The Public Independent Conciliator, Mme Telelen Dorothy Atabong spouse Motaze delivering her opening statement during the Townhall meeting

The Office of the Public Independent Conciliator (OPIC) organized a Townhall meeting with community stakeholders in Menji municipality on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the Women’s Empowerment Centre. The event, themed “Office of the Public Independent Conciliator: Engaging with the Menji Council and Community Stakeholders to Enhance Local Governance through Citizen-Centered Initiatives,” aimed to foster collaboration between the council administration and local stakeholders.

This meeting marked the third in a series, following similar events in Alou (2023) and Wabane (2024). Speaking at the event, the Public Independent Conciliator (PIC), Mme Telelen Dorothy Motaze underscored the importance of collaboration in fostering local governance. ” It is important to emphasize that the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator’s mandate demands continuous collaboration between local decentralized collectivities and the population who are their users…it is a body dedicated to neutral arbitration, mediation and conciliation between citizens and the regional and local collectivities with dialogue as its fundamental tool.”

      The Mayor of Menji Council, Nkemasong Nicasius delivery his welcome statement

The meeting provided a platform for community stakeholders to be schooled on the missions of OPIC, their rights and obligations as users of council services as well as discuss challenges facing Menji municipality and propose solutions. Participants highlighted issues such as inadequate infrastructure and limited access to social services. Council officials assured attendees of their commitment to addressing these concerns through collaborative efforts.

  A participant asking questions

At the close of the day the PIC encouraged citizens to adopt a more proactive posture in their interactions with the Council and reaffirmed OPIC’s unwavering availability as a neutral bridge between the governed and those who govern. The Public Independent Conciliator also as a native from Menji, speaking in the local Nweh language, made a heartfelt appeal urging the population of Menji and a wider Lebialem Division to continue embracing dialogue, tolerance and unity despite the profound difficulties the area have endured as a result of the ongoing crises. That sustainable development and effective local governance can only flourish in an atmosphere of peace and mutual understanding.