The talks have also been overshadowed by Berne’s concerns at the suspension of call for tender to manage the container terminal at the Douala Seaport which was won by Italian-Swiss firm Terminal Investment.
Officially, Switzerland is still involved “as long as the parties so desire.”
Several initiatives are in the pipeline to compensate for the withdrawal of the Swiss.
Barrister Akera Muna, former President of the Cameroon Bar Council, is trying to initiate a dialogue that would be overseen by former South Africa president Thabo Mbeki and former Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Alpha Oumar Konare.
A meeting within this framework will take place in Nairobi, February 2020.
Muna is thought to have the necessary influence to bring to the table the parties that have been resistance to the Swiss mediation.
Source: The Post