A Non-Governmental Organisation, known as Citizens Governance Initiatives, CGI, is presently on a fact-finding mission in the Far North Region of Cameroon, to evaluate how effective the State of Cameroon is implementing Instruments of the African Union, AU.

The evaluation team which arrived in Maroua, chief town of the Far North Region on Sunday, September 28, includes journalists and members of civil society organisations. The team is headed by CGI coordinator Agnese Ebo’o and seeks to evaluate the influx of refugees into Cameroon from Nigeria, relating to free movement of goods and persons.

Following threats posed by the Islamic militant group, Boko Haram, the CGI team is also assessing the state of peace and security, public health, economic development and food security challenges in the Region. Also on agenda is the education of the girl child and school enrolment of children.

Before leaving the Region on October 04, 2014 the team is also expected to have examined linkages between climate change, the habit of the population towards the environment, armed conflicts and their consequences on food security. Another topical issue is that of birth registration and identity controls during this security crisis period.

So far, the team has been meeting with administrative and religious authorities in the Region, teachers and inhabitants of Maroua and Mora. CGI will draft a global report on the situation in the Far North Region, and make recommendations for the interest of policy makers, advocates, civil society and the media.

Cameroon is signatory to several instruments of the African Union, relating to peace and security, health, climate change and the environment, human rights amongst others.

This evaluation mission falls within the framework of the project known as State of the Union, SOTU.