Anu, from his base in Houston, Texas, says Cohen, the former assistant secretary of state for African affairs (1989–1993) and the former US ambassador to the Gambia and Senegal (1977–80), should “stop fumbling” over the goings-on in Cameroon's North West and South West regions - a territory he referred to as “Ambazonia”.

“Secretary Cohen, please enjoy your retirement, and stop fumbling over the conflict in Ambazonia,” said Anu to Cohen who was a member of the US Foreign Service for thirty-eight years.

Indeed, taking to Twitter April 22, Cohen doffed his hat to the “transparent” nature of the inquiry into the “Ngarbuh massacre”, stating that it opens the way to talks that should end the conflict in Cameroon's North West and South West Regions where defense and security forces have been battling armed separatists who seek the independence of what they call “Ambazonia”.

Hear Cohen: “Elements of peace starting to come together in Cameroon: Government transparency about Ngarbuh massacre; US congratulations; Anglophone citizens becoming fed up with extremism of separatist militias. Let the US-led talks begin. ”

Although Cohen had on January 10 “sympathize [d] with the determination of Anglophone Cameroonians to preserve their culture & way of life”, he “condemn [ed] the violence perpetrated by" Ambazonian "separatists against villages, homes and civilians. It is time for a ceasefire and a serious mediated negotiation. ”

“A mediated negotiation is the only realistic solution, and the United States can lead it,” Cohen insists.

Human Rights Watch, HRW, has repeatedly shamed armed separatists for using education as a weapon for political gains, and for committing untold atrocities including maiming, arsons, kidnappings, rape and killings.

Chris Anu put two questions to Cohen before quickly concluding that Cohen is inconsistent.

Hear Anu: “It's time for the US to step in and do what? What has happened to the Swiss initiative you endorsed sir? Have the Swiss backed out? Talking about inconsistencies !!! ”

Cohen says in 1991, he mediated an end to a different African conflict with some striking similarities: the Eritrean war of independence, which raged for nearly three decades. “Lessons from that precedent offer clues to a potential endgame in Cameroon.”

Hear Cohen: “The Ethiopia-Eritrea war ended rapidly after the US became the official mediator. In Cameroon, the lack of progress in Swiss mediation does not simply mean the conflict is unsolvable for now. The responsibility to engage in serious negotiations must be made clear to both sides. They will feel comfortable in offering concessions to an influential mediator like the United States that they would not offer each other. 

“Despite the Trump administration's supposed neglect of Africa, it has in fact been heavily invested in conflict resolution there: currently it is working to end saber-rattling between Egypt and Ethiopia over the latter's move to dam the Nile River. President Trump has appointed a highly capable US-Africa diplomat, Tibor Nagy, to the assistant secretary position I once held. Ambassador Nagy is an excellent choice to oversee this process.

“There are additional incentives for President Trump to pursue peace in Cameroon. The administration's efforts to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict are likely to be met with failure. By contrast, ending the Cameroon conflict, while difficult, is within this administration's grasp, and it would do far more to improve US standing in Africa than John Bolton's aggressive anti-China, anti-Russia campaign there. ”