaging in or inciting violence, human rights violations and abuses, and threats against advocates for peace or humanitarian workers.
Without doubt, Cameroonians should start expecting the effects of this policy announcement on persons involved in perpetrating atrocities in the two regions.
In fact this new policy seems to explain the recent public indictment of three Cameroonians based in the United States for peddling arms through Nigeria into Cameroon. The days ahead will be taxing for such individuals as the US Departments of Homeland Security and Justice continues to investigate those Cameroonians based in the USA from where they finance and perpetrated violence in the NW/ SW regions.
THE TIMES AHEAD WILL BE HOT FOR WARMONGERS.
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