This
Christmas, both Christians and Muslims are praying for peace to return to
Cameroon. Until a few years ago, the country never experienced serious violence
or unrest; but, the Boko Haram insurgency in the north, the spillover of
violence from the Central African Republic and the turmoil in Cameroon’s
English-speaking regions have made life difficult for many.
Thirty youths representing
churches and mosques are roaming the streets of Cameroon’s capital, urging
everyone to pray that peace returns to the trouble spots of this central
African state.
Among the singers is Bertrand
Bayaga of the Full Gospel mission. He says he does not want more bloodshed in
Cameroon.
Bayaga says he is praying for
the government to be tactful and tolerant in finding solutions to all problems,
because he does not want the country that their forefathers shed their blood
for, to achieve its independence and unity, to be divided.
A nationwide prayer campaign was
organized by pastor Jean Libom Li Likeng of the evangelical church of Cameroon.
The pastor says he organized the
prayers to call on God to urgently come to the help of the Cameroon nation. He
says through the massive participation and prayer he witnessed, he is satisfied
that the country’s elite and people of God have understood that God is calling
them to contribute in bringing peace to Cameroon.
Peace under
attack
At the Yaounde central mosque,
Imam Oumarou Issa says he is respecting the call for prayer because peace is
under attack.
“Every one of us must apply the
command of the almighty God to live in peace, in harmony with the other people
everywhere,” he said. “We are and we must be, all of us, without any
distinction, ambassadors of peace.”
Cameroon had not experienced any
major challenges for decades. In the past few years, however, it has been
enveloped by the bloody Boko Haram insurgency in the north, incursions from
armed groups based in the C.A.R. and calls for secession from two
English-speaking regions where many feel ignored by the country’s
French-speaking majority.
Peter Ndzelen, who attended
Christmas Day services at the Yaounde cathedral, says he especially hopes the
government will engage in sincere dialogue with the secessionists.
“It is good to bring people
together, [for them to] express your [their] minds, bring the advantages and
disadvantages of one system [of government] or the other and you talk and
agree. It is not a taboo. Do not think that the person who is claiming
independence or anything is somebody who cannot even change his mind or sit at
the table and talk,” he said.
Cameroon is due to hold
parliamentary and presidential elections in 2018, with longtime President Paul
Biya expected to seek a seventh term.
Source: VOA
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