Armed conflict in NW, SW: Revisiting controversial UN Resolution 1608.

Without such talks, a Plebiscite was organised by the UN on February 11, 1961, with two alternatives on the ballot: "lndependence by joining" Nigeria or Cameroun.

The third alternative of self-determination, though most popular among West Cameroonian politicians, was rejected by the British, who ruled the country as a UN Trust Territory.

Separatist leaders have argued that the resolution is "so critical" to their seemingly failed mission to independence.

In the first place, they fault the UN, as Justice M. Mbuh argues in an article that: "A nation cannot become “independent by joining” another", since “by joining” does not lead “to either self-government or independence".

Some legal minds also expostulate that implementing Resolution 1608 was flawed because in the first place, United Nations representatives were absent at the Foumban Constitutional Talks to formalise the Cameroon Federation.

Secondly, the administering authority, the British, were equally absent at Foumban, leaving the British Southern Cameroons side, without a lawyer, at the mercy of French Technical Advisers and Cameroun politicians.

The French technical advisers, eager to maintain post-colonial exploitative treaties with La Republique du Cameroun at independence, maneuvered to ensure Francophone dominance.

Later, the two federal states were transformed into a United Republic before reverting to the United State of Republic of Cameroon, a nomenclature that was in existence when West Cameroon had not "joined" them.

Separatists claim it was an act of secession and are banking on the flaws of Resolution 1608 as a pathway to independence.

Early this week, Ambassador Tibor Nagy, former United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, a covert supporter of the separatist movement in the North West and South West Regions, said: "UN Resolution 1608 is a false God”.

He advised that there are three ways for Ambazonian activists to obtain their independence. 

“Ambazonia and some still believe in UN Resolution 1608. Sorry, let's be real. There are only three ways for Ambazonians to have their own resolve: Get it (like the United States won its independence), negotiate a real referendum or the Cameroon government cedes its territory," Tibor Nagy stated. 

Over the years, Ambassador Nagy has been an overt vocal supporter of separatists, what he failed to do when he was in service; except he did so covertly.     

But as a seasoned diplomat, The Guardian Post knows that he is well groomed in the core principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of nations. He should therefore not exacerbate other drivers of political polarisation, amplified by algorithms that reinforce separation.

One of such values is the universality of indivisible human rights, which have obviously been violated in the conflict in the North West and South West Regions.

It is such impunity that calls for the international concern he ought to advocate a solution based on the rudder of human rights.

He wants separatists to emulate the United States, which got its independence from Britain, through the "American Revolution", also called the "US War of Independence", after an insurrection fought between 1775 and 1783.

Some 70,000 American patriots died during active military service, while approximately 6,800 were killed in battle. At least 17,000 died from disease, the majority of them prisoners of war captured by Britain.

That is one of the pathways Nagy thinks separatists can have their independence. It is the journey they have taken for the past seven years and even the blind can see that it has failed and they have resorted to kidnapping and terrorising people they claim they are fighting for.

The second option is for Yaounde to offer them independence on a platter of gold as in the advice of the former US diplomat at a time the country is promoting "living together" in "one and indivisible" decentralised Cameroon. The option is a stillbirth.

What might be feasible is a referendum. But then, it can only be obtained through dialogue, which Yaounde is unwilling to hold any other talks after the controversial Major National Dialogue of 2019.

Even if a referendum was given, atrocities committed by separatist fighters in the two Regions will not have the same support it would have as it was at the beginning of the strike by teachers and common law lawyers, seven years ago.

In a world pregnant with conflicts and drivers for globalisation, there is the need for unions nourished by justice, freedoms, respect of human rights and credible elections rather than division.

The Guardian Post holds that friendly countries, organisations, civil society and diplomats like Ambassador Nagy should chart a path forward, guided by the things that are certain even in uncertain times of globalisation, especially conceding that Resolution 1608 is a dead letter.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3210 of Monday August 26, 2024