Yaoundé/Libreville, 24 January 2020 – The Secretary
General of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Mr. Ahmad
Allam-Mi, and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head
of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), Mr. François Louncény
Fall, are closely monitoring the sociopolitical situation in Cameroon.
During
their joint visit to Yaoundé from 19 to 23 January 2020, ahead of the beginning
of electoral campaign for the 9 February legislative and municipal elections,
the two officials called for the electoral process to unfold in peaceful and
secure conditions across the country. |
| The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNOCA, Mr. François Louncény Fall, and the Secretary-General of ECCAS, Mr. Ahmad Allam-Mi, reassured Prime Minister Simplice Mathieu Sarandji of their determination to continue working together to support ongoing efforts to restore State authority and contribute to the sustainable development of CAR. Photo UNOCA. |
They stressed the need for full respect
for civil and political rights, including the right to vote, freedom of
expression, peaceful assembly and movement, the right to information and equal
access to the media by political actors during this crucial period. Likewise,
they condemn all attempts to restrict those fundamental rights, especially by
way of threats or violence intended to prevent the electorate from exercising
the right to vote.
The ECCAS Secretary General and the Head of
UNOCA urge all actors involved in the electoral process in Cameroon to foster
peaceful conditions and continue working towards the well-being of
Cameroonians. In that regard, they encourage political parties, candidates and
their supporters to resolve disputes through legal channels and dialogue. They
invite, in particular, the media and social media users to refrain from any
speech inciting hatred, violence and division, and appeal to them to promote
the values of peace and social cohesion.
The two envoys welcome with satisfaction the
holding of capacity-building workshops for the staff of Elections Cameroon
(ELECAM) and journalists, which were organized by ECCAS in Yaoundé from 8 to 9
January and 15 to 17 January 2020, respectively, with the technical support of
UNOCA.
The ECCAS Secretary General and the Head of
UNOCA stress that peaceful, free and transparent elections on 9 February will
be a decisive step towards the strengthening of stability and democratic gains.
They encourage the authorities to continue efforts at implementing the
recommendations of the Major National Dialogue through inclusive approaches and
persevere in their efforts at national reconciliation. They reiterate the
determination of their respective institutions to continue working closely with
national authorities, regional organizations and all other stakeholders to
contribute to achieving these results and sustainable development in Cameroon.