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The Mo Ibrahim Foundation called on all parties to the Cameroonian crisis to use dialogue to resolve their differences.
In a press release, the Foundation said it was concerned about the deterioration of the situation in this state of Central Africa.
He regretted that the confrontation between the government and the separatists intensified, causing casualties among civilians and state security agents.
"A peaceful Cameroon is vital, not only for the region, but for the whole continent," the statement said.
"Often described as" Africa in miniature ", Cameroon reflects the cultural, ethnic and geographical diversity of the continent.This young country also follows the broader trends in the growing demography of young Africans, the 15-34 years constituting more than 77% of the country's population ".
The violence that has lasted for almost two years in the English-speaking regions of the Southwest and Northwest has begun as an industrial strike by lawyers and teachers. They then degenerated into an internal armed conflict, fearing that Cameroon would turn into a civil war.
Violence and unrest intensified in late 2016 after a series of strikes and protests against what teachers, lawyers and students viewed as additional discrimination against Anglophones. From September 22 to October 1, 2017, large-scale events were held in English-speaking areas to symbolically proclaim the independence of the new state of Ambazonia, but the government responded with violent repression.
Recurrent clashes between armed separatists and government troops resulted in the deaths of dozens of people, hundreds of people imprisoned, while thousands more were forced to leave their homes.
The statement by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation noted that the persistent confrontation was in contradiction with the peaceful strike that began two years ago.
The statement explained that the Ibrahim Index of Governance in Africa of 2018, published a few weeks ago, highlighted governance challenges in Cameroon and reflected disturbing trends at deterioration.
"The overall governance measure continues to deteriorate, especially over the last five years, and this decline is particularly evident in the Security and Rule of Law category, measured mainly by the unsatisfactory performance of the lack of participation. governments in armed conflict, absence of Government Violence against civilians, national security, absence of armed conflict in the country or risk of conflict and reliability of police services. "
The Participation and Human Rights category also raised concerns, which showed "no improvement and have been negatively affected by the recent presidential elections, where voter turnout in the English-speaking regions would have been very low".
The two English-speaking regions affected by an escalation of violence represent about 20% of Cameroon's population.
Anglophones' grievances revolve around the alleged marginalization of the predominantly French-speaking regime in Yaoundé and date back to the postcolonial period.
Anglophones claim to be victims of economic inequality and discrimination on the part of the French-speaking majority, despite a post-independence reunification agreement, in which they hoped to be equal partners.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, sponsored by Sudanese billionaire philanthropist Mohammed Ibrahim, was established in 2006 with a focus on the critical importance of leadership and governance in Africa.
The Foundation aims to promote positive change on the continent by providing tools to support progress in leadership and governance.
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