And, whatever the settlement, it would have to be subjected to the popular will of the people in these two regions of former Southern Cameroons. This split between federalists and separatists complicates possible dialogue and peaceful negotiations. What we see is intercommunal tension between the farmers and the fishermen from one side, and these and Muslim fishermen and farmers, and then the Arabic traders. About 60% of the total population of Cameroon lives in urban areas in major cities and towns such as Yaounde the Capital of Cameroon. Cameroon, look over your shoulder, Sunni Muslims are in your country and more are on the way from Pakistan, Nigeria, encouraged and financed by Saudi Arabia. Almost five years later, the conflict continues to rage on. I just wish the best for my country because I can't write every words that I have in my heart here. Police severely beat and injured at least 10 demonstrators. On November 5, up to 78 schoolchildren were reportedly kidnapped in Bamenda, North West region,by unknown gunmen. Introduction. An Overview of Current Economic, Political and Social Issues in Cameroon. The topics we cover include sustainable development, climate action, agriculture, youth voices, womens empowerment, health, the African Continental Free Trade Area and other regional integration efforts, technology and innovation, peace and security, economic development and more. The humanitarian consequences of the Boko Haram attacks and separatist insurgency are of growing concern. In 2016 and 2017, government security forcesusedexcessive force against largely peaceful demonstrationsorganized by members of the countrys Anglophone minority who were calling for increased autonomy for their region. Thirty-three MRC members and supporters were arrested but released the same day. The separatists describe themselves as a movement for the restoration of the Republic of Ambazonia. millions of people around the world through a decentralized approach to social problem solving. We cover the challenges the continent faces and the solutions to these byAfricans themselves, including with the support of the United Nations and international community. In the South West and North West, government security forces have committed extrajudicial executions, burned property, carried out arbitrary arrests, and tortured detainees. Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis at the Crossroads | Crisis Group These strains risk tearing at Cameroon's national fabric, with more bloodshed likely if the government takes no corrective action. social and health care issues and also t o introduce anti-discriminatory l egislation f or older people (Nkwawir, 2010; Help Age International, 2002). In the Anglophone North West and South West regions, the absence of a genuine political process to address decades-old grievances against the Biya government contributed to the radicalization of the discourse and tactics of Anglophone activists. It is argued that these tensions are leading to instability, poor living standards, high economic and humanitarian costs, and exacerbated poverty. Further, transportation and the movement of goods remains a significant barrier for the private sector. The ICG says President Biya should be wary of leaving behind a country riven with fighting and separatist sentiment in Anglophone areas but also by wider tensions, endangering Cameroons relatively amicable inter-ethnic relations. Cameroon is suffering from a decades long tension between the Francophone community, which constitutes the majority of the population and heads the federal government, and the minority Anglophone community which reside in the North-West and South-West regions. "This period has also been marked by a lot of street protests. While fighting so far is within Cameroonian borders, there are fears its escalation could destabilize all of Central Africa and parts of West Africa. The forces also forcibly entered at least 80 homes in Meluf, looted some, and burned down seven. Other ways to share The stagnant African economic system is giving a country like Cameroon an awful image. UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres in September 2017 urged Cameroonian authorities to promote measures of national reconciliation aimed at finding a durable solution to the crisis, including by addressing its root causes.. remain some of the major environmental issues facing Cameroon today. On September 25, gendarmes arrested Abdul Karim Ali, an outspoken Anglophone activist and political analyst,in Yaound. In the francophone regions, such as Douala and Yaound, which host large communities of anglophones, French is often the only language that can be used to access vital public services. Between 1919 and 1961, these two regions were under British colonial administration and were known as British Southern Cameroons. There tends to be a significant gap in the education system between urban areas and rural areas and the Francophone and Anglophone areas[5]. are some of the most affected population groups in Cameroon today. Intercommunity clashes in Cameroon has forced thousands to flee to Chad. Authorities also imposed unlawful restrictions on movement in Cameroons only official camp for Nigerian refugees. International Communities Organisation (ICO) invites researchers, professionals and students working in human rights or development studies to share their abstracts or concept notes regarding research and field work on Cameroon. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Cameroonian security forces patrol the perimeter of a polling station in Lysoka, near Buea, in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon, during the presidential election, October 7, 2018. Easing Cameroon's Ethno-political Tensions, On and Offline At the national level, the Government of Cameroon has demonstrated a political will to address the problems faced We use cookies to obtain information about your preferences and to personalize our website. A flare-up in intercommunal fighting in northern Cameroon has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes and brought a halt to aid operations there, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR,saidon Friday. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. He says the hate speech problem could endanger Cameroons stability. Muslims make about 20% of the total population. Through the Africa Renewal digital magazine and social media platforms, webinars with youth groups, media relations, and other outreach and partnership efforts, we present a new narrative about Africa thatshowcases positive action and hope, while countering mostly negative stereotypical portrayals of Africa. Major problems facing Cameroon today - AFRICAW This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. World Report 2019: Cameroon | Human Rights Watch The violence then spread toneighbouringvillages, leaving 10 villages burned to the ground. jobs, mostly in the agricultural sector, on the line due to the crisis. Although the government has made efforts to address the situation by promising an inclusive approach to governance, few or no actions seem to have been taken, which prompted the latest protests and the ensuing violence. I believe the only solution to the crisis is autonomy for the two Anglophone regions. They arrive nearly destitute and eke out a living in low-wage jobs. While the government maintained it did not tolerate crimes committed by security forces, it failed to demonstrate progress in investigating and punishing them. I sincerely believe that someday this country will be great Cameroon will someday be the icon of African greatness. Share this via LinkedIn Cameroon has an "estimated" population of 25 million people with the population growth rate hovering around 2.6%. However, most of the efforts made by private sector organisations in Cameroon are concentrated in the area of health and nutrition. We call for an end to the violence and the support of the international community to assist the victims & refugees. Despite its long history of hosting refugees . On September 10, amid increasing violence and following sustained international pressure, President Biya called for a national dialogue, a series of nationwide discussions aimed at addressing the Anglophone crisis. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Officials added that, while investigations were conducted, information about them are confidential. "We just come in to advise our members of our Cameroon Community Media Network as well as other journalists to be the first persons to [exercise] some kind of censorship around hate speech and fake news. Cameroon Overview: Development news, research, data | World Bank ICO Called On The Un To Reconfirm Africa As A Priority And Outlines Fresh Thinking, Party in the Park Bringing Cyprus Communities Together, Explore the relationship between investments in Cameroon and their social impact, as well as to propose relevant outcomes on human rights issues as listed in the country reports from the UN Human Rights Bodies. Ntui said the ruling CPDM party and the opposition should take measures to address the excesses of their supporters on social media, especially Facebook. Another social problem that the country faces is the high percentage of people internally displaced by natural disasters as a result of poor management of climate change. The Sustainable Development Agenda is a comprehensive plan of action for humanity, the planet and prosperity, which also aims to strengthen peace around the world. Government officials told Human Rights Watch in June that while they conducted investigations, they did not want to make them public to avoid undermining the morale of government troops. Social Issues in Cameroon - CrowdVoice.org They believe its the only way for anglophone Cameroonians to free themselves from francophone domination and to avoid future crises. Please send titles, brief abstracts (350 words) and a short author(s) bio for consideration to, We will respond to all applications by 1 April 2021. Violence in the Anglophone regions intensified as government forces conducted large-scale security operations and armed separatists carried out increasingly sophisticated attacks. The trial of seven soldiers allegedly caught on video carrying out the 2015 execution of two women and two children in the Far North region started in August, however hearings have been delayed several times, including following a request by defense lawyers to hold the trial behind closed doors. This, as well as the attacks carried out by the terrorist group Boko Haram in the north, and the internal crises in the north and south-west region since 2017, have resulted . Cameroon has seen sharply escalating political violence in the country's north-west and south-west regions. The government has not acted to promote the conference on dialogue suggested by religious leaders, and there is still no mechanism in place which could envisage a halt in hostilities in the short term.. President Paul Biya, Cameroons leader since 1982, is fixated on pursuing a failed path of war against the separatist groups, whom he calls terrorists. The government through my voice exhorts Cameroonian men and women at home and abroad to thwart destabilizing maneuvers wherever they come from," Sadi said. In the midst of all the corruption and all the eminent negativity, lies the opportunity of an economic giant. World Report 2022: Cameroon | Human Rights Watch In terms of religion, Christianity and Indigenous beliefs reign supreme in Cameroon today with about 40% of the total population being Christians and 40% being Traditional African believers.
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