Cameroonian Maximilienne Ngo Mbe on Monday received the International Prize for Women’s Courage 2021, which was awarded by the US State Department on the occasion of International Women’s Day. She is the director of the Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa and has particularly condemned the violations committed in the conflict between the Cameroonian government and the English-speaking separatists. Interview.
RFI: What are your reactions to this award given by Washington?
Maximilienne Af Mbe: For all defenders who have been murdered or who sneak into prisons … It is a source of pride for us. I think it’s a pretty symbol. It is also something we wanted to say to the governments of our countries in particular and Central Africa in general that it is the defenders who are on the safe side. I award them this prize and tell them: Never give up.
But at the same time, I’m scared. Because I know it’s not easy to have that kind of heavy responsibility, knowing that you do not have much leeway to do more than you have to do. Cameroon is going through very difficult times. We try as much as possible to create peace in the regions Northwest and Southwest.
Is this price also a message to the authorities?
I think the message is clear. The whole world is tired of this war that does not honor Cameroon. It’s a fratricidal war. And the message is clear, to tell the government: there is no point in hiding violence. It is better to condemn them and do justice to the victims.
The message also goes to the separatists who are listening to me and who understand that it is also for them this message to say: justice to the victims, to the victims of all stripes.
Do you remember the Human Rights Watch report on the mass rapes? The government has pressured us to the point that it is an international NGO that is not on the ground that is obliged to take our information because we are afraid of retaliation. I think we will take our courage in hand so that we address the English issue here in Cameroon and that it is resolved with all stakeholders.
And do you think this message will be heard by those who commit these abuses?
I think it will change a lot of things because it’s still Washington. And it’s not people who give prizes as a joke. It’s all the same prices that say, “Beware, we have our eyes, and we know this is not how things should be.”
Does it give you wings to continue your work and your struggle?
With or without, we have a slogan: “Never give up”. When many of our defenders were forced into exile, I decided not to leave anywhere else for a long time. I separated from my very young children who are now in France, so I decided to stay in Cameroon. I would not travel until justice had been done for all justice.
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