An Analysis of the Anglophone Political Demands in Cameroon from 1961 To 2018

Abstract

This paper discusses the origin, development and current situation of the Anglophone crisis going on in Cameroon. It covers the period of pre-independence, independence and post independence of Cameroon’s status quo. The partition of Cameroon came in with a positive spirit as it galvanized the mind of the fellow subjugated people, thus made Cameroon people to revolt and stand against all the injustices perpetrated by the foreign powers. Therefore, separate nationalist movements took place in the territory with main objectives, the restoration of Anglophone sovereignty. The restitution of the people’s identity and way of life in all socio-cultural domains of the local people, for they found their traditions and customs being changed and jeopardized. Taking a review of the area being researched, the current crisis situation in the English-speaking part of Cameroon as the result of a series of several strikes with no positive reaction from the government. These strikes first turned into premature demonstrations for a different form of state and against the marginalization of the English-speaking population of the country.  This therefore effected to the above main finding of this topic such as the breach of some clauses of the Foumban Constitutional conference of 1961, marginalization of Southern Cameroonians, lack of developmental projects in Southern Cameroon, denial by the central government to listen to the Anglophone lawyers and teachers and lastly, President Paul Biya’s 36 years of reign. It is important to highlight that these main findings are the main causes of this crisis on going, reason why a deeper thought is being considered so as to perfectly understand the root causes of this consciencism by the Anglophone people. The results of this crisis are devastating for it has led to a gross loss of in terms of revenue and loss of innocent lives. In 2018, contributions from various scholars with opinions on the form of the state emerged and was launched by professional organizations and associations of civil society which were divided but had the same perspectives,Whether federation or secession could replace the current status quo of the two joined Cameroons. Trade union leaders and activists want a federal state so as to end the crisis but for the regime in place, Cameroon is united, one and indivisible, and changing the form of the unitary State[1], which is centralized would be impossible, therefore accounting the presence of the on going crisis in the two Anglophone regions of Cameroon.

Keywords: Anglophones[2], Cameroon, Crisis, Francophone, Secession, Unitary state.

DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/9-3-05

Publication date:March 31^st 2019

[1] A unitary state is a state governed as a single power in which the central government is ultimately supreme.

[2] consisting of or belonging to an English-speaking population especially in a country where two or more languages are spoken