Commonwealth Day Celebrated Today

Cameroon joins the Commonwealth member countries to commemorate the 2017 Commonwealth Day on the theme “A Peace-building Commonwealth.” The theme, Minister Mbella Mbella says, portrays the engagement of the Commonwealth in fighting against acts of war and terrorism and promoting respect and mutual understanding as important vectors in reducing violence and terrorism and ensuring peace and security.
Weeklong activities to mark this year’s Commonwealth Day in Cameroon were launched in Yaounde on March 6, 2017 and culminate to the celebrations today in Buea, South West Region. According to the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella, commemorating the day is an opportunity for Cameroonians to learn about the fundamental values and principles of the Commonwealth, be they political, economic or socio-cultural. In the following interview, the Minister of External Relations explains the significance of the event to Cameroon and situates the theme into context.

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Minister of External Relations

What is the significance of a Commonwealth Day Celebration to Cameroon?

Celebrating Commonwealth Day is not just an annual ritual. It is a unique opportunity each year to raise awareness on contemporary global issues and promote understanding about the values shared by the Commonwealth family, such as the rule of law, democracy, human rights and sustainable development. It is equally a unique opportunity among member countries to develop and strengthen common approaches in dealing with issues. To Cameroon, celebrating Commonwealth Day is an opportunity for Cameroonians to learn about the fundamental values and principles of the Commonwealth, be they political, economic or socio-cultural. It is equally an occasion for our government to reiterate its solidarity with the Commonwealth family. On the one hand, it is an opportunity to showcase the achievements of the Commonwealth in Cameroon, and on the other hand, it brings to the lime-light Cameroon’s achievements as a member of the Commonwealth. Given that Commonwealth values are necessary for the establishment of fruitful relations between states, celebrating the Day will therefore enhance national cohesion and strengthen Cameroon’s democratic credentials in the eyes of its national and international partners. That is the reason for the numerous media, cultural and other activities organised during the period.

The theme of this year’s celebration of the Commonwealth Day seems to be very peculiar; what is the context of this theme?

The world is currently witnessing and increasing rate of instability and uncertainty stirred up by growing insecurity born out of human intolerance and intransigence. In that light, the Commonwealth family, in its rich diversity, stands as a reference and an ever-more needed source of strength and hope for all its members. This year’s theme, “A Peace-building Commonwealth” is timely as it unravels current international happenings and reaffirms the commitment of the Commonwealth to the values of democracy, good governance, respect for human rights, rule of law and international peace and security, which are essential to the progress and prosperity of all. These principles which are inextricably linked to peace-building, seek to promote sustainable peace and the building of strong political and economic institutions in Commonwealth countries. In other words, the theme portrays the engagement of the Commonwealth in fighting against acts of war and terrorism and promoting respect and mutual understanding as important vectors in reducing violence and terrorism, and ensuring peace and security, as elaborated in the Commonwealth Civil Path to Peace published in 2007. This commitment is again highlighted in the final communiqué of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) of November 2015 in Malta, wherein the Heads condemned terrorism and violent extremism as impediments to peace, and urged members to counter these threats through national, regional and international co-operations. Given that the youth constitute more than 60 percent of the over two billion peoples of the Commonwealth member states, and that women and the youth are highly vulnerable to extremism, radicalism and terrorism, the theme is proof that the Commonwealth is fully engaged in peace-building and encourages member states to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, which seeks to promote the role of women in peace and security.

Of what significance is this theme to Cameroon?

This year’s theme is of particular significance to Cameroon, often described as an island of peace in the hotbed of political tensions and insecurity, constantly inflaming sub-Saharan Africa and the African Continent as a whole. Peace and diversity account for the image of Cameroon, which prompted its ranking as the sixth most attractive country in Africa in 2016 by the Nielson Africa Prospects Indicator. Consequently, the theme for this year’s celebration is an opportunity for Cameroonians to reflect upon, and jealously protect the invaluable treasure of peace that the nation enjoys, especially in the growing wave of global terrorism and insecurity, as well as other forms of violence, which have not spared our country. The theme stresses that peace is very necessary as Cameroon, a country blessed with immense cultural diversity as reflected in her over 250 ethnic groupings, moves towards emergence.

What is Cameroon doing to build peace among its plethora of ethnic groups for a harmonious living?

In a bid to showcase our country’s initiatives towards peace-building over the years, and given that peace-building is a continuous process, it would be important to understand peace-building as a multi-dimensional concept. Politically, peace-building involves the construction of a democratic society, strengthening of participative processes including, but not limited to strong parliaments, credible elections, and a free and de...