North West: Collective Action Prescribed To Secure Peace, Normalcy

M embers of the elite, tradi­ tional rulers, trade unions, civil society and religious leaders, different stakeholders and the entire population of the North West Region are henceforth expec­ ted to go to their respective com­ munities to apply the diverse stra­ tegies of community dialogue to ensure a return to peace, normalcy and security in the entire region. The Prime Minister, Head of Go­ vernment Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute presided at the launching ceremony of the community dia­ logue for the North West Region following the instructions of Presi­ dent Paul Biya during his inaugural speech on November 6, 2025 after his re-election as President of the Republic. The ceremony at the Ba­ menda Congress Hall was an occa­ sion for representatives of the dif­ ferent strata of the society from the seven divisions of the North West Region to propose concrete measures that should be implemen­ ted to ensure a return to peace and normalcy. Before the inter­ ventions by the various stakehol­ ders, the North West Regional Go­ vernor Adolphe Lele Lafrique pain­ ted the present picture of the region, while Minister Paul Tasong, the Chairperson of the Steering Com­ mittee of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Develop­ ment of the North West and South West Regions presented the strides of the Plan to secure social cohesion and development in order to have peace and security. Prime Minister Dion Ngute in his opening statement after citing some of the disastrous consequences of the already 10-year crisis stressed, “We must put an end to this sense­ less war. The ultimate responsibility to end the war rests on our shoul­ ders. Nobody will do that for us. We have the capacity to stop the crisis.” He told the different stake­ holders that they are the most proximate actors who can easily talk to the separatist fighters, tell them the truth that what they...