Prime Minister Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute has called on traditional rulers, elites and community leaders in the North West Region to intensify efforts towards ending the ongoing armed conflict, urging communities to take ownership of the peace process as the region launches a new community dialogue initiative.
The Prime Minister made the appeal on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the Bamenda Congress Hall during the launch of the Community Dialogue Caravan in the North West Region, an initiative aimed at strengthening social cohesion, promoting reconciliation and encouraging greater community participation in the search for lasting peace.
Reflecting on the nearly decade-long crisis, the Head of Government questioned what had been achieved beyond killings, kidnappings and the destruction of lives and property.
“It is 10 years on. What has been achieved other than killings, kidnappings and other forms of suffering? We must put an end to this senseless war,” he said.
Prime Minister Dion Ngute emphasized that those involved in the conflict are members of the same communities, families and social networks as the people bearing its consequences.
“Those causing this war are our relatives, our brothers and sisters,” he noted, stressing that while security forces have worked to stabilize communities, they cannot independently reach every household and family to address the roots of the conflict.
He warned that continued indifference would only prolong the suffering of the population, adding that the conflict was inflicting its greatest damage on local communities and their families rather than achieving meaningful gains.
“Even the wildest fire burns itself out,” he said, insisting that the time had come to end the violence and restore normalcy across the region.
The Prime Minister described traditional rulers, elites and community leaders as key actors in the peace process because of their close relationship with the population.
He called on them to engage more actively than ever before in raising awareness, encouraging dialogue and persuading armed groups to abandon violence.
He also urged fighters to lay down their weapons and accept the government's offer of peace, emphasizing that sustainable development cannot take place without security and stability.
According to him, the overall security situation has improved considerably, but the danger remains. He called for sustained efforts to ensure that inhabitants can return to their villages and move freely without fear.
“The danger is not yet over,” he cautioned, adding that the region's development had been significantly delayed by a decade of conflict.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of peace-oriented community activities, including football tournaments, as a means of bringing people together, rebuilding trust and strengthening social bonds.
“With peace, we can achieve more,” he stressed.
PPRD highlights social cohesion as a pillar of recovery
Speaking on the theme; "social cohesion and community dialogue," Paul Tasong, President of the Steering Committee of the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development (PPRD), outlined the programme's contribution to peacebuilding and recovery in the North West Region since 2020.
He explained that the Presidential Plan is built around three complementary pathways: humanitarian assistance, dialogue and recovery. According to him, these interventions are designed to proceed simultaneously rather than as isolated stages.
While acknowledging the importance of rebuilding infrastructure and restoring livelihoods, Tasong stressed that physical reconstruction alone would not guarantee lasting peace.
“Rebuilding infrastructure is not enough, and rehabilitating the local economy is not enough. Social cohesion must be reinforced,” he said.
He disclosed that close to 200 social projects had been implemented, including sociocultural initiatives, youth sports activities and community centres intended to strengthen social interaction and rebuild confidence among residents.
Among the flagship initiatives highlighted was the Atougoulah Stadium, alongside programmes such as SACFEST and other community-focused activities.
The PPRD has also supported efforts to address civil documentation challenges. Minister Tasong cited the issuance of approximately 800 birth certificates and explained that, following an assessment of needs, the programme was working with councils to extend such interventions.
He further announced the establishment of 18 multipurpose centres for women and young people, as well as support to rebuild three palaces that were destroyed.
Caution urged over reconstruction of destroyed houses
On the reconstruction of houses, Paul Tasong called for patience as the PPRD undertakes verification exercises to establish the extent of damage caused by the conflict.
He indicated that approximately 20,000 houses were reported to require reconstruction, but stressed the need for thorough investigations to confirm that the houses submitted for assistance had actually been destroyed.
The verification process, he explained, is intended to ensure that reconstruction efforts are based on credible assessments and that available resources are directed towards genuine cases.
Divisional representatives raise concerns over local challenges
During the exchanges that followed the presentations, representatives from various parts of the North West Region highlighted persistent challenges requiring urgent attention.
Mbuh Alice, Mayor of Belo, said the conflict had taken a heavy toll on communities in the Belo Subdivision of Boyo Division. She also raised concerns about what she described as Boyo's limited visibility in the state's administrative and development framework, suggesting that this could be a fundamental issue requiring attention.
In Menchum Division, representatives identified the Bamenda–Wum road as a major concern, underlining the importance of improved road infrastructure to facilitate movement, trade and access to essential services.
Mezam Division also reported progress in disarmament efforts, with 30 former fighters said to have laid down their weapons and been handed over to the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme.
Traditional rulers used the occasion to draw attention to several longstanding community concerns.
Fon Angwafo IV called for the swift resolution of boundary disputes between villages, noting that such disagreements could undermine peaceful coexistence.
He also raised concerns over the massive transfer of teachers out of the region and the difficult circumstances facing internally displaced persons, many of whom, he said, were being assisted by local communities with little or no external support.
The traditional ruler further lamented the difficulties faced by community leaders seeking to initiate dialogue with separatist groups, claiming that some were labelled by administrative authorities for attempting to engage in peace efforts.
He called for greater openness towards community-led dialogue and advocated increased recruitment of sons and daughters of the region into the civil service.
Dialogue caravan to extend to divisions and subdivisions
Accordong to the Governor of the North West, Adolphe Lele Lafrique, Community Dialogue sessions are expected to move beyond the regional headquarters to the various divisions and, subsequently, subdivisions, bringing the peacebuilding process closer to affected communities.
Traditional rulers and leaders of civil society organisations are expected to play a leading role in the exercise, with the aim of encouraging grassroots participation, identifying local concerns and fostering cooperation among communities, administrative authorities and other stakeholders.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of a 10-year conflict that has disrupted education, displaced families, weakened local economies and slowed development across the North West Region.
As the dialogue process gathers momentum, stakeholders are expected to translate the appeals for peace into concrete community-level action, with renewed emphasis on reconciliation, reintegration, social cohesion and the restoration of normal life.
0 Comments