Anglophone Crisis Research Articles

‘We are like in a jungle trying to survive’; navigating uncertainty by Cameroonian returnees

ABSTRACT Using the concepts of social navigation and vital conjunctures, this paper investigates how Cameroonian returnees experience their return in a crisis-ridden context in constant decay, characterised by material and existential uncertainties. Based on semi-structured interviews with 41 Cameroonians returning from countries in the Global North under different circumstances, we examine the ingenuity of these returnees to navigate an environment that is constantly changing. To uncover this, we first analysed returnees’ perspectives on how they were received by their different communities of origin. Second, through the subjective experiences of returnees, we explain the unpredictable macro-structural challenges such as the ‘anglophone crisis’, labour market integration and institutional challenges in creating business. We further explore the tactics generated by returnees to navigate the socio-cultural, economic and political context characterised by uncertainties. The results illustrate the agency and proactivity by returnees who returned empty-handed and those who returned with resources to generate diverse tactics to cope with community expectations and sustain themselves economically. This article contributes to the literature on return and reintegration, where the returnees developed complex actions to manoeuvre unpredictable events in a changing spatial context.

The ramification of Cameroon\u2019s Anglophone crisis: conceptual analysis of a looming \u201cComplex Disaster Emergency\u201d

One of Africa’s newest struggles for liberation: Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis, which emerged from legal and education grievances in 2016, rapidly escalated into a secessionist political conflict that is threatening the unity of the country, with potential to degenerate into a complex emergency. In an exploratory, qualitative, analytical, and descriptive case study research tradition involving document/content analysis, we apply the Robert Strauss Centre’s complex emergency framework to investigate the potential of the Anglophone crisis, whose ramifications lead us to consider it an acute complex emergency. Our contention is based on the fact that 72.5% of the variables in all the complex emergencies fall within the relevant to extremely relevant ranking criteria. Furthermore, the establishment of a nexus between the Anglophone crisis and a natural hazard-induced disaster suggest an escalation of the crisis to an unbearable level. Using the high probability of a novel eruption at Mt. Cameroon coupled with the eminent threat of the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we contend that unless otherwise, the crisis has immense potential to cumulatively evolve into a “Complex Disaster Emergency” (CDE) in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon. Amidst the existential challenges in providing humanitarian assistance in the conflict region, and by applying the Robert Strauss Centre’s complex emergency framework, this article concludes with an early warning for an impending CDE that could heighten humanitarian challenges unless there is foresight and goodwill by relevant actors to immediately commence a process of adequate contingency planning.

Outreach & Sustainability of Microfinance Institutes (MFIs) in the Midst of the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon: A Comparative Analysis of MFIs Affiliated to CamCCUL Using DEA and Tobit Censored Model for the Period of 2017 and 2020

Microfinance and its origin are associated with poverty reduction. Despite increased regulation on Microfinance Institutions, challenges in terms of financial sustainability and social responsibility (Outreach) still persist. The main goal of this paper is to assess the effect of Anglophone crisis on the Outreach and Sustainability of Microfinance Institutes in Cameroon. The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method and the Tobit Censored model were used on data of 40 MFIs affiliated to CamCCUL selected from the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon given that these are the two regions that have been highly affected by the Anglophone crisis for the period of 2017 and 2020. Findings reveal that there is trade-off between Outreach and Sustainability of MFIs. The Anglophone crisis has greatly affected the efficiency of MFIs located in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon. However, analysis showed that there was a slight improvement in outreach and financial performance of MFIs in 2020 as compared to the year 2017 when the crisis was at its peak. It was also realised that the size of MFI, its location, subsidies and other related factors have a great influence on their efficiency. The paper, therefore, recommends that the Government should highly subsidise MFIs in the Northwest and Southwest Regions to enable them to survive in the midst of the Anglophone Crisis and MFIs should adopt good governance practices in order to be efficient both in terms of Social Performance (Outreach) and Financial Performance (Sustainability) in this midst of this crisis.

Expertise on the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon: A Hybrid Cultural Boundary Approach

How can we understand policy deadlocks and inactions embedded in the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon? The context sparked by corporatist demands of lawyers, teachers, and students in 2016 has included persistent rising numbers of killings, human rights issues, unending military battles, and contestations on multiple policy attempts to stop the crisis. The article looks at the Anglophone crisis as an issue of policy expertise. Policy expertise encompasses discursive practices that scan the crisis as a site of policy controversies producing deadlocks and inactions. It departs from critical policy studies towards expertise while considering the cultural context as a lens to observe and interpret expertise as a social relation. It, however, goes further, shoring up contestations and public distrust brought about by cultural differences and cultural knowledge. It places a stronger emphasis on the “historical context” to supplement the cultural context of expertise and encompass new cultural boundaries. The analysis stems from a critical postcolonial perspective, while introducing the ‘hybrid’ cultural contexts, ‘hybrid’ institutional designs, and ‘virtual’ discursive spaces which acknowledge the specific cultural character of a case study in the Global South. Using the interpretive methodology, the analysis has relied on documented history, policy discourses in different media, and interviews.

The Internationalization of the Secessionist Crisis in Cameroon

"The article aims to illustrate the evolution and international reactions to the current secessionist crisis in Cameroon. Firstly, the anglophone crisis is presented as the result of a minority’s identification with a colonially inherited identity, as well as the consequence of the regime’s authoritarian style and constant exclusion of the anglophone elites from the structure of power. Secondly, the article concentrates on analyzing the reactions of various organizations, institutions and states regarding the Cameroonian secessionist conflict. However, although there are certain minor measures which have been taken against Cameroon, the actions of the international community are still below the expectations of the anglophones, who are the ones directly affected by both the government’s and separatists’ use of extreme violence. In addition, the international support for the fight against terrorism in the region is perceived with suspicion due to the double security crisis the country is facing. Keywords: secessionist crisis, authoritarianism, BIR, internationalization, terrorism "

The Political Capacity of President Biya as a Guarantor of Peace and Unity in Cameroon: A System Legitimising Perspective on Solutions to the Anglophone Crisis

Influence over political affairs is a crucial aspect of a leader because it ensures that he/she can make impactful changes that can transform the nation. Such a leader should be a guarantor of whatever need arises for his/her country. Since October 2016, protests anchored by corporatist demands by teachers and lawyers in Cameroon morphed into civil disobedience acts resulting in what is now known as the anglophone crisis. The English-speaking part of the country has been attempting to secede from its French-speaking majority. In line with the continuous spread of tensions, there have been several suggestions and recommendations on how to resolve the anglophone crisis. There have been no signs of plausible solutions despite the crisis's escalation (Cok, 2019). However, several peaceful solutions have been made through preliminary talks and dialogue involving government agents, centralists, federalists and separatist representatives, yet to be successful due to lack of cooperation by separatist factions. The purpose of this article is to illuminate the numerous efforts and measures taken by President Biya and to reiterate that peace talks alone will not resolve the crisis, primarily when hardline disunited separatist groups are determined not to collaborate with the state and accept solutions. With the employment of a qualitative research method, this article further seeks to bring to light reasons why Cameroon, under the Stewardship of President Biya, should have no hard time finding lasting solutions to the crisis, taking into consideration his political capacity and will. An outline of the President's completed and ongoing measures to resolve the anglophone crisis is thus highlighted herein. Isn't it time for Cameroonianians and stakeholders to take advantage of Biya'spolitical capacity to influence as leverage to resolve the anglophone crisis, given he was re-elected on a ticket of ‘force of experience' to safeguard Cameroon's unity with a renewed electoral mandate? This article thus analyses why all stakeholders need to collaborate with President Biya’s efforts to establish lasting solutions to the anglophone crisis and maintain peace and unity.

Beyond language: further issues in the Anglophone Cameroon conflict

ABSTRACT It is often assumed that language variation is the main cause of the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon. Using a qualitative approach, this study, however, analyses and explains other, more fundamental causes and contemporary issues that fuel the conflict. These include Cameroon’s colonial history and process of attaining independence; political developments from unification in 1961 to the change in Federal structure in 1972; political corruption; changes in legal and penal code; and economic, cultural and social marginalisation. This paper suggests that if the proper measures are not taken to conceive and realise long-term solutions, the agitators may become an insurgent or terrorist group and cause more violent conflicts, resulting in an increase in the numbers of Internally Displaced Persons within West Africa and of African refugees abroad.

An Appropriate Approach to Conflict Resolution: The Situation in Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon

The concept of conflict resolution rests today on an impressive body of literature because of the serious consequences of conflicts in societies. In recent years, states have been faced with serious conflicts, ranging from strikes to armed conflicts. This has prompted various stakeholders including international organizations, state entities and non-governmental organizations to engage in systematic means of resolving these disputes. Sadly, despite the many measures taken to address conflicts, they continue to emerge and many of them turn violent. The crisis that has plagued the two English speaking regions of Cameroon (popularly called the “Anglophone crisis”) has brought about unanticipated deaths and disaster in the country. Although many steps have been taken to address the problem, it is still persistent. This paper utilizes a doctrinal study to arrive at the finding that addressing the root cause of the conflict, and considering the relevance of culture and religion in conflict resolution would increases the chances of resolving the conflict.

Using Twitter to Understand the Effects of the Cameroon Anglophone Crisis on Social Determinants of Health

ABSTACT Insufficient opportunities to collect data on public health exist in armed conflict regions. Increased use of social media during war and conflict has allowed for data collection in situations where information is usually difficult to obtain. In this study, Twitter, a public social media platform, was used as a source of data and information to gain insight into how the Cameroon Anglophone Crisis impacts public health in the population. Our findings revealed that Twitter was being used to share information and call for action. Analysis of tweets revealed 8 distinct themes, which illustrated the impact of the crisis on the social determinants of health: neglect from government related to the social determinants of health; education; loss of employment; increased poverty; housing and homelessness; social exclusion and oppression; women and gender inequality; and health services. This study provides insight into the significant impact on public health in Cameroon caused by the Anglophone Crisis, and demonstrates the potential benefits of social media for gathering information about public health in crisis situations.

Arresting Roadside Corruption: What Prospects Remain for Anglophone Cameroon

Introduction: Corruption is a canker warm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of several communities worldwide. The phenomenon has serious consequences on investment, trade, aid, inequality, government expenditure and services, just to name a few. In Cameroon, its effects are widespread in both Private and Public sectors including the education, justice, customs, taxation, finance, administration, military and police. Based on the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index, Cameroon was classified as the most corrupt country in the world in 1998 and 1999 and was ranked 149th out of 158 countries in 2020 following the implementation of several anti-corruption measures. This reveals that irrespective of the Cameroonian anti-corruption initiatives, high rates of corruption are still observed in the country. Roadside corruption is prevalent in Cameroon and is being orchestrated by both the police and other forces of the law and order. The practice is monotonous and considered a way of life by most Cameroonians. With the degeneration of the Anglophone crisis into violence, many troops of the forces of law and order have been deployed to Anglophone Cameroon to monitor and maintain security in this region.
 Purpose: To investigate the implications of the heavy presence of uniform men on roadside corruption in Anglophone Cameroon.
 Methodology: Secondary data was consulted and interviews were conducted with some road users in Bamenda.
 Findings: Respondents revealed that roadside corruption was a major problem and that the uniform men took advantage of the crisis situation to compel them to pay fines without collecting receipts and equally extort money from them even in situations where they presented all their valid vehicle and personal identification papers. This has made many drivers to care less about the regularization of theira papers.
 Unique Contribution to Practice and Policy: There is need to galvanize NGOs and civil societies to organize training programs and sensitization campaigns to inform road users on all vehicle documents, accessories, high way code and all the fines and procedures associated with defaults. The government should regulate and monitor the activities of patrol teams deployed in times of crisis and create several hotlines through which road users can call to report cases of road side corruption. Also, road users should be encouraged to regularize themselves with all necessary documents as requested by state regulations and to understand the high way code and all the procedures associated with the payment of fines in case of defaults.

MUSICAL ACTIVISM IN THE STRUGGLE TO END THE ANGLOPHONE SECESSIONIST CRISIS IN CAMEROON

In 2016, a crisis broke out in Cameroon provoked by secessionist agitations in the two Anglophone regions of the North West and South West. It has variedly been referred to as the Anglophone Crisis or the Ambazonian War. The crisis has affected and threatened the unity, territorial integrity, social cohesion and le vivre ensemble in Cameroon. It has shattered the economy, destroyed schools, villages, infrastructures and businesses leading to mass displacement of persons to the Francophone regions and neighbouring Nigeria. In fact, the crisis has inflicted huge anguish and damages on the masses and has left the populations in very precarious conditions and misery that demand humanitarian actions to their rescue. Appeals have been made from several stakeholders both nationally and internationally pressing on the government to seek and implement lasting solutions to the crisis. Some musicians and song composers through musical activism added their voices to the calls for peace by articulating and conveying the misfortunes, despair, miseries and sufferings of the poor masses, victims of the war. This was exhibited in the music titles, the lyrics or messages they passed across, their grieving faces in the video grams and their tones that were telling and compelling as they expressed their lamentations. The musicians via musical activism regretted the war, begged for peace, unity, cease-fire and veritable actions in seeking lasting solutions to the crisis. This article attempts an analysis of the content and messages of some of these musicians revealing the desperation and gravity of the crisis in Cameroon.
 
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Humanitarian led community-based surveillance: case study in Ekondo-titi, Cameroon

BackgroundCommunity-based surveillance (CBS) has been used successfully in many situations to strengthen existing health systems as well as in humanitarian crises. The Anglophone crisis of Northwest Southwest Cameroon, led to burning of villages, targeting of health personnel and destruction of health facilities which, in combination with distrust for the government services led to a collapse of surveillance for outbreak prone diseases.MethodsWe evaluated the ability of the CBS system to identify suspected cases of outbreak prone diseases (OPD) as compared to the facility-based surveillance, evaluated the timeliness of the CBS system in identifying an OPD, reporting of OPD to District Health Service (DHS) and timeliness in outbreak response. The paper also assessed the collaboration with the DHS and contribution of the CBS system with regards to strengthening the overall surveillance of the health district and also determine the interventions undertaken to contain suspected/confirmed outbreaks.ResultsIn total 9 alerts of suspected OPDs were generated by the CBS system as compared to 0 by the DHS, with 8 investigated, 5 responses and 3 confirmed outbreaks. Average time from first symptoms to alert generation by the CBS system was 7.3 days. Average time lag from alert generation from the CBS to the DHS was 0.3 days which was essentially within 24 h. There was extensive and synergistic collaboration with the DHS.DiscussionCBS generated a higher number of alerts than traditional outbreak reported used in the region, and had timely investigations and if appropriate, responses. Careful selection of CHWs with strong community engagement led to the success of the project, and the use of the mobile health team in situ allowed for rapid responses to potential outbreaks, as well as for feedback to CHWs and communities. CBS was also well utilized for identification of other events, such as displacement and malnutrition.ConclusionIn conflict settings, CBS can help in outbreak identification as well as other events, and a mobile health team is crucial to the success of the CBS due to the ability to rapidly response to generated alerts. The mobile health team provided timely investigation of 8 of 9 alerts generated. Collaboration with existing DHS structures is important for systems strengthening in such settings.

A WhatsApp community forum for improving critical thinking and practice skills of mental health providers in a conflict zone

ABSTRACT A violent conflict, known as the Anglophone Crisis has been occuring in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon since 2016. This conflict and associated consequences have affected the way healthcare is provided. To help meet the needs of healthcare workers and other service providers, a community of practice called ‘The Forum’ was established using WhatsApp Messenger. This mobile learning group aimed to support, equip, and encourage practitioners to engage in critical thinking skills, enabling them to incorporate ongoing learning into their practice. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to evaluate the experiences of 13 Forum participants through in-depth individual interviews. Four themes were identified: (1) interactive learning to enhance critical thinking; (2) self-regulated learning strategies; (3) WhatsApp as an effective platform to support critical thinking and learning in a conflict zone; and (4) application to practice. This study shows that through participating in The Forum, users engaged in critical thinking on various mental health topics and applied new skills to their professional practice. Impacts of this study include practical implications with recommendations for those looking to develop a collaborative learning community in similar conditions, as well as theoretical contributions.

The Anglophone Crisis: The Rise of Arms Trafficking and Smuggling, its Effects on the Two English Regions of Cameroon

The union between the English and French-speaking regions of Cameroon has exploded into a violent crisis, questioning the legitimacy of the central government of the country. The main objective of this study is to explore the causes of the Anglophone crisis, to analyze the rise of arms trafficking and its effects on the two English regions of Cameroon. The conflict theory is used as a model of analysis in expatiating the issue of arms trafficking and its effects on the two English regions of Cameroon. This sociological analysis, defines the area of study, bad governance, hardship, and extreme poverty as the main causes of arms trafficking in two English regions. This study also brings to lights: 1) The link between the Anglophone crisis and the rise of arms trafficking and its effects, 2) The rise of arms trafficking and the socio-economic impact of the crisis. The Anglophone crisis, the rise of arms trafficking in the two English regions of Cameroon is a call for concern.

President Paul Biya and Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis: A Catalog of Miscalculations

President Paul Biya and Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis: A Catalog of Miscalculations

Irregular Ecologies

Cameroon, since 2016, has been witnessing what is now commonly referred to as the Anglophone Crisis (or the Ambazonia War) that has kept economic and social activities in the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon at bay with serious socio-economic implications on the local communities and the economic tissue of the regions. This paper explores the socio-economic challenges faced by the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon through the provision of a comprehensive analysis of the trends and economic implications of Anglophone Crisis. Moreover, the nature of conflicts has changed, with traditional civil wars giving way to non-state-based conflicts, including the targeting of civilians through terrorist attacks. The paper recommends that Cameroon, with the help of her partners, should focus on limiting the loss of human and physical capital by protecting social and development spending.

Social Communication and Intercultural Mediation in Decompartmentalizing Identity Groups in Socio-political Crisis Context in Cameroon

From the corporatist strike in the North-West and South-West regions in 2016, from which the “Anglophone crisis” arose, to the campaign and the presidential elections of 2018, the results of which were openly contested by one of the candidates, there is the ongoing question of living together routinely emerge in the Cameroonian public space. These events appear as triggers of identity folds, until then latent in the collective subconscious. Among other things, they fostered the propensity and confrontation of hate speech between Cameroonians claiming different territories and identities: anglophone-francophone, tontinard-sardinard, bamiléké-beti. Faced with this, certain public institutions such as the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education and the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, are sending out messages calling for civility, patriotism and tolerance. This paper demonstrate that, despite the limited confidence of Cameroonians in their public institutions, the discourses of these organizations are positioned within the framework of the intercultural tensions observed, as the third party speeh, and contribute to initiating the decompartmentalization of community and identity, with a view to consolidating a true culture and national identity. The Methodology consists precisely in analyzing the messages disseminated by these institutions on their Facebook pages, as well as the comments of their followers.

Construction of Social Cohesion and Living Together in the Cameroonian Public Space: Differences of Opinion versus the Emergence of a Common Sense in Discourse

Social cohesion and living together increasingly appear to be a response by the public authorities to the emergence of identity claims in Cameroon, in a context marked by the Anglophone crisis. Indeed, the socio-historical evolution reveals that living together in Cameroonian society changes considerably according to the social crises that animate it. It is therefore necessary to question the construction of these two concepts, in a dynamic marked by the reconfiguration of the public space characterised by occurrences in journalistic discourse. The aim of this proposal is to analyse the different conceptions that emerge from debates on cohesion and living together in the Cameroonian public space, in order to detect the true meaning that emerges from them. Our general objective is to explore the possibilities of constructing a problematic in the public space, namely living together, based on what is said by the actors in televised debates. The observation of the public space in particular that circumscribed by televised debates, reveals a frequency of their discursive use. The questions we asked ourselves were the following: How are the notions of living together and social cohesion constructed in televised debates in Cameroon? How do citizens position themselves in the face of the multitude of identity allegiances with which they identify in the public space? In order to provide some answers to this question, we observed and analysed the statements made by actors on stage in televised debates on four television channels. We were particularly interested in the debates on living together and social cohesion, and by means of discourse analysis we were able to detect the content of these notions. Our analysis of the television debates shows that social cohesion is presented as the manifestation of “living together”, in the sense that it implies an interweaving of identities between the different strata of the population with a view to their full participation in the construction of the whole society. Furthermore, “living together” is conditioned by the requirements of good governance, whereas at the level of public authorities, it is seen more as a political option.

Resolving the Anglophone Crisis: Between Myths and Realities

Resolving the Anglophone Crisis: Between Myths and Realities

AN APPRAISAL OF THE INVOLVEMENT OF HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS IN CAMEROON’S CONFLICT ZONES (NORTH-WEST AND SOUTH-WEST REGIONS)

Humanitarian actors have become quite noticeable in the field of humanitarian missions in Cameroon ever since the outbreak of the “Anglophone” crisis in the North-west and South-west Regions. Even though, humanitarian actors have engaged fully in the fight against social injustice and human rights, most of them are considered feeble owing to their reliance on subsidy from government and international aid bodies. This study seeks to examine the basis and the role of humanitarian missions in the conflict hit north-west and south-west regions of Cameroon. The paper further scrutinises the efficacy of interventions by humanitarian actors in humanitarian missions as concerns the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon. Based on evidence from primary and secondary source materials, the paper argues that despite the relevance of humanitarian actors towards addressing the humanitarian situation in the course of the Anglophone crisis, much is yet to be achieved as far as the attainment of sustainable peace in the crisis stricken regions is concern. The lack of a common platform for humanitarian actors made coordination of their accomplishments impracticable.