Their Spirits are High and Willing but That is Not Enough: Profiling the Cameroon Separatist Anglophone Radical Militia (Amba Boys)

Abstract

Abstract If spiritual and determined engagements plus commitment were sufficient to ensure victory in any War adventure, the present armed conflict (war) between the Cameroon government and the Separatist Radical Militia (Amba Boys) could have long secured the independence of the country yearned for by separatist Anglophone Militita. Indeed, for close to four years running the armed Separatist militia of the English speaking regions of Cameroon known as Amba boys have been passionately engaged in an armed confrontation replete with varied forms of violence and extremism which constitute a serious impediment to peace and development within this area. The Amba boys in context are constituted by groups of brainwashed and radicalized boys and to some limited extent girls men and women. This scheme of constant radicalization has pushed them to believe that war and violence remains the only option left to erect, create or resurrect a state corresponding specifically to the Southern British-administered Cameroon passionately referred to as Ambazonia. This article premises its discourse on evidence gathered on the narratives in praise of war as a solution to the Anglophone problem in Cameroon from primary and secondary sources to weigh the ‘invincibility’ of Amba Boys and all those on their support network. It examines the relevance or sustainability of engaging a majority of ill-prepared, ill-equipped, ill-trained, poorly fed and brainwashed youths in a war with hope of quick victory against an organized and well-equipped army. By profiling the different set of people involved in the militia plus the war strategies and radicalization schemes by those in the leadership of armed groups, this paper asserts that high spirits and determination like that of the Amba Boys are necessary war ingredients but not enough to guarantee success and the separation in focus.