THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY OF THE AMBAZONIAN STRUGGLE

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY OF THE AMBAZONIAN STRUGGLE

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY OF THE AMBAZONIAN STRUGGLE

As the author of this reflection, I wish to remind our people that the Anglophone crisis began in 2016 as a legitimate and peaceful demand for justice by lawyers and teachers in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon. The protests were rooted in long-standing grievances since the 1961 reunification, and by September–October 2017, millions of our people demonstrated peacefully in support of freedom, dignity, and self-determination for the former British Southern Cameroons. At that moment, the struggle had overwhelming popular support and moral legitimacy.

However, over time the movement suffered serious setbacks due to internal divisions, leadership rivalries, personal ambitions, and the infiltration of actors pursuing self-interest rather than the collective cause. These conflicts fragmented what was once a united front and weakened the momentum of a struggle that initially inspired nearly the entire population.

The most painful reality is that the conflict has also brought suffering to the very people it intended to defend—through violence, displacement, economic collapse, and humanitarian hardship. Thousands have lost their lives, hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and communities continue to endure deep trauma.

Yet the core truth remains: the cause itself was born from legitimate grievances and a genuine quest for justice.

For the struggle to regain credibility and direction, Ambazonians must rediscover unity, reject destructive divisions, and refocus on the collective good of the people.

6 March 2026