Editorial: Implications of Yang's UN election on conflict in NW, SW!.

The implication is a two-edged sword. 

In congratulating him on his election, UN Secretary General, António Guterres, said: "As President-elect, Yang arrives to lead the 79th General Assembly. He does so at a challenging moment- conflicts continue to rage, climate catastrophe is deepening, poverty and inequality are rife, mistrust and division are pulling people apart and the Sustainable Development Goals are dramatically off-track”.

“Other dire problems he was briefed about include developing countries left without the support they need to invest in their people. In the face of these challenges, we must not lose sight of our objective of a more peaceful and sustainable world," Guterres added.

Yang is no stranger to that plethora of challenges. He conceded that “we are living in very difficult times, marked by very striking contrast,” noting conflicts around the world and the unbearable toll on civilians and refugees, whose numbers are currently reaching a dizzying peak.

He cited the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, but parried that in his country, especially in his native North West and South West fief, where an asymmetric warfare has been on for some seven years. It has killed over 6,000 people, displaced about half a million others while over 70,000 are refugees around the world.

He instead focused on other challenges like Artificial Intelligence, which, he said, is magnifying opportunities and challenges so quickly to the point that “even the most convinced followers of digitalisation are calling for rigorous regulation”.

He added that climate disruptions are posing “a real question of survival”, while the revitalisation of the General Assembly and Security Council reform are either halted or moving forward too slowly. And despite global consensus, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other agreements on which much hope had been placed, are “limping dangerously”, he added.

“In short, the tools at our disposal to promote the well-being of present and future generations are under-utilised, while those oriented towards war are over-exploited,” Yang said.

"Beyond our differences and our diversity, we should act together to promote peace, ensure that there's no war and preventing disasters in a spirit of unity," he said after being elected.

"Let's act for sustainable development, shared prosperity, harmony with nature and an environment where abundant resources could be and should be consumed with moderation and wisdom, taking into account corrective and transitional measures to ensure that the current and future generations could continue benefiting from that, promoting human dignity everywhere and for all in all of our countries, working for greater freedom," he added.

Yang called on the international community to "strengthen multilateralism," stressing that it is the foundation of the principles and the Charter of the United Nations.

"Throughout my term of office, I commit myself to following in this spirit, abiding by the oaths I took, making myself fully available to all member states and other partners," he declared. 

The Guardian Post congratulates Hon Yang on his election, which brings honour to Cameroon and his commitment to the ideals of the United Nations that gyrate on democracy, freedom, peace and human rights.

The first implication, however, will be that the international radar of scrutiny will be zoomed on his country to see if it is governed by the cherished values of unity, freedom, peace, justice, shared opportunities and respect for universal human rights.

Judging from various human rights, press freedom, Doing Business and transparency indexes, Cameroon has been having international scathing indictments.

With presidential, legislative and municipal elections coming up next year, which have been described by the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and other stakeholders as potentially "risky", it is left to be seen how Yaounde will navigate to ensure free and credible polls that should not trigger violence.

More importantly, Yang cannot succeed in preaching unity, peace and dialogue at the international stage when a barbaric conflict continues to rage in his home country.

As for the separatist warlords, the appointment should bring to an end their dream of "the Federal Republic of Ambazonia". 

For the African continent to have unanimously nominated Yang from the North West Region, which should have been an integral component of that imaginary republic, indicates the end of the pipedream.

But it surely would not be the solution to the primitive warfare that has hobbled the government's military solution to one of "the most neglected conflicts in the world".

If the Yaounde regime has succeeded to dim the limelight on the atrocities, Yang's election will amplify those acts of inhumanity to man.

Yaounde must ensure it uses inclusive dialogue to end the conflict so as to avoid the infamy it will bring to Yang and his country.

There is no gainsaying the fact that nonsense would be made of Yang’s UN top job if corpses from fighting are being displayed on the streets, innocent civilians kidnapped for ransom and socio-economic activities brought to a comatose in two of Cameroon's 10 Regions.

Yang’s election should, however, trigger the Yaounde regime to peacefully resolve the bloody conflict in the two English-speaking Regions of the country. 

At The Guardian Post, we go with the unshaken opinion that it would be diplomacy of hypocrisy, if a Cameroonian is at the world stage swearing by “unity and diversity for advancing peace and dignity for all,” and in his own country, a dirty war of disunity rages.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No3137 of Monday June 10, 2024