From peaceful protests to war: The evolution of Cameroon’s Anglophone conflict – DW (English)

Over the past five years, the English-speaking regions of Cameroon have rapidly morphed into a war zone. Lives have been lost, properties have been destroyed, and the humanitarian crisis continues to intensify.

In its latest report, theUnited NationsOffice for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(OCHA)highlighted the impact on education: "Since the beginning of the crisis in 2016, education has been highly affected. Many schools have closed to avoid frequent attacks against education facilities. Teachers and students have been attacked, kidnapped, threatened, and killed. In 2021, more than 700,000 children are deprived of education in the north-west and south-west regions."

Felix Agbor Nkongho, a human rights lawyerwho was a leading member of thenow-outlawed Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC), has been disheartened by the ongoing crisis.

"The current state of affairs in the Anglophone regions is very sad," he told DW."It is very deplorable. It is frustrating."

Though CACSC led the first wave of peaceful protests against the federal government's marginalization of Cameroon's Anglophone regions in 2016, Agbor Nkongho said violence was never part of the group's agenda.

"Nobody had a crystal ball that could see the future," he said. "By and large we didn't foresee violence."

Young Anglophone Cameroonians have sought refuge in Nigeria, after the crisis morphed into armed conflict

Agbor Nkongho said the initial measures to pressure the government such as lockdowns and school boycotts were only meant to last for a short while.He blames Yaounde for escalating the situation.

"[The measures] werejust to draw attention to the international community to what we were going through as a people," he said."We were even planning to call off the school boycott before the consortium was outlawed."

In the lead-up to the country's Unification Day on October 1,the situation in Cameroon's two English-speaking regions remains uncertain. Speaking on behalf of the Ambazonia Governing Council(AGovC), the movement's deputydefense chief,Emmanuel Ndong,briefly explainedthe history behind their cause.

"British Southern Cameroons that is being called today Ambazonia gained its independence from the United Kingdom following the UN's Resolution 1608, whichterminated the British mandate to govern Southern Cameroons on the 1st of October, 1961," Ndong told DW.

Agbor Nkongho said the government's decision to markUnification Day on this date wasthe "height of political hypocrisy."

"[President Paul Biya]can take all of us by an ambush by declaringthe 1st of October, a national holiday in Cameroon," he said.

Felix Agbor Nkongho, the leader of the outlawed CACSC, says the regime has 'done nothing to show good faith'

For Cameroonians directlyaffected by the conflict,talk of dates and history ismeaningless.

"The government and separatists are playing with the lives of the local population they claim to protect," Nfor Nkfu, an Anglophone taxi driver, told DW."These parties involved in the ongoing crisis are protecting their interests. They are not protecting anyone."

Nelson Tum, a history teacher, said the fighting between the separatists and the government had left him and many others distrustful of both sides.

"To say that I feel protected by both parties is completely out of place, because you do not know who can hurt you at any given moment,"he said.

Paul Nilong, from theInterim Government of Ambazonia, said the federal government soughtto make "Ambazonia ungovernable it's all about destroying everything."

"The most important part is the economic sabotage," said Ndong.

The separatists, however, have not always agreed on their own strategy, particularly when it comes to repeated lockdowns something that Ndong acknowledgedhas damaged their cause.

"We think it is counterproductive to declare a two-week lockdown of the territory, which is going to impose additional hardship to our people that are already bearing the brunt of this war," he said.

But Nilong said the lockdown was needed to send a message to the government.

"The two-weeklockdown was to tell Yaounde they are not in control," he said.

The government has been accused of not doing enough to stem the crisis.

Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, a member of the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) party whopreviouslyserved as forestry and wildlife minister,told DW thatofficials have been doing the best they could to end the violence.

"Thegovernment means well and has been doing a lot to try to put an end to the crisis and, in particular, to try to put an end to the armed conflict."Ngolle Ngolle said.

From his experiences on the ground, the history teacher Tum said thegovernment had tried to restore calm in the Anglophone regions, but called the efforts insufficient.

"The government has done a lot, but I will say it's not enough to end the crisis," Tum said. "During the holding of a major national dialogue, those we consider leaders of the Anglophone [regions] were not brought into the dialogue with the government."

President Paul Biya has said the form of the state is not up for debate

Ngolle Ngolle said the lack of progress on the part of the government had more to do with the "bad faith"ofsome individuals who seek to "benefit from the conflict."

"Apparently, money flies around onboth sides, and they seem to be benefiting from this money," he said.

Separatists have said the government's deployment of increasingly sophisticated weapons means the conflict won't end for them anytime soon.

"The IEDs have been modified so that they create a heavy impact, and they will continue to until Yaoundegives up the fight," said Ambazonia's Nilong.

Deputy Defense Chief Ndong said the separatists were even looking abroad to draw more international attention to their cause.

"We seek to destabilize the Gulf of Guinea and make sure the exploitation of resources in this area is stopped until the international community comes to the recognition that [they are the only] peoplethat can guarantee peace and stability," Ndong said. "Itis no longer Cameroon and Nigeria but Biafra and Ambazonia."

Ngolle Ngollesaid a political solution would be preferable to amilitary option.

"I am not a military man," he said."I am one of those who believe that the political arm works, has worked and can work. Iam one of those who believes dialogue should never stop."

Agbor Nkongho believes the ultimate solution will require the international community to impose travel bans and freeze the assets ofthe parties who are fueling the conflict. But to him, any progress needs tostart with honesty.

"Friends of Cameroon in the international community, should be honest with Biyaand tell him that he cannot win the war," he said.

He also warns that separatists should not feel as though they are immune to justice.

"Non-state actorsshould also be made to understand that if you incite violence or commit crimes, you should be held accountable,"he said.

Originally posted here:

From peaceful protests to war: The evolution of Cameroon's Anglophone conflict - DW (English)