On Monday 21 March, the EU Council underlined the importance that the EU attaches to its partnership with Cameroon, while calling for an immediate end to the ongoing violence and human rights violations in the North-West and South-West of the country (see EUROPE 12840/21).
“The EU encourages the government of Cameroon to ensure a peaceful and fully inclusive political environment”, according to the EU Council conclusions, which were adopted without debate.
Welcoming the government’s commitments to strengthen local governance, including by granting special status to the North-West and South-West regions, the EU calls for their rapid and effective implementation.
“Extremely concerned about the crisis in the North-West and South-West regions”, the EU “condemns in the strongest possible terms the violations and abuses of human rights as well as the violations of humanitarian principles”.
It condemns violence against civilians, including sexual and gender-based violence, abductions and systematic attacks on schools, which prevent access to education.
The EU reiterates its readiness to support more actively any mediation initiative that could lead to a peaceful and long-term settlement, including the Swiss-led process.
It condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist actions carried out by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Far North, and reaffirms its solidarity with Cameroon in this fight.
The EU assures that it will continue to support Cameroon and the Cameroonians in their efforts to build a stable and prosperous country for all, where human rights and democratic principles are fully respected.
Stressing “Cameroon’s essential contribution to regional stability”, the EU will continue to work with Cameroon within the framework of the Yaoundé architecture and through coordinated maritime presences in the Gulf of Guinea. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)