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AMBAZONIA | Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis
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AMBAZONIA | Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis

Understanding the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon

Overview of the Conflict

  • The Anglophone Crisis is one of Africa's most severe conflicts, resulting in thousands of deaths and displacing hundreds of thousands.
  • James Ker-Lindsay introduces the channel's focus on international relations and how colonial borders have lasting impacts, particularly in Africa.
  • The conflict began in 2017 between English-speaking pro-independence groups and the French-speaking government.

Historical Context

  • Cameroon is located in West Africa, covering 475,000 square kilometers with a population of approximately 26 million from various ethnic backgrounds.
  • The country has two official languages: French and English, with about 20% of the population being primarily English speakers.

Colonial Legacy

  • The roots of the crisis trace back to the 19th century during European colonial expansion; Germany established control over Kamerun at the Berlin Conference in 1884.
  • After World War I, Britain and France divided Kamerun; France controlled about 80%, while Britain managed the remaining territory bordering Nigeria.

Decolonization Process

  • In 1922, British Cameroons were confirmed as a League of Nations mandate, later split into Northern and Southern Cameroons.
  • Following WWII decolonization efforts, both territories became UN Trust Territories. French Cameroons gained independence on January 1, 1960.

Referendums and Unification

  • In February 1960 referendums offered British Cameroons two options: join Nigeria or unite with Cameroon; independence was not an option.
  • Northern Cameroons chose to join Nigeria (60% vote), while Southern Cameroons opted for unification with Cameroon (70% vote).

Post-Unification Developments

  • On October 1, 1961, Southern Cameroons officially joined as a federation but soon faced centralization under President Ahmadou Ahidjo’s regime.
  • A referendum in May 1972 abolished this federation leading to further erosion of Anglophone autonomy.

Continued Marginalization

  • Paul Biya succeeded Ahidjo in 1982; he continued policies that diminished regional powers and reverted the country's name back to Republic of Cameroon.

Emergence of Anglophone Activism

  • In response to marginalization, Anglophones convened their first All Anglophone Conference in 1993 demanding restoration of federalism.

The Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon: A Struggle for Independence

Historical Context and Government Response

  • The government responded to separatist concerns by altering the constitution, intensifying centralization, and cracking down on perceived separatism, resulting in arrests and violence.
  • By 2000, political unrest had diminished; however, pro-independence activities persisted until a new wave of protests began in late 2016 over the increasing presence of French speakers in local institutions.

Escalation of Violence

  • On October 1, 2017, various groups declared the establishment of an independent Federal Republic of Ambazonia, referencing historical ties to a British protectorate.
  • Despite some organizations advocating for peaceful resolutions, the Cameroonian government initiated a significant military campaign against dissenters in November 2017, leading to increased militancy among separatist factions.

Humanitarian Impact

  • The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and over half a million displaced individuals. Civilians have increasingly become targets amidst clashes between government forces and separatists.
  • An estimated 80% of schools in Anglophone regions were closed due to attacks from both sides; Anglophone militias targeted educational institutions as symbols of French imposition.

Attempts at Resolution

  • In response to escalating violence spilling into Francophone areas, President Biya proposed a 'Major National Dialogue' in 2019. However, many Anglophone groups dismissed it as propaganda with insufficient measures for autonomy.
  • Proposed measures included special status for Anglophone regions and local governance elections but fell short of full independence or federalism demands from many Anglophones.

Ongoing Conflict and Human Rights Violations

  • Reports surfaced about secret ceasefire talks with jailed pro-independence leaders like Julius AyukTabe amid ongoing fighting despite international calls for dialogue.
  • Both sides have been accused of serious human rights abuses: kidnappings by militias and extrajudicial killings by government forces contribute to rising death tolls and displacement figures.

Broader Implications

  • The crisis represents one of Africa's most severe conflicts since its onset in 2017. It highlights issues stemming from colonial legacies that forced diverse cultural groups into a single state framework.
  • A potential federal settlement could have addressed grievances effectively; however, entrenched mistrust has polarized positions within the Anglophone community towards seeking outright independence instead.
Channel: Prof James Ker-Lindsay - Videos
Video description

Since 2017, Cameroon has seen growing violence in what is generally known as the Anglophone Crisis. But what started as a conflict over decentralisation has now become a full scale effort to secure independence for the self-declared Federal Republic of Ambazonia. So, what is the conflict about? And is there any hope for an end to fighting? Hello and welcome! My name is James Ker-Lindsay. Here I take an informed look at International Relations with a focus on territorial conflicts, secession, independence movements and new countries. If you like what you see, please do subscribe. If you want more, including exclusive content and benefits, consider becoming a channel member. Many thanks! SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE http://www.youtube.com/c/JamesKerLindsay?sub_confirmation=1 JOIN THE CHANNEL http://www.youtube.com/c/JamesKerLindsay/join The conflict in Cameroon mirrors so many similar conflicts in Africa. The product of colonial borders, and fateful decisions taken at the time of decolonisation, it saw a major part of the British Cameroons integrated into the formally French-held Republic of Cameroon as part of a newly established Federal Republic of Cameroon. However, as is so often the case, the arrangement soon broke down as the Francophone elite, representing 80% of the population, rolled back the autonomy of the English-speaking areas. After decades of repression this spilled over into armed conflict in 2017, at the same time as the Anglophone areas declared independence, as the Federal Republic of Ambazonia - named after the Ambas Bay. The question now is whether the conflict can be resolved. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction and Titles 0:41 Cameroon and the legacy of Colonialism 1:32 Geography and Demographics of Cameroon 2:11 The History of the Cameroons 4:53 Anglophone Cameroon after Unification 5:58 Growing Anglophone Dissent 7:06 Ambazonia and the Declaration of Independence 10:50 The Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon RELATED PLAYLISTS Current Issues and Disputes https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUzSOLzcfKuNQmS9wQNIIKzYLUlBTyHnb Secession and Independence in Africa https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUzSOLzcfKuNVZfOBg0dtK1D-ZH1ca8cB ===================================== FURTHER READING & USEFUL SOURCES UN Trusteeship Report (1959) https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/1311134?ln=en Cameroon vs UK (ICJ 1963) https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/48/judgments Cameroon (International Crisis Group) https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/central-africa/cameroon Cameroon (US State Department) https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/cameroon/ ===================================== MY BOOKS Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know https://amzn.to/2MPY3W2 [PRE-ORDER] The Cyprus Problem: What Everyone Needs to Know https://amzn.to/2FaaBU2 Kosovo: The Path to Contested Statehood in the Balkans https://amzn.to/35jiBN2 The Foreign Policy of Counter-Secession https://amzn.to/2Qinm5t My other books https://amzn.to/2MlP13u ===================================== MY PROFILES & SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS Twitter http://www.twitter.com/JamesKerLindsay LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-ker-lindsay-b31b9930/ Academia.edu https://lse.academia.edu/JamesKerLindsay Research Gate https://www.researchgate.net/profile/James_Ker-Lindsay ===================================== EQUIPMENT& TOOL USED TO MAKE THIS VIDEO Camera: Canon M50 https://amzn.to/35Hqc9y Microphone: Røde VideoMic NTG https://amzn.to/2MAHBZj Key Light: StudioPRO 1050W Softbox https://amzn.to/2okZAKW Fill Light: Viltrox L116T https://amzn.to/2Mia86y Teleprompter: Parrot 2 https://amzn.to/2VLcRsm Tripod: Geekoto 79" Carbon Fibre https://amzn.to/2wWMNT1 Channel Analytics: TubeBuddy https://www.tubebuddy.com/JKL Channel Images: http://www.istockphoto.com Channel Graphics: https://motionvfx.sjv.io/NKB34O ===================================== KEYWORDS #Ambazonia #Cameroon #AnglophoneCrisis #InternationalPolitics #CurrentAffairs #InternationalRelations #Secession #Statehood #Independence #InternationalLaw #InternationalHistory DISCLAIMER: Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel and will be at no additional cost to you.