Dion Ngute Announces South West Peace Fund to Back Fighter Outreach
Prime Minister and Head of Government Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute has announced the creation of a South West Peace Fund to finance community-led efforts to persuade remaining armed fighters to lay down their weapons and return to civilian life.
The announcement came during the South West Community Dialogue in Buea, where the Prime Minister said local groups would identify experienced facilitators to reach out to fighters in their communities.
The facilitators will encourage fighters to surrender, return home or enter the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process.
Dion Ngute said the initiative must be backed by resources and called on South West elites, businesses and development organisations to contribute to the new fund.
“From now on we are creating a South West Peace Fund.” He said the fund would provide financial support for those carrying out the community outreach, with the aim of accelerating efforts to bring remaining fighters back into civilian life.
The Prime Minister also sought to reassure those who surrender, saying the state would protect those who abandon the armed struggle and enter the reintegration process.
Monthly peace monitoring, Dion Ngute further instructed Senior Divisional Officers across the South West to conduct monthly assessments of the peace process in their respective administrative units.
The SDOs are expected to submit written reports to the South West Governor, who will forward them to the government. The Prime Minister said the region has made progress towards relative peace but stressed that communities want to move beyond a situation where residents continue to fear attacks or abductions.
The South West Peace Fund is therefore expected to provide financial backing for grassroots outreach as authorities seek to expand community involvement in the search for lasting peace.
