OTTAWA –
The federal government says Canada will lead a peace process aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis in Cameroon, where years of fighting and unrest have displaced nearly 800,000 people.
Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said there was an agreement by groups in the west-central African country to enter into a process to reach a comprehensive, peaceful and political solution to the conflict.
Joly says in a press release that Canada will help the groups as part of its commitment to promoting peace and security and advancing support for democracy and human rights.
She says civilians are bearing the brunt of the ongoing crisis, with more than 6,000 deaths since 2017 and 600,000 children without full access to education.
According to Joly, the groups include the Republic of Cameroon, the Ambazonia Governing Council and Ambazonia Defense Force, the African People’s Liberation Movement and the Southern Cameroons Defense Force, the Transitional Government and the Ambazonia Coalition Team.
According to the United Nations, fighting between state security forces and armed groups has continued, resulting in the killing and displacement of civilians, including attacks on schools and children.
“Canada has accepted a mandate to facilitate this process as part of our commitment to promote peace and security and advance support for democracy and human rights,” Joly said Friday.
“Agreing to enter into a formal process is a crucial first step towards peace and a safer, more inclusive and more prosperous future for conflict-affected civilian populations.”
A government source said there had been previous meetings in Toronto and Quebec to allow for negotiations between the different groups.
The source said Canada is the sole facilitator of the peace process.