Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the current political and military situation in Cameroon.

I met the Cameroon Minister for Education in February, when we discussed the situation in his country. The escalation of violence in its southwest is the most pressing threat to political stability in Cameroon.

I am particularly concerned by reports of violence against civilians. I believe that constructive dialogue remains the way towards a lasting solution to the crisis, preserving unity and peace for all the people of Cameroon. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the Government of Cameroon to ensure free, transparent, and credible elections and strongly discourage election related violence during next month’s presidential elections.

While Ireland does not have an Embassy in Cameroon, we continue to monitor the circumstances there closely. The Embassy of Ireland in Nigeria, which hosts many refugees from Cameroon, tracks the evolving situation and its regional impact, including through engagement with regional bodies. This is supplemented by ongoing contacts with the EU delegation in Yaoundé.

In this context, I recall the EEAS statement of 7 February on the situation in Cameroon, which called on all sides to refrain from acts which might exacerbate tensions. It remains the responsibility of the Government of Cameroon to create a secure environment in which all citizens are protected from violence, and where international human rights standards, including protection for minority groups, are upheld.

Ireland supports the efforts of United Nations bodies providing aid to those affected by the conflict. An Irish Aid rapid responder has been deployed to Cameroon to assist the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

The human rights situation in Cameroon was most recently reviewed in May by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, under the Universal Periodic Review mechanism. Ireland fully participated in those discussions.