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Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly offered no explanation Tuesday for Cameroon’s claim that it never asked for Canada’s help in peace talks. He said Ottawa still wants to make a deal.
“The peace process is always messy and takes time, and this is a conflict that has lasted for 40 years,” Joly told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet retreat in Hamilton.
“Our goal is to be patient and take a deep breath.”
Ottawa announced last Friday that it has led discussions between the Cameroonian government and separatist groups, which have been in a conflict that has escalated in recent years. Joly’s office said three meetings had taken place in Ontario and Quebec.
“We were approached by the government of Cameroon, and we also have a UN representative present during the mediation,” Joly said Tuesday.
Cameroon’s government said on Monday that it had never sought an external mediator.
Rene Sadi, Cameroon’s communications minister, wrote in a press release that Cameroon “does not rely on foreign countries or external entities with the role of mediator or facilitator to resolve the crisis.”
The Cameroon High Commission in Ottawa did not respond to a request for an interview Tuesday.
Years of fighting and strife have displaced nearly 800,000 people in the country. The conflict is over how the predominantly English-speaking western region of the predominantly francophone country should be governed.
The colonial powers carved out the borders of west-central Africa, creating Nigeria and Cameroon and rejecting local demands to form an independent state, called Ambazonia.
The ongoing civil war has displaced nearly 800,000 people in Cameroon, has killed more than 6,000 people since 2017 and has left 600,000 children without full access to education.
According to the United Nations, there is ongoing fighting between state security forces and armed groups that has resulted in the killing and displacement of civilians, including attacks on schools and children.
Switzerland tried to mediate to end the so-called Anglophone Crisis in 2019. Joly said the attempt failed.
He said Ottawa remains committed to helping the country reach a peace deal.
“Our sole interest is to make sure that parties are on the table,” he said.
Joly’s spokesman said Ottawa was in contact with officials from the Cameroon government.
Cameroon has been ruled by President Paul Biya for 40 years. Human Rights Watch says his government has freedom of expression and association for opposition parties.
Aid groups have denounced atrocities committed by government and opposition forces.
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