What happens in Cameroon stays in Cameroon

Special Report

Anglo-French-German wars are a thing of the centuries past; times of armoured warfare, moral conflict, and Blitkreig. But their legacy, or more specifically their languages, are grappling fiercely once more in Cameroon, and protests are threatening to turn into long-lasting violence.

But I imagine you have little idea what I’m talking about. 

The Country that sounds like my cousins' middle name

According to the BBC, Cameroon is so diverse that it’s called an ‘Africa in miniature’, describing it as having ‘one of the highest literacy rates on the continent...but hampered by the persistent problem of corruption’. 

Indeed in 1998, it was ranked as the most corrupt country in the world to do business with.

German troops in 'Kamerun'

Initially discovered by the Portuguese, by 1884 it was in German hands during their desperate scramble for Empire. 

Expanded in 1911, then annexed by neighbouring French and British colonies in 1916, it was divided after the First World War: 80% to the French, 20% to the British.


By 1961, the two parts had decolonised and joined, forming modern Cameroon. In 1983, Paul Biya became President and has fiddled the constitution to give him extra terms since. 

Meanwhile, the Anglophone (English-speaking) West grew slowly more resentful at the disproportionate dominance of the Francophone (French-speaking) majority, who hold top posts in government, receive more funding for public projects, and are better treated.

Map outlining the spread of English and French.
The Anglophone region is visible in the West

In November 2016, the Government tried to impose French upon local courts in West Cameroon. 

In doing so it offended the English-speaking population, proud of not being of the 64% who speak French. Protests followed.

If you can't beat 'em...shoot them.

The rallies grew and grew in size, joined by teachers too. The campaigns began to focus on still-rampant corruption and poor governance, alarming Biya. Separatism became a semi-serious prospect, hoping for the independent state for ‘Ambazonia’.

The security forces reacted harshly, firing live rounds and teargas into a market in Bamenda, the region's largest city, killing four. 

The internet was then shut down in the area, with local campaigners, lawyers, and human rights activists detained. In response a separatist bomb attack was launched, wounding three policemen.

So the military was deployed. Which always goes well. A peak day of demonstrations were planned in late September. Business were closed; gatherings of over four people were banned, movement around English-speaking regions was forbidden. Tensions were high.

The army watches over Anglophone prisoners

Guess what? The military killed eight people at those protests, with more wounded.

It then deployed teargas to deter from approaching the regional governor's office, clashing with separatists. 

By the end of October, 40 were dead, 100 injured, and between 7,000 and 20,000 had fled to Nigeria.



Counter-protests were held in Douala, Cameroon's commercial capital, but then counter-counter violence erupted when protestors killed four Cameroonian soldiers. Opposition Parties lodged their complaints during a budget debate, using...vuvuzela horns. 

(I thought they'd gone away after the 2010 World Cup - apparently not.)

Oh, and they did some wonderful singing (link here)

President Biya...not looking anxious at all.

Despite the persecution, the movement has grown stronger and stronger. Biya is next in a procession of African leaders 
(read: dictators) who are struggling when social protest meets social media. 

Mugabe couldn't keep a lid on it; Zuma faced expose after expose; Desalegn (Ethiopia) was thrown out by constant anger. 

The elections later this year will see the opposition fired up and making life awkward for him - that is, if the country is peaceful enough to hold a vote.

The good news is that Biya has suggested that he's open to dialogue and the decentralisation of power. Unfortunately, he hasn't addressed the blatant illegality of the security forces' behaviour. Instead he's praised them, ignoring the huge casualties and refugees involved in their crackdown.

Violence at the October protests in Bamenda

But depite this, Agbor Nkongho, a leader of the protesters, is calling for the radicals on both sides to cease their violence, reminding them that “We can still live as one; unity in diversity,”. This is a strikingly different tone to the leaders of other, often-militant, civil campaigns elsewhere.

The media is only slowly waking up to the unrest in Cameroon. Wearied of seemingly constant hotspots all over the continent, there's little appetite in the industry or at home for yet another story about a failing African country. 

But this is important. 

It may spiral into civil war or turn into a long-running insurgency - neither are remote possibilities. But there's a chance it will be settled peacefully; both leaders could be open to dialogue, with a mind for a peaceful settlement. 

And that would be a wonderful thing indeed for Africa.

Pride of the continent one day soon?

Big Thanks to the Guardian, whose section on Cameroon I plundered for this post. If you want more information, they have great articles on the whole saga.

As a side note, the Easter holidays are approaching, so I'm afraid can't guarantee a post in two weeks time, as other commitments take priority.

Happy Easter!

Theo