A LETTER OF APPEAL TO H.E, DR. PAUL BIYA TO END THE CRISIS IN BAMENDA, CAMEROON

Dear Mr. President,

THE NEW AFRICAN CHAPTER (NAC) APPEALS THAT THE CRISES IN BAMENDA NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

Very few countries are bilingual that is, they have two official languages like Canada and your dear nation Cameroon. Language has always been a barrier and breeding grounds for crises due to misunderstanding between people of which the current happenings in Bamenda in Cameroon attests to that fact.  Mr. President, NAC would have to outline some demographical facts about your country for the sake of readers who might not be familiar with your dear country.

Eight out of the ten regions of Cameroon are primarily Francophone; representing 83% of the country's population and 2 are Anglophone, representing 17% of the country's population. It appears the Anglophone proportion of the country is in constant regression, having decreased from 21% in 1976 to 20% in 1987 and to 17% in 2005, and is estimated at 16% in 2015.

From the little facts above, it appears the Francophone community has and will always have their way and the Anglophone will have their say which we (NAC) see as the root of the crises. However, Mr. President I think you will understand with us (NAC) that variety is the spice of life therefore room should be made to accommodate people who have different ideas, faith, perspective, and tastes. If the Almighty wanted us to think and behave the same he could have made us all the same.

Mr. President, as thousands of English-speaking Cameroonians in the main opposition stronghold of Bamenda, Cameroon, are chanting "we are ready to die" if the military attempts to use violence on a nationwide peaceful protest against the marginalization of nearly 10 million citizens living in English-speaking regions, we pray you don’t turn a deaf ear to their request. This will ensure that the peace you’ve always enjoyed for some time now until this crises will still prevail.

Information reaching us from the streets of Bamenda, shows that the solution to end this more than 50 years of marginalization is inclusive dialogue between both sides and nothing else. We need the president to negotiate with his countrymen on a level-playing ground.

Education is key therefore, the progress of the curriculum shouldn’t be crossed neither should instructional time be wasted but in this case all schools in the English-speaking regions are shut down and thousands are protesting. . Most key positions and schools in the country are reserved for French-speaking citizens only, which must be very disheartening is you are from Anglophone Cameroon. You must have French names like Atanagana or Mvondo to succeed, which is quite discriminative.

Mr. President, since 1961, grievances between English-speaking and French-speaking citizens have never reached a dialogue table for sleeping dogs to lie, but we plead with you that under your esteemed watch, this problem is not managed but solved completely.

 Thank you Mr. President! We hope you will put Cameroon first and solve this issue amicably.

Accept, Dear President, the assurance of our highest consideration.

Regards,

Bright Bruce-Acquaye

(President, New African Chapter)