Prominent human rights lawyer and president of the Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA), Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor Balla, has appealed to Cameroonians, especially Anglophones, to prioritize education and unity as the country continues to grapple with the fallout of the protracted crisis in the North West and South West regions.
Speaking on ABS this Tuesday, September 9, 2025, a day after school resumption in the country, Barrister Agbor Balla stressed that the school boycott imposed in parts of the Anglophone regions over the past years has caused immeasurable harm to children and threatens the nation’s future.
“Our children must return to school,” he said firmly. “A country where kids don’t go to school will not survive. It’s like building on sinking sand – when the rains come, it will all crumble.”
The lawyer, who has long advocated for peaceful solutions to the crisis, urged those still opposing the resumption of classes to reconsider their stance. He underscored that education is not only a right but also the foundation of progress and survival for future generations.
Beyond education, Agbor Balla used the platform to call for reconciliation and solidarity across ethnic and linguistic divides. He insisted that Anglophones should not replicate the same discrimination they often denounce in the system.
“We cannot criticize the regime for being discriminatory and marginalizing us, while we practice the same exclusion among ourselves,” he said, emphasizing the importance of tolerance between communities such as the Bassa, Bamileke, and Anglophones.
He also cautioned against hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric, which he described as corrosive to peace efforts.
“We must shun hatred and diatribe against each other. The South West and North West are one people. We need to live together in mutual respect,” he declared.
Addressing the Cameroonian diaspora, Agbor Balla urged them to play a more constructive role in resolving the crisis, rather than fueling divisions from abroad.
“My brothers and sisters in the diaspora, please put an end to the divisive tendencies. They only worsen the suffering of those back home,” he appealed.
The rights advocate concluded with a call for unity between Anglophones and Francophones, arguing that sustainable peace and justice can only be achieved if both communities work hand in hand.
“I believe we will have a better Cameroon if all of us, Anglophones and Francophones, work together for our common good with mutual respect,” he said.
Agbor Balla’s message comes at a critical moment as schools across the country reopen for the 2025/2026 academic year, with many communities in the conflict-hit regions still uncertain about effective attendance and security.
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