Anglophone Crisis: Queen Mothers and mothers of the North West , swear to mourn monthly until peace returns

On Sunday, January 24, 2021, the Mafors (Queen Mothers) and mothers of the North West again converged on the Bamenda Grandstand to mourn and deplore the killings resulting from what has come to be known today as the Anglophone crisis.

They came from Bambili, Bambui, Nkwen, Mendankwe, Ndu, and Akum among other areas. As usual, they prayed, mourned, and sent messages to the belligerents in their local languages. Peace, they said, is the only thing they want.

They added that the ongoing crisis is only taking us as a region backward. In her exhortation, Rev. Caroline Memo urged the various churches to speak out against this scourge that has imposed untold suffering on our people. She warned that by not speaking out we are encouraging the war.

Meanwhile, in recognition of the efforts and sacrifices made by Mafor Yah Sunday Epse Achidi to organize the mourning exercise since November 2020 following the Kumba school killings of October 24, 2020, the Mafors and women offered a special supplication to God requesting him to keep special watch over her as well as protect her from every danger so she can continue with her good works.

The event ended with a peaceful March along the commercial avenue with women brandishing placards with messages specially crafted for the context. Some of the messages underlined the need for dialogue over firepower. 

It is worth noting that Sunday’s event was the third since November. In the first edition, the mourning ended with a solidarity visit to the Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) center in Bamenda. Mafor Yah Sunday Epse Achidi offered the ex-fighters foodstuff and cash.

On December 24, 2020, she ended the ceremony with a Christmas come together with physically challenged IDPs resident in Bamenda 2 subdivision during which she handed them foodstuff for Christmas.

Sunday’s event held in the absence of its vision bearer, Mafor Yah Sunday Epse Achidi who was held back by other very pressing work-related issues. However, the mobilization and turnout confirmed the fact that the Mafors and mothers of the region are committed to the cause and ready to stop at nothing until peace returns.