The US diplomat took to twitter Thursday, July 18 to encourage the idea of a symposium to be hosted by the African Forum of Former Heads of State to address the broader challenges facing Cameroon. He believes that the symposium will complement and support the Swiss initiative to resolve the crisis in the North West and South West regions.

“Symposium hosted by African Forum of Former Heads of State is a unique opportunity to address the broader challenges facing Cameroon that will complement and support the Swiss initiative to resolve crisis in the Northwest and Southwest,” Ambassador Nagy tweeted.

The Africa Forum of former African Heads of State and Government known as “the Forum” and other African leaders are to hold a symposium on “the evolving but troubling situation in the Republic of Cameroon” and call for “an inclusive and open dialogue.”

Joaquim Alberto Chissano, former President Republic of Mozambique and Chairman of the Forum says, they have had the privilege to convey some of their views and suggestions to His Excellency President Paul Biya of Cameroon and “looks forward to further contact with President Biya on this matter.”

The intervention of the Forum is to support the African Union (AU) works to guide our Continent to achieve the Objectives detailed in the Constitutive Act and to take steps without delay to contact a broad spectrum of the people of Cameroon and invite these to attend what the Forum intends must be an inclusive and open dialogue.

This Symposium on Cameroon will be one of series of interventions to seek lasting solutions to the ongoing humanitarian, political and economic crisis in Cameroon.

The organisers say the meeting is to be held possibly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia or any other African country which will agree with the Forum to provide a venue for the Symposium.

Tibor Nagy had earlier expressed his delight in the Swiss facilitation efforts, encouraging all parties to participate in this inclusive negotiation process to bring peace to Cameroon.

"I am delighted to know the Swiss are facilitating dialogue.  We encourage all parties to participate in this inclusive negotiation process to bring peace to Cameroon," Nagy tweeted.

Switzerland is acting as a facilitator in the crisis in Cameroon's North West and South West regions at the request of the parties involved, her Ambassador to Cameroon Pietro Lazzeri confirmed recently.

The Swiss foreign ministry, working with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, said in a statement last month that it was “committed to finding a peaceful, lasting negotiated solution to the crisis in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon”.

The Swiss foreign ministry said it was concerned about the continuing violence in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon, which is taking a heavy toll on the civilian population.

“Switzerland has long been committed, both at bilateral and multilateral level, to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis and to promoting respect for human rights in Cameroon,” it said. “Switzerland is also committed to providing humanitarian aid to the affected local population and has supported Cameroon in dealing with multilingualism.”

Facilitation is an instrument of Switzerland’s traditional good offices. Politically neutral Switzerland also already holds several protecting power mandates globally, for example acting as a diplomatic messenger between Iran and the US, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.