French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday expressed support for ongoing peace efforts in Cameroon’s troubled English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest.

“This visit is coming at a time when peace and reconciliation are gaining ground in Cameroon. We also wish to accompany Cameroon in its efforts that have been going on for some time now following the major national dialogue, so that Cameroon can regain its serenity,” he said after meeting with Cameroon’s President Paul Biya here.

Le Drian is on a two-day work visit to Cameroon during which he is expected to strengthen diplomatic ties between the two countries.

“I came to express the readiness of France to add fresh impetus to strengthen the historical ties between Cameroon and France, to find new dynamics to the ties,” the French minister said.

Cameroon is facing a prolonged separatist conflict in its English-speaking regions, where separatists want to create an independent nation.

The conflict that started in 2017 has displaced over 530,000 people in the country, according to the United Nations.

The national dialogue convened by Biya recommended that greater autonomy should be given to the Anglophone regions.

Source: Xinhuanet