South West, Littoral: Human rights commission president urges indigenous people to embrace, spread peace.

The appeal was made by the President of the Cameroon Human Rights Commission, Professor James Mouangue Kobila. He was speaking in the cities of Buea and Limbe on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 August 2024. 

This was during commemorative activities marking the 2024 edition of the 38th edition of the International Day of the World Indigenous Peoples.

Addressing hundreds of indigenous people and traditional rulers from different communities, Prof Kobila encouraged them to be examples of peace, with each of them dedicating themselves to being honest and hardworking. 

“Bask in peace, according to the traditions of your ancestors and the aspirations of your descendants,” he appealed.

In this light, he encouraged them to live harmoniously with their brothers and sisters and all components of their society, like civil and administrative leaders and people of different generations.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, was a unique opportunity to celebrate the cultural diversity of the indigenous people of Fako, Wouri and Mungo Divisions with music, dance, speech, arts and other traditional displays.

Land grabbing key challenge

Speaking to the press after the ceremony, Prof Mouangue Kobila said the main challenge facing Indigenous people remains land grabbing because the people are fundamentally attached to their land, adding that since their land is so attractive, many people claim it without their consent.

Concerning the issue of land grabbing in Fako Division, the Paramount Chief of Buea, Dr Esuka Endeley, expressed his frustration that since the colonial era up to the present dispensation, his people have been displaced and denied their land rights.

According to Chief Dr Esuka Endeley, the Bakweri people have lost 58,153 hectares of their land seized by the Germans, British and the government of Cameroon for plantations and the Mount Cameroon National Park.

The chief said such practices have negatively impacted the lives of the Bakweri people and other indigenous people of Fako, whose livelihoods revolve around farming, hunting and gathering from the mountain.

The President of the Cameroon Human Rights Council said most indigenous people in Cameroon could not afford the price to establish birth certificates or other civil status documents and the challenge of political participation because they are not in governance at the local and national levels.

Pledges more advocacy 

Given the myriad challenges facing indigenous peoples, the rights commission boss promised to increase his advocacy on behalf of the indigenous peoples to ensure their rights are respected and protected while calling on chiefs to always collaborate with the government.

“We acknowledge the existence of Indigenous people, understand their plight and are ready to lead advocacy so that their problems find appropriate solutions. We will make the appropriate suggestions to the president and government on the challenges facing Indigenous people in Cameroon so that permanent solutions can be sought,” he said.

The Paramount Chief of Buea, HRM Dr Esuke Endeley, expressed his relief at such a platform to start a dialogue process towards bringing solutions to their problems. 

“…we are happy because the authority set up by the UN and the government of Cameroon has indicated their willingness to listen to our problems and promise solutions,” HRM Dr Endeley said.

The commemoration of the World Indigenous Peoples Day also culminated in the launch of some key documents on human rights in the Mokpe language spoken by the Bakweri people. 

The Buea Paramount Chief said the books would give children and scholars of the Mokpe language the ability to read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in their language. 

He added that this would help them understand it in their context not the context of English and French. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3197 of Monday August 12, 2024