Situation in NW, SW:US Congress Takes Pulse

A seven-member delegation of the United States of America House of Representatives now better understand the ongoing sociopolitical crisis in the North West and South West Regions and progress made towards resolving it.

Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Joseph Dion Ngute on behalf of the President of the Republic, Paul Biya received the US Congress members on July 2, 2019. At the end of their discussions, the delegation leader, Karen Bass told the press that, “We had very productive discussions with the Prime Minister. He reported to us on the progress that had been made and we will look forward to monitor the situation and hopefully come back to Cameroon soon.” Karen Bass serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs where she is the Chair of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organisations.

She recalled that, “a couple of months ago we had a resolution in Congress calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in North West and South West, calling for dialogue between all parties, unconditionally coming to the table.” According to the US Congress Woman, the most important thing is the progress made toward the peaceful resolution of the crisis, see schools reopened, open access to humanitarian efforts and to see peace in Cameroon. “We can hear about it from far away but we wanted to come here and see first hand,” she said.

Prime Minister Dion Ngute in his welcome statement expressed the delight of the government and people of Cameroon to the US Congress members for coming to have a reality check and appreciate for themselves the situation after having heard and read much about the crisis through different media. He told them that every country had its problems and used the occasion to hail the diverse fruitful cooperation between Cameroon and the US.

In the afternoon, Prime Minister Dion Ngute received in audience a delegation of the Association of Insurance Companies of Cameroon (ASAC) led by their President Théophile Gerard Moulong. The delegation leader disclosed to the press that they discussed the issuance of rental containers that is provided for in the 2019 finance law and they expect the Prime Minister to enable it go operational. Other issues included the putting in place in Cameroon of an insurance fund, the need to take off Value Added Tax on the health and life insurance premiums. The President of ASAC said they were leaving the Prime Minister’s Office with a lot of optimism.