Dr. Richard Tanto recommends collaboration as way forward to the Anglophone problem

Dr Richard Tanto, a renowned International Peace Consultant and Director of Ecumenical Service for Peace in Yaounde, meticulously describes what he calls the solution to the Anglophone problem that has been rocking Cameroon for the past 4 months. In an exclusive interview, he condemns present competitive measures and calls for collaboration of both government and activists.

“When you are competing your interests are more important to you than your relationship, you want to get your interests at all cost. This is what is happening right now. The Anglophones are struggling to get their interests at all cost through organizing ghost towns, boycotting school and so on. Government too wants to get its interest by blocking internet, imprisoning activists, and banning the consortium. These are competitive attitudes and approaches and they are not going to solve this problem” says Dr Richard.
He explains his understanding of the crisis and raises concerns about the issue of interests of both government and protesting Anglophones. 

The International Peace Consultant says “Collaboration means that we as a people identify our interests and bring them to the table for discussion. From my understanding of this entire crisis, it seems to me that the interest of the Anglophones is to have legal guarantees for their rights, so that they can constantly remind government that this is what we deserve because without this they may not be able to exercise or claim their rights. On the other side, government is afraid that this people might secede. Now both parties need guarantee. Government needs to be sure that Anglophones are not seceding and Anglophones need to be sure that government will give their rightful share of the national cake”.

“Unfortunately the situation has moved from a simple protest to civil disobedience; and civil disobedience arises when people have completely lost faith in their leadership. So at this point we need trust building measures in order to restore some confidence which will permit both parties to discuss their interests” he adds.