National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism: A failed institution ⁰

The Commission that was created by President Biya to resolve the Southern Cameroons crisis and led by Senator Mafany Musonge has existed for eight months already. And so far, it has nothing to its credit. This September 23, 2017 will be nine months of its existence and the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism (CNPBM) is still on paper.

Apart from the installation ceremony of its members and the secretary general and the two sessions it held, the institution headed by Mr. Mafany Musonge is virtually non-existent. For the records, the commission was established to examined several subjects related to the anglophone crisis. A visit was was announced last June in the Northwest and South West Regions during the apex of the crisis, which began in November 2016. Musonge and his men were to visit Southern Cameroons as part of the “facilitation mission “. Cameroon Concord News can reveal that until now, the so-called National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism has not set foot in Southern Cameroons.

After the release of the leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium on August 30, French Cameroun political elites were anticipating a reaction from the president of the Commission on the antennas of the Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV). No reaction regarding this measure was made public. Mafany Musonge and his gang have never commented on the violence, particularly the destruction of schools and other public buildings, which are constantly pacing life in Southern Cameroons. Similarly, the institution headed by former Prime Minister Mafany Musonge has also refrained from any statement on the non resumption of schools.

Peter Mafany Musonge (to use his three names) was approached by a French Cameroun newspaper and he observed that there is no need to worry. “The commission is working. You will hear from us soon,” he said. The Commission was created on the 23rd of January 2017 by a decree of the President of the Republic. Its creation took place after the Government decided to end the negotiations begun with the leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai
Cameroon Concord News