Hon. Dr. Nicolas Nguh Santo, Subsection President of Atieugu in Mezam IC and a former diaspora leader, has announced the opening of a Forgiveness Hotline aimed at encouraging reconciliation among individuals and communities affected by the ongoing crisis in Cameroon’s North West and South West Regions.
The initiative is being presented as a contribution to the community dialogue approach highlighted by Prime Minister and Head of Government, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, during his meeting with stakeholders at the Bamenda Congress Hall.
Through the hotline, Dr. Santo is inviting people from different sides of the conflict, including prisoners, members of the diaspora, armed fighters, individuals promoting separatism on social media, military personnel and civilians, to take steps towards reconciliation.
The initiative is intended to provide an avenue for people who believe they have wronged others, whether directly or indirectly, deliberately or unknowingly, to acknowledge their actions and communicate a message of apology or forgiveness.
According to the announcement, interested persons can submit their messages in the form of letters, emails, voice recordings or videos.
How to reach the Forgiveness Hotline
People wishing to participate in the initiative can use the following contacts provided by Dr. Santo:
Cameroon hotline: +237 653 533 904
Diaspora hotline: +1 442 347 7045
Email: nsanto100@gmail.com
The announcement states that messages received through these channels will be forwarded to the relevant authorities of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme and other departments involved in the community dialogue process.
The initiative comes at a time when calls for peace and reconciliation remain central to efforts to restore normalcy in communities affected by years of insecurity.
By opening the hotline, Dr. Santo is seeking to encourage people to reflect on the harm caused by the conflict, reach out to those they may have hurt and consider reconciliation as part of the wider search for peace.
The appeal extends beyond individuals directly involved in the fighting. It also addresses civilians and people in the diaspora, recognising that the conflict has affected families and communities in different ways.
While the announcement outlines how messages will be collected and forwarded to the relevant authorities, the specific procedures for handling submissions and facilitating reconciliation have not been detailed.
The initiative’s impact will ultimately depend on the willingness of people to participate and on how the messages are received and acted upon by the relevant authorities.
For Dr. Santo, the appeal is for people who have wronged others, knowingly or unknowingly, to take a step towards making amends and creating room for forgiveness.
Eagle Eye Africa will continue to follow developments surrounding community dialogue and other initiatives aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation in the North West Region.
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