Armed conflict in NW, SW: Before Tchiroma is crucified!.

That's normal when politicians get on soapboxes, especially where candidates don't hold debates to articulate and crystallise their policies for the electorate to differentiate illusions from pragmaticism.

In Bamenda, capital of the North West Region, regarded as the hotbed of separatist fighters, Tchiroma asked a teeming crowd: "Do you know Chris Anu?" [who is one of the vocal separatist leaders resident in the United States]. The enthusiastic crowd yelled "yes".

Tchiroma then exploded in visible excitement: "I know him, we talk to each other; we disagree on several issues. Before coming here, I told him, Chris, I'm coming to my home in Bamenda, which is also your home. I told him, Chris, take care of me."

But before anyone could say Jack Robinson, Anu fired back: "I was surprised to discover Issa Tchiroma's statements. I was not aware of his departure for Bamenda. We did not discuss it".

The separatist leader maintained that he is not a friend of Tchiroma Bakary, adding that: "I know him as a politician. I have spoken with him, but I am not close to him".

He also denounced the claim that he had given a voting instruction for Amba not to disturb the polling.

"I will not ask that they should vote for him under any circumstances. He's old Tchiroma in a new cassock. Otherwise, Tchiroma seems like a nice person," he said. 

Even if they are not "friends", what is irrefutable is that both had some communication when Tchiroma was Government Spokesperson and if given the opportunity then, he would have sent Anu to the gallows.

Tchiroma's soapbox rant in Bamenda has, however, been a matter of controversy with some commentators casting banal and, vituperative aspersions on him and even calling for his prosecution. Others in sublime articulation give him kudos for a spirit of dialogue.

For Tchiroma's antagonists, he is a friend of a "terrorist". Even if Chris Anu, until proven guilty, remains innocent, until charged and convicted, and should his friends share in his "crime" if found guilty?

What if Chris Anu repents and drops his arms, if he has some, will he not be an inmate of the disarmament centres like others?

How can communicating with a secessionist leader tantamount to criticism when everyone, including President Biya, has proffered dialogue as a solution to conflicts?

At the core of the Tchiroma's controversy lies a fundamental truth. There is a bloody conflict in the North West and South West Regions that has been raging sporadically into its eighth year.

The agonising ramifications include killings, refugees, internally displaced persons, kidnapping for ransom, ghost towns and lockdowns which the inhabitants have been living on edge with.

The senseless conflict cannot be flagged down by military might but by dialogue with "separatists, Amba Boys, secessionists or terrorists" as they are variously called. 

History teaches that it is no crime to dialogue with terrorists and even pay ransom. A social media posting went viral in July 2020, that Sisiku Ayuk Tabe Julius, jailed leader of self-proclaimed Ambazonia Federal Republic of Kamerun, had a secret meeting with government officials and he remained uncompromising in his stand for separation. 

"Be reassured that we remain committed to the restoration of the independence of the homeland," he wrote.

The meeting, exploratory as reported, did not get the endorsement of co-convict, Wilfred Tasang, the trade unionist who turned down his invitation and later issued a detailed account of the encounter; saying it was just one of two such talks with government officials attributing his boycott to the logic that "you do not negotiate from prison".

Although he preferred not to mention the personalities on the government side, he named those Sisiku took to the dialogue as well as "Mancho Bibixy, Penn Terrence, Rev Fritz Takang aka Bush Hunter, Ngome".

Following the disclosure, the Minister of Communication and Government Spokesman, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, refuted holding of such a meeting. 

However, he paradoxically said the government “is therefore open to various contacts, initiatives and proposals, while preserving Cameroon’s national unity and territorial integrity”.

Peace building initiatives involve dialogue with an opponent. Governments, even as powerful as that of the United States, are on record to have negotiated with the Taliban to swap hostages.

There have also been reports that Yaounde negotiated with Boko Haram, which is listed by the United Nations as a terrorist group, to free Chinese workers captured in Cameroon and the wife of the late Ahmadou Ali, for instance.

Just recently when the Idabato Divisional Officer, Roland Ewane, was released from captivity by Nigerian pirates who had demanded 700,000 US dollars ransom, he thanked the Head of State, Paul Biya, and the entire government, headed by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Dr Chief Joseph Dion Ngute, who he said “assisted and fought that we should come out”.

The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, who received him told reporters that: “We are still working on that case... [of a councillor kidnapped with the DO]. I think by the grace of God, sooner or later, he will also be released". 

Governments around the world covertly negotiate with terrorists, though overtly denouncing such negotiations, to serve their national interest, at times on humanitarian grounds.

The Guardian Post sees nothing wrong to negotiate with separatists or even terrorists, especially when there is a conflict. And if friendship with separatists or terrorists can end the conflict in the two English-speaking Regions and open the way to reconciliation, forgiveness and rehabilitation to nourish peace and unity, should it not be encouraged? The answer is embedded in the question.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3588 of Wednesday October 08, 2025