In Bangem, the Senior Divisional Officer – SDO for Kupe Muanenguba, Nguia Beina Théophile, convened a multi-stakeholder community dialogue bringing together representatives from the Tombel, Nguti, and Bangem subdivisions in the South West region. The event is sequel to the official launch that took place in Buea on September 28, 2026.
The gathering assembled administrative, judicial, defense, and security authorities alongside elected representatives, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society actors, and local elites to formulate sustainable peace strategies.
Supported prominently by the elite, including the Minister Assistant Secretary-General at the Presidency, Elung Paul Che, the session offered an inclusive platform for youth, women, elders, and community leaders to speak openly. In a keynote address delivered on his behalf by Mr. Mbulle Valentine, Paymaster General of the East Region, Minister Elung Paul Che reflected on the heavy toll of the years-long sociopolitical crisis on families, education, and local economic activities. He praised the resilience of the local population, noting that sustained public sensitization, back-to-school campaigns, and youth engagement have successfully steered Kupe Muanenguba back toward stability and normalcy.
Emphasizing the vital importance of maintaining momentum, the Minister explained that dialogue remains necessary not because peace has failed, but to ensure that peace endures in the hearts, homes, and institutions of every village.
He called for collective healing, reconciliation, and honest reflection to prevent past bitterness from fueling future division. Highlighting education as the cornerstone of human capital and long-term prosperity, the address urged parents, traditional authorities, and elites to keep schools fully operational, while warning against the rising threat of drug and substance abuse among vulnerable youth.
The dialogue also underscored that lasting peace must deliver concrete economic dividends, particularly through improved infrastructure and digital connectivity. Minister Elung Paul Che detailed major ongoing projects, including the construction of the Bangem–Nguti road, the rehabilitation of the Tombel–Bangem road backed by a 1.64 billion FCFA government allocation, and critical interventions on the Melong–BangeRegion.
Key bridge developments across the Division, such as the Nyandong–Konye, Mungo River at Mombo Bajoh, Njungo River, and Ohumpe River bridges were highlighted as essential drivers for local commerce and agricultural transport.
In addition to physical infrastructure, the address announced significant progress in rural digital transformation under a World Bank-funded connectivity program. Telecommunications base stations are slated for construction across several villages, including Elah, Ntale, Mbat, Nninong, Muambong, Baseng, Bambele, and Nyandong.
These investments are designed to bridge the digital divide, foster enterprise, and create viable economic opportunities for young people, thereby addressing the root causes of idleness and social unrest.
Concluding with an earnest call for unity among the Kupe Muanenguba elite, the address urged leaders to set aside personal ambitions, destructive rivalries, and political differences in favor of the collective good.
Reiterating loyalty to State institutions and the peace appeals of President Paul Biya, stakeholders pledged to convert the dialogue’s resolutions into actionable community projects, ensuring that peace, educational excellence, and economic growth become a permanent legacy for future generations.
