Joe Dinga Pefok (Uncle Joe)“A Unilateral Or Military Solution To A Conflict Normally Leaves Many Underlying Issues Unresolved, And May Only Postpone The Conflict To Another Day Or Generation. Successful Conflict Resolution That Leads To Successful Peace Is Obtained Through Dialogue” NGONGI Had Explained. He Said The Fact That The Anglophone Conflict Was Still On After MND, Was “A Clear Demonstration That The Underlying Issues That Led To The Crisis Were Either Not Fully Understood Or Adequately Addressed”.
The CPDM party and Government, through several Yaounde based Southwest CPDM elites that attended the Southwest Peace and Development Forum which held in Buea from May 12 – 13, 2023, failed to listen to the important message that was delivered in a paper, which was presented by an expert on conflict resolution, Dr Namanga Ngongi, as to how the Anglophone Conflict can be resolved through an inclusive dialogue.
Worth noting that Dr Namaga Ngongi, who simply refer sto himself as a retired Cameroonian and United Nations Civil Servant, among other things served as Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme, and later also served as Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Not The Type Of Thing They Like To Hear
Meanwhile, as aforementioned, the Southwest CPDM elites that flooded the Southwest Peace and Development Forum in Buea in May 2023, failed to listen to the message, or better still, they ignored the important message on conflict resolution, or on how The Anglophone Conflict can be successfully resolved. This was apparently for fear that it was not the type of message that their octogenarian “Champion”, would want to hear.
The approach of the CPDM Party and Government, or better still the CPDM regime, under President Biya, to the resolution of the Anglophone Conflict, is from all indications based on wooing or asking armed separatist fighters that they call terrorists, to lay down their weapons, leave the bushes and forests, and return to the society , probably in exchange for ‘something’. This is what international conflict resolution experts like the former UN Senior Official, Dr Namanga Ngongi, qualifies as a unilateral solution to a conflict that “normally leaves many underlying issues unresolved, and may only postpone the conflict to another day or generation”.
MEANWHILE, BELOW ARE EXCERPTS OF THE IMPORTANT PRESENTATION THAT DR NAMANGA NGONGI, MADE AT THE SOUTHWEST PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT FORUM, THAT HELD IN BUEA ON OCTOBER 12 – 13, 2023:
Conflict Resolution, Culture, Tradition, And Development
“A Grand National Dialogue was organized from 30th September to 4th October 2019 with an objective to respond to the Anglophone Crisis. The most important result of the Dialogue was the granting of Special Status to the Northwest and Southwest Regions. The NW and SW Regional Assemblies are a result of that Special Status.
However, despite the convening of the GND and the Special Status for the two English Speaking Regions, the war ranges on. That is clear demonstration that the underlying issues that led to the crisis were either not fully understood or adequately addressed”.
“It is evident that the population is tired of this conflict and would be happy for it to come to an end. This is where conflict resolution comes in”.
Why Do We Need Conflict Resolution?
“The answer is quite simple. We are all concerned or should be concerned about our suffering, the suffering of our children, friends and relatives, and the population as a whole. Of course there are issues of Governance to be resolved, but the driving force behind any conflict resolution should be the wellbeing of the people. The ability of diverse people to, live together in peace and engage in their various vocations and, sources of livelihoods. That should be the rule for the resolution of internal and external conflicts. This can be achieved only when the various components of the population see their core interests and values respected. A unilateral or military solution to a conflict normally leaves many underlying issues unresolved and may only postpone the conflict to another day or generation. Successful conflict resolution that leads to sustainable peace is obtained through dialogue”.
Conducive Environment
“It is important, that an environment conducive to the discussions, and confidence building, be created. A truce or temporary ceasefire that allows a short break in hostilities, for leaders of the parties in conflict to assess the seriousness of the party or parties to engage in discussions, agree on a date, venue, and select representatives to the discussion, is useful. The parties could also be asked to confirm or select a facilitator. Subsequently to the institution of a truce and an agreement to pursue in –depth discussions, a ceasefire or more permanent cessation of hostilities agreed by all or most of the parties, should be put in place. This should be backed by a ceasefire violations verifications mechanism, to denounce violations. This is an important measure as some armed groups may not respect the ceasefire. There will be violations, deliberate or unintended, especially in the early days of the ceasefire”.
The Process – Facilitator / Mediator
“Taking advantage of the ceasefire, a peace conference is convened by the facilitator or mediator. The facilitator / mediator can be a national, an expatriate or an institution. In any case, an independent and respected personality or institution is needed for the services of a facilitator or mediator.
The role of the facilitator or mediator is to draft and have terms of participation agreed by the parties concerned, the parties to be invited, the number of participants, the venue, duration of the conference. He prepares an agenda, chair / facilitates discussions, and produces a report for approval by the participants. The full agenda will be a subject for discussion and agreement by the parties.
The Facilitator /Mediator has to prepare the conference in close consultation with parties concerned, in order to gain their confidence in the process, and make sure it is as smooth as outlined above. Agreement on issues to be discussed may take sometimes, as each party tries to veto issues advanced by the other party or parties. It may also not be possible to discuss and agree on all issues in one seating. Truces, and local ceasefire, that respond to sporadic violations, will be ongoing all along the process. What is needed is firm commitment by all the parties to the search for peace. The restoration of peace in any country in conflict gives that country a chance to retrace its path towards reconciliation, rehabilitation and development. Our country will benefit immensely from such a process”.
Unilateral Or Military Solution
“A unilateral or military solution to a conflict normally leaves many underlying issues unresolved, and may only postpone the conflict to another day or generation. Successful conflict resolution that leads to sustainable peace is obtained through dialogue”.
How Is A Conflict Resolution Process Engaged?
“All conflicts are not the result of same issues. The principal causes of any particular conflict have to be identified. Each party to the conflict needs to be listened to, as it will have its own list of the key issues that lured them into a conflict, and which they would like to see resolved. Some parties to a conflict may be obdurate, but if some of the key issues that pushed them to the extreme are addressed, their justification for continuing the conflict will be weakened”.
“Since each party may have some seemingly unshakable positions, it is difficult for one of the parties to organize a conflict resolution process. A third party should be entrusted with the task of compilation of the issues that need resolution. If the parties in the conflict agree broadly with the issues identified, they will be more likely to participate in a conflict resolution process”.
“Since it may not be possible to address and resolve all the issues at the same time, it would be necessary to have a priority ranking of issues drawing from those raised by all the parties, starting with the short term issues. It is important that an environment conducive to discussions and confidence building be created”.
Many Factor Responsible For All Conflicts
Dr Namanga explained that many factors are responsible for all conflicts within families, villages, communities, within countries and between counties. These factors include jealousy, envy, competition for limited resources, territorial control, governance issues, conflicts in religion, feelings of superiority among ethnic groups, cultural differences, migration, pride, environmental degradation, and many others. He pointed out that these factors have fueled recent conflicts in the world (WW I, WW II), Africa (Angola, DRC, Liberia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Nigeria, Chad, CAR, Burundi, Mali, Mozambique, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Sudan etc). Our country, Cameroon, has not been spared, and the recent atrocities in Sudan make one to shudder.
“The focus of the conflict in Cameroon has been on governance, language and political issues. These have of course been critical drivers, but culture and tradition have played equally important roles. Had Germany continued to rule Cameroon as a unit up to 1960, would there have been the conflict as we know It? The clash of cultures and traditions has fueled feelings of marginalization that in turn led to the conflict and brought governance issues to high prominence”, the international conflict resolution expert, Dr Namanga Ngongi, further explained.
