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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol.8, No.1

Publication Date: January 25, 2021

DOI:10.14738/assrj.81.9512. Monteh, R. N. (2021). Encumbrances to Non-Governmental Organisations (Ngos) Efforts towards Conflict Resolution In The North West

Region Of Cameroon, 1990-2010.Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(1) 209- 225.

Encumbrances to Non-Governmental Organisations (Ngos) Efforts

towards Conflict Resolution in the North West Region Of Cameroon,

1990-2010

René Ngek Monteh, PhD.

ENS/University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon

ABSTRACT

Conflicts have existed since the creation of man and have remained an

undeniable aspect of the human society. Conflicts have manifested in

various ways in Cameroon and the incidence has indeed been high in

the North West Region. This study entitled “Challenges of Non- Governmental Organisations in Conflict Resolution in the North West

Region, 1990-2010” seeks to examine the difficulties that NGOs

involved in conflict resolution faced between 1990 and 2010 in this

part of Cameroon. The culture of peace has been difficult to nurture in

the region because of the proliferation of conflicts. The present study

therefore, seeks to explore the sector of NGOs with special focus on

their challenges in conflict management and resolution since many of

these NGOs were devoted to human rights issues, capacity building and

conflict resolution. A critical study of existing literature on the subject

of conflicts and our numerous visits to the field revealed that NGOs in

this domain had invested valuable time and resources to prevent the

escalation of tension among the antagonist of the region. Despite the

influential role and enormous resources deployed by these NGOs,

many obstacles perturbed the realisation of their missions. By the end

of our research these challenges which constituted the “raison d’être”

of the present study turned out to be internal and external.

Keywords: NGOs, conflict resolution, prevention, management, challenges.

Résumé

Les conflits existent depuis la création de l'homme et sont restés un aspect indéniable de la société

humaine. Les conflits se sont manifestés de diverses manières au Cameroun et leur incidence a été

effectivement élevée dans la région du Nord-Ouest. Cette étude intitulée "Les défis des

organisations non gouvernementales dans la résolution des conflits dans la région du Nord-Ouest,

1990-2010" cherche à examiner les difficultés que les ONG impliquées dans la résolution des

conflits ont rencontrées entre 1990 et 2010 dans cette partie du Cameroun. La culture de la paix a

été difficile à entretenir dans la région en raison de la prolifération des conflits. La présente étude

cherche donc à explorer le secteur des ONG en mettant l'accent sur leurs difficultés en matière de

gestion et de résolution des conflits, étant donné que nombre de ces ONG se consacrent aux

questions de droits de l'homme, au renforcement des capacités et à la résolution des conflits. Une

étude critique de la littérature existante sur le sujet des conflits et nos nombreuses visites sur le

terrain ont révélé que les ONG dans ce domaine avaient investi du temps et des ressources

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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol.8, Issue 1, January-2021

précieux pour prévenir l'escalade des tensions entre les antagonistes de la région. Malgré le rôle

influent et les énormes ressources déployées par ces ONG, de nombreux obstacles ont perturbé la

réalisation de leurs missions. À la fin de notre étude, ces défis, qui constituent la raison d'être de la

présente étude, se sont révélés être internes et externes.

Mots-clés: ONG, résolution des conflits, prévention, gestion, défis.

INTRODUCTION

Conflict resolution is as old as the creation of man and has been a worldwide phenomenon that

involves individuals, States, organisations and the civil society. Conflicts of various kinds have

erupted in many parts of Cameroon, especially in the North West Region. The region is reputed to

have registered the highest incidence of state civilian, land, boundary and farmer-grazier conflicts

in the country since independence (P. Bungfang, 2000, p.2). The root of some of this vice can be

traced to the colonial era. Since colonial times, the people of this region have witnessed an

increase in the occurrence of conflicts. These conflicts are mostly manifested in the form of intra- kingdom and inter-kingdom conflicts.

During the pre-colonial era, most conflicts arose over the question of land succession, refusal to

pay tributes and the non-performance of mortuary rites by friendly neighbours during the

“disappearance” of a king, although their incidence was not as alarming as today. Economically,

attempts to monopolise trade in certain commodities such as palm oil, clay pots and the refusal to

give off some princesses for marriage to other kingdoms were also major causes of conflict.

Whatever their causes and dimensions, these conflicts were peacefully resolved through

traditional methods. Some of these methods included mediation, conciliation, negotiation,

appeasement and atonement rituals, diplomacy and arbitration. These methods were generally

effective since the people believed in them and trusted them (E.Yekong Sobseh, 2007, p.3).

These conflicts however, resurfaced during the German and British colonial periods, especially

when colonial authorities introduced the tax system and an arbitrary chieftaincy institution. Some

kingdoms were obliged to pay taxes through others. The creation of administrative units and the

classification of chiefs into various categories were also sources of conflicts (M. Bolack Funteh,

2005, p.21). Colonial authorities attempted to resolve some of these conflicts their way but faced

many challenges. In most cases they either suppressed indigenous aspirations or sharpened

differences between ethnic groups. Their legal framework for conflict resolution generally

undermined indigenous customs and practices.

The Western mechanisms to a certain extent became a major contributing factor to the incessant

conflicts in Africa, Cameroon inclusive. The colonial period saw both indigenous and colonial

methods of conflict resolution moving side-by-side. Despite this, colonial instruments gradually

eroded the indigenous methods of conflict resolution (E. Sobseh, 2007, p.20). This was because

colonial masters imposed their own mechanisms of resolving conflicts on Africans by destroying

and modifying some of the binding traditions and customs.

Not all of these conflicts were satisfactorily resolved during the colonial period. Some of them

continued into the post-colonial period while new ones surfaced in the region. Apart from the

renaissance of land and boundary disputes, other forms of conflicts engulfed the province from the

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URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.81.9512 211

Monteh, R. N. (2021). Encumbrances to Non-Governmental Organisations (Ngos) Efforts towards Conflict Resolution In The North West Region Of

Cameroon, 1990-2010.Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(1) 209- 225.

late 1970s (E. Sobseh, 2007, p.22). These included religious and farmer-grazier conflicts. Religious

conflicts resulted from intolerance and tribalism within church circles, while farmer-grazier

conflicts were enhanced by the non-alienation of grazing land from cultivable lands by the

authorities in question (A. Mukong, 1999, pp.1-2). The major stakeholders in the early years of

independence were, in order of importance, the State and traditional authorities.

In this paper, we shall be focus on the challenges faced by four (04) NGOs prominent in the area

namely: the Mbororo Social, Cultural and Development Association (MBOSCUDA), Ecumenical

Mission for Peace and Development (EMPED-foundation), the Ecumenical Service for Peace (SeP)

and the Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) from 1990 to 2010. NGOs selected for the present

study had to meet the following criteria: they must have been active in the region by playing an

important role in conflict resolution and promoting of peace; they must have at least a head-office

based in the region and must be in direct contact with people in conflict zones. Despite their

presence and active involvement in conflict resolution in the North West Region, their activities

have not glided on hitch free. These NGOs face both internal and external challenges in the

execution of their mission.

The Advent of NGOs in Cameroon and in the North West Region

In Cameroon, NGOs became popular with the liberalisation of associations and civil rights

organisations by law no. 90/053 of 19th December 1990. However, before this period, HELVETAS,

the Swiss Association for International Cooperation (SAIC) which was formerly known as SATA

(Swiss Association for Technical Assistance) had started its development cooperation in the

former West Cameroon federated state as early as 1962. HELVETAS during its forty-five years of

activity in Cameroon was mostly involved in the provision of portable water in rural communities,

rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads, bridges, community centres and other infrastructural

buildings in Cameroon (HELVETAS Cameroon, 2011).

The activities of HELVETAS began in the former West Cameroon with three SATA water engineers

stationed in Kumba, Mamfe and Bamenda. After starting water supply projects in close

collaboration with the benefitting villages and the local committee development offices, the lack of

qualified Cameroonian technical staff led to the establishment of the Building Training Centre in

Kumba (BTC) to instruct the required technical artisans like masons, plumbers, carpenters and

providing advance level courses for foremen, works supervisors, technicians and maintenance

staff. Due to the high demand for portable water in the villages, the programme was rapidly

expanded to areas like Ndu and Victoria (Limbe). With unification in 1972, it was extended to the

French speaking regions of the country areas of Bafoussam and Yaounde. Unfortunately, the

community development philosophy never gained a successful foothold in this part of the country.

Later, the department lost its power, became weak and inefficient when it was integrated into the

central government in Yaounde (M. Bolack Funteh, 2005, p.8).

After handing over most of the institution’s projects and activities to local bodies, HELVETAS

concentrated its interventions and assistance (mainly the water sector) in the North West Region

and transferred the programme Director’s office to Bamenda. New partnerships came up first with

some NGOs and local councils. This led to the new council support programme, which in recent

times became very successful and strengthened the ownership of the water project communities.