The Role of the Cameroon Diaspora in the Socio-Economic Development of Cameroon

Abstract

This paper is focused on accessing the role of the Diaspora in the socio-economic development of Cameroon. It examines the origins of the Cameroonian diaspora and the causes of the migratory movements and what they have been able to offer in their respective communities in Cameroon. It argues that the Cameroon diaspora is an indispensable tool for homeland development. It discusses some of the main Economic, Political and Social contributions of the Cameroon Diaspora to the homeland. This paper will discuss the Cameroon diaspora as a single entity despite the fact it is distributed in the main developed economies of Europe and America. As such, they unite themselves through ethnic groupings and tribal affiliations. This has however given some difficulties in executing development projects back home because they are not united under a single body. More emphasis is on Remittances as they have been classified as the main tool for homeland development. Most of the Economic developments come in the form of remittances to households in Cameroon. This paper work is divided into two main sections. The first section is the introduction and gives a brief summary of the history of the Cameroon diaspora, the causes of movements and how they are distributed in the main counties in Europe, Asia and the Americas. The second section will duel on the main Economic and Socio-Political contributions of the Cameroon diaspora to the homeland.

Keywords: Diaspora, Cameroon, Remittances, Homeland Development, Migration, Emigration, Bush Falling.

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/9-14-05

Publication date:July 31^st 2019