The Senior officials of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) in the North West Region have renewed calls for peace and an end to the ongoing Anglophone crisis, urging those still carrying arms against the State of Cameroon to abandon violence and embrace dialogue, as the party celebrated 44 years of President Paul Biya at the helm of the country.
The celebration, held at the Bamenda Congress Hall on Friday, November 6, brought together members of the party's regional, divisional and sub-divisional executive structures, as well as militants and supporters from across the region. It was marked by speeches, political mobilisation and reflections on the challenges facing the North West Region, particularly the security situation and the forthcoming legislative and municipal elections.
Speaking at the gathering, former Prime Minister and CPDM stalwart, H.E. Philemon Yang, made a strong appeal for peace, insisting that the region cannot achieve meaningful development without security and stability.
He recalled the difficult experiences of the North West Region over the past years, citing kidnappings, killings, threats, ghost towns and school boycotts as some of the consequences of the crisis that has affected communities, businesses and institutions.
Yang was particularly critical of separatist violence as he has always been, maintaining that no individual or group has the right to take up arms against the state or destroy the country.
"Separatists were wrong yesterday, they are wrong today, and would be wrong tomorrow," he declared, calling on those involved in the armed conflict to reconsider their actions and allow the region to return to normalcy.
He stressed that peace must come from the people themselves and not be expected from outside the country.
"We destroyed the peace, we now have a responsibility to bring it back," Yang told the gathering, urging political leaders, traditional authorities, elected representatives and ordinary citizens to work together towards restoring security in the region.
He also called for greater use of decentralisation and the special status granted to the North West and South West Regions, describing these constitutional provisions as important instruments for addressing local concerns and improving governance.
According to him, the special status should not simply remain a constitutional provision on paper but must be fully understood and put to use by the people for whom it was created.
Beyond the anniversary celebrations, the forthcoming legislative and municipal elections featured prominently in the speeches, with CPDM leaders making it clear that the party is determined to strengthen its political presence in the North West Region.
Yang challenged party militants to work towards winning all 20 parliamentary seats and the 34 municipal councils in the region, describing the elections as decisive for the political future of the North West.
Particular attention was drawn to Bamenda III Council, currently controlled by the Social Democratic Front (SDF), which remains the lone opposition-held council in the region.
The Mezam I Central (Mezam 1C) CPDM Section was therefore challenged to intensify its mobilisation and work towards taking over the council from the SDF in the forthcoming municipal elections.
Yang reminded party supporters that political participation and representation at the national level depend largely on electoral performance, warning that losing the elections could weaken the party's ability to influence decisions and govern effectively.
He urged militants not to surrender political ground to the opposition, insisting that the party must consolidate its gains in the region and build on its performance during the last presidential election.
The message was particularly directed at local party executives, whom he tasked with maintaining unity, discipline and effective coordination ahead of the polls.
He also reminded section presidents of the CPDM, the WCPDM and the YCPDM of their responsibility to manage party funds transparently and jointly, while cautioning militants against internal divisions and indiscipline.
For Yang, party loyalty must go hand in hand with respect for established rules and collective responsibility.
In a message that repeatedly returned to the question of peace and development, the former Prime Minister described the North West as a region with enormous potential despite the difficulties it has experienced.
He encouraged the population not to lose hope, expressing confidence that peace would eventually return and that the region could regain its former economic and social strength.
He also acknowledged the role of defence and security forces, thanking them for their contribution to efforts aimed at restoring stability and supporting development.
Addressing the population, Yang maintained that the future of the region depends on the willingness of its people to work together, embrace peace and make use of the opportunities offered by decentralisation.
Another prominent voice at the celebration was Minister Mbah Acha Rose, who highlighted the importance of women's and youths' participation in political activities, particularly as the country prepares for the next legislative and municipal elections.
She encouraged women and young people to take advantage of available opportunities, seek party nominations and present themselves as candidates rather than remaining on the sidelines of the political process.
She also praised President Biya's leadership, pointing to developments in infrastructure, education and other sectors, while expressing appreciation for efforts towards restoring peace in the North West and South West Regions.
Her message was largely one of encouragement, urging women and young people to become more actively involved in shaping the political future of their communities.
The programme also featured a presentation on Artificial Intelligence (AI), introducing participants to the growing influence of the technology on education, employment, agriculture, healthcare and governance.
The presenter explained how tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and DeepSeek are changing the way people access information, conduct research and carry out everyday activities.
He highlighted the opportunities AI offers students through personalised learning, real-time feedback and improved access to research materials. In agriculture, he explained how the technology can assist farmers in monitoring soil conditions, detecting diseases and improving yields. Its growing use in healthcare and public administration was also discussed.
However, the presentation did not overlook the dangers associated with the technology. Concerns were raised about job displacement, misuse of personal information, overdependence on AI by students, online scams, fabricated photographs, fake audio recordings and misinformation.
The presenter encouraged participants to embrace the technology responsibly and familiarise themselves with Cameroon's national Artificial Intelligence strategy, which he said seeks to position the country as a continental AI hub by 2040.
The presentation brought a technology and innovation perspective to the anniversary gathering, extending discussions beyond party politics and the usual commemorative speeches.
The celebration was organised under the theme of unity, determination and loyalty behind President Paul Biya, who assumed office on November 6, 1982.
Banners displayed at the Congress Hall reflected the party's message of loyalty and mobilisation ahead of the 2026/2027 legislative and municipal elections, with particular emphasis on rallying women and youths for the party's electoral ambitions.
In his address, Philemon Yang also recalled what he described as key achievements of the New Deal era, including changes in education, infrastructure, democratic institutions and the organisation of the state.
He called on militants to reconcile internal differences, strengthen party discipline and remain committed to the ideals of national unity, territorial integrity and peaceful coexistence.
As the North West Region approaches another electoral cycle against the backdrop of a crisis that will enter its tenth year this November, the message from the CPDM leadership in Bamenda was clear: restoring peace, strengthening the party's political presence and winning the forthcoming elections remain central to its ambitions for the region.
For the Mezam 1C Section in particular, the challenge of wresting Bamenda III Council from the SDF now stands out as one of the major political battles ahead.
