The federal government says Canada will lead a peace process to resolve the ongoing crisis in Cameroon, where years of fighting and conflict have displaced nearly 800,000 people.
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said groups in the west-central African country had an agreement to participate in a process aimed at reaching a political, peaceful and comprehensive solution to the conflict.
Joly said in a statement that Canada will help the groups as part of its commitment to promote peace and security and advance support for democracy and human rights.
She said that civilians are bearing the brunt of the ongoing crisis, with more than 6,000 deaths since 2017 and 600,000 children without adequate access to education.
Joly said the groups include the Republic of Cameroon, the Ambazonia Governing Council and the Ambazonia Self-Defense Forces, the African People’s Liberation Movement and the South Cameroons Self-Defense Forces, the Provisional Government and the Ambazonia Alliance Group.
According to the United Nations, ongoing fighting between state security forces and armed groups has resulted in the killing and displacement of civilians, including attacks on schools and children.
