By Colbert Gwain
Muteff, a small village in the Fundong Subdivision of the Boyo Division in Cameroon's North West Region, may have been little known, but its events often have global significance. Strategically located as a compulsory stopover for travelers to far-flung communities like Akeh, Mbessa, Ajung, Achain, and Konene, Muteff serves as an exciting hub and a melting pot for new ideas and, occasionally, unusual incidents.
In the 1990s, a tragic incident occurred that could have led to the destruction of both Muteff village and the neighboring Achain fandom. The only beloved son of a feared Achain man, Muchua, had spent the night with his close friend in Muteff while returning from a trip to purchase oil for his father in the Fundong market. The next morning, his friend saw him off at the Muteff plateau, but he was found dead shortly after. Muchua, believing his son had been poisoned, vowed to avenge his death by completely wiping out the family of the perpetrator.
Members of the family of the accused person in Muteff began dying one by one, almost every year. Despite the accused's continuous denial of involvement, it became increasingly clear that he knew something about the death. When he finally died, his younger brother, Pascal, a military officer, decided to take bold action and engage in direct talks with Muchua.
Pascal's decision was motivated by the advice of concerned friends and family members. During previous indirect talks with Muchua by concerned friends, he insisted that his decision was final and irreversible. Undeterred, Pascal traveled to Muchua's mystical lodge in Achain, determined to find a peaceful resolution.
Initially, Muchua refused to receive Pascal, but the young officer's persistence eventually won him over. Pascal made it clear that he was not interested in determining whether his brother had killed Muchua's son or not. Instead, he took responsibility for the crime and offered himself in exchange for Muchua's late son. Muchua, however, remained unmoved, reiterating that his decision was final.
Despite the lack of progress, Pascal refused to give up. He spent another night in Achain, determined to keep the communication flowing. Although he eventually left without a resolution, he had resolved to continue his efforts to find peace. In one of his trips to Achain, Pascal had made Muchua understand that as a uniform officer, he could have jolly well got Muchua arrested and charged for witchcraft practices or even just gunned down, yet he had chosen the path to peace where both of them would emerge winners. Equally, the death of his son (supposedly in the hands of a Ndongdeh little known in Muteff to wield any strong mystical powers), raised questions over Muchua's celebrated mystical ability to protect his own.
As time passed, Muchua began to see the sincerity in Pascal's actions and started being remorseful of the disproportionate nature of his actions. Eventually, the curse that had haunted Pascal's family was lifted, and the destruction of his family line was averted. Pascal's bravery and determination brought an end to the cycle of violence and death.
Sadly, Pascal later died due to workplace-related jealousy, rather than as a result of Muchua's curse. Nevertheless, his selfless actions brought peace to his family and the community, and his legacy lived on as a testament to the power of courage, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Last Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Follow-up Committee meeting on the implementation of the resolutions of the 2019 Major National Dialogue called by President Paul Biya to resolve the Anglophone conflict, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute spent time advertising the success rate of the implementation of the resolutions and explaining government resolve to see that all the resolutions were implemented.
Although the Prime Minister gave to understanding it was just enough for all the resolutions to be implemented for the conflict (that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced thousands more both internally and externally) to be brought to a satisfactory end, a key actor in the Follow -Up Committee, Archbishop Andrew Nkea, was categorical government seem to be speaking to itself. Echoing the thoughts of most separatist fighters, the level-headed pastor and shepherd of the metropolitan church in Bamenda said the government needed to do more if they really wanted this conflict to come to a satisfactory end: engage in direct talks with separatist fighters. This is the kind of advice that Pascal (though with his military might) yielded to in the Muteff case, and his family was saved from total annihilation.
The Archbishop's statement is not just a moral imperative but also a practical necessity. This is not the first time Archbishop Nkea has proffered this advice to the government of Cameroon. In 2020, he wrote a pastoral letter emphasizing that seeking peace was not a sign of weakness (just as Pascal made Bobe Muchua understand) but rather a sign of maturity and genuine love for others.
The Cameroon government's willingness to engage in direct peace talks or revive the Swiss or Canadian Initiatives is key to resolving the conflict. However, as Nkea had noted before, the process has been slow, and the demands of the separatist groups, including the release of their supporters from prisons and the withdrawal of the military forces, have not been met.
Engaging directly with Separatist fighters would foster trust and create a conducive environment for resolving the conflict. Archbishop Nkea aptly emphasized the importance of dialogue, stating, "Synodality implies dialogue, discussion, moving together... This great innovation offers us great help in conflict situations." His words resonate deeply, especially considering the immense suffering the conflict has already caused.
The need for immediate action from all parties involved cannot be overstated. As Christianity approaches the Easter season, Archbishop Nkea's appeal takes on added significance. The story of Jesus Christ, who (like Pascal in the Muteff case), paid a debt he didn't owe and selflessly died for sins he didn't commit, serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of seeking peace and reconciliation.
Continuing to engage in internal discussions, as seen in Yaounde last Tuesday, would only serve to widen the trust gap between parties. This approach is reminiscent of Jesus' decision to appear to his disciples after his resurrection, rather than to the Roman soldiers who crucified him. Jesus' choice was likely due to the soldiers' disbelief in the resurrection.
In contrast, Archbishop Andrew Nkea has stated that separatist fighters believe genuine dialogue is the only way to end the eight-year conflict. This willingness to engage in dialogue offers a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution. By prioritizing direct communication, the parties involved can work towards building trust and finding a mutually beneficial solution.
In these tumultuous times, communities need access to information that reflects their diverse lives, values, and priorities and is responsive to their feedback. As part of our trustworthy news engagement, we are committed to comforting those in need and challenging those who hinder social progress. However, this endeavor is neither easy nor lucrative. The Colbert Factor is a solution-driven, independent non-profit content creation platform. Serving as a primary source for newspapers, radio and TV stations, online news outlets, and blogs, we maintain our independence from corporate and government interests by not displaying advertisements.
You can support our mission to produce investigative, balanced, fair, reliable, credible, and educational content by donating your support through MTN Mobile Money (677852476) or Orange Money (687338370). Your contribution will help preserve a free press.