This is a subject I have wanted to tackle for a while. It gets little international attention, but is one of the most serious conflicts in Africa. What is so tragic is that it is a conflict that could seemingly have been so easily avoided. So, is there a way back from conflict?
Sure there's! The situation in Ambazonia is the same as Western Togoland, only that we in Western Togoland decided to adhere to non violence protest. The issue is, is not the pro groups that start the war but the very Government who supposed to know better. All I can say is that UN should intervened by sending down UN special envoy on security, a team of non governmental elements should invite the leadership and bring end to the fight by looking into the demands. As for we in Western Togoland we are ready for anything should UN respond to our questions. Ghana got no right to determine our destiny just as Britain so we need Peaceful negotiation or dialogue.
@@peacefulworld1717 the people of the Hawaiian Islands have also been deeply committed to non-violence. Interestingly, 3 years after Hawaii was fraudulently annexed by force by U.S. President William McKinley in 1898, his life came to an untimely end in a most unpeaceful manner in 1901. A certain Senator-soon-to-be-President endured a similar fate in 1963 after voting in favor of Hawai'i's fraudulent admission as a U.S. state in 1959. Of course most people already know what happened to Japan in 1945 after an unprovoked attack on Hawaii in 1941, while still captured by the U.S. Hawaiians have nonetheless maintained their steadfast commitment to non-violence in observation of existing treaties and have never retaliated until this very day.
@@peacefulworld1717 Is not the same. French Cameroun and English Cameroon where colonize by two seperate countries and also French Cameroun had it independence on 1st January 1960 without English Cameroon. These two countries join together to form a federal country of two States. But it has not work out ever since. In English Cameroon our education and everything is English while in French Cameroun everything is French.
Thank you so much for the comment. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. It is important to hear about the real world effects of conflict; the lives lost and ruined and the families and communities uprooted. It is so tragic. Sending you and your family my very best wishes.
As a Southern Cameroonian, it difficult to describe or find the right words to express our gratitude for taking the time to research and discuss the crisis in #SouthernCameroons #Ambazonia. Your analysis is fair and your facts presented, robust. Like we say in our local Pidgin English, "thank you plenty" ☺
Elvi Kam, how can you say his analysis is fair when he says independence for Southern Cameroons was not on the table? That is false. The Southern Cameroons just like the Republic of Cameroun was granted independence in October of 1961 by the same United Nations General Assembly Assembly through Resolution 1608. If you said the UN added that The Southern Cameroons had to chose between Nigeria and The Republic of Cameroon in to attain the independence, as an independent country, you would have been right but even so in paragraph V of that Resolution 1608 it was stated tat the two countries would come together and decide the nature of the Joining. This paragraph V was an opportunity for the Southern Cameroons to accept of refuse joining either Nigeria or The Republic of Cameroun. But that never happened since The Republic of Cameroun chose to annex the defenseless Southern Cameroons to this day.
Words cannot express my feelings after stumbling on your channel and watching this video! As a Southern Cameroonian, we feel so helpless because we have been screaming for many decades about the maltreatment from The Republic of Cameroon but no one hears us. The international community and media barely talks about it. The Anglophone Problem seems to be the least important issue at the United Nations which seems to turn a blind eye on the massacres happening there. After watching your video, I said at least someone is talking about it. This is the most factual and objective presentation of the issue that I have seen. THANK YOU.
Lol you are killing yourselves,i am francophone and we are also suffering,you are not suffering thant anybody,who are killing you? YOU ARE FUCKING KILLING YOURSELVES
Am a Cameroonian , thanks really for talking about this, never knew internationals could think about us, just the simple fact you talked about it gives me hope, thanks soo much GOD bless you 🙏😥🙏🙏
Why does your title refer to an empire? Luxemburg is the last remainder of the numerous principalities that once belonged to the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.
Cameroon case is just like somaliland and Somalia, colonized by different colonizers they inherit different influences from colonial powers, they will never understand each other on how to run a government it's unfortunate Africa leaders cannot figure out the problem up to now. I think commonwealth countries should try and help those Anglophone countries to get their independent, what is the use of commonwealth?
Thanks a lot. You are very right. There are so many really obvious parallels with Somaliland. (Although I think the closest parallels are with Western Togoland ruclips.net/video/HGrHFjN2y1M/видео.html) It is such an interesting story, and yet also rather tragic. This is a wholly unnecessary conflict that should never have arisen and could have been so easily solved.
As you rightly said at the end of your video, almost 96 % of The Southern Cameroonians aka Ambazonians demand total freedom and independence and are more than willing to defend this idea until La Republique du Cameroun collapses. The Southern Cameroons was the first territory in Africa to practice true democracy and exchanged governments peacefully in the 1950s up to 1961. That has been killed by the French. Thank you for your great work James.
Thank you James. It is such a tragic and unnecessary conflict. The Southerners were systematically repressed. And the government had plenty of opportunities to set things right, but just went even harder into repression. So sad. Hopefully there will be more international attention given to this crisis.
@@JamesKerLindsay James, we The Southern Cameroonians aka Ambazonians understand the geopolitics of the world. Paul Biya, the genocidal French-backed dictator is a guarantor of a continuous flow of cheap or free natural resources to the Western countries especially France. Despite the genocide ongoing Ambazonia, the West shamelessly has taken side with their puppet Paul Biya. The West is making a big mistake, for we shall bring down La Republique du Cameroun and we will never allow anyone to exploit our resources anymore. Why can't the West play a fair game and let Africans get some benefits from their resources? They want it all. How wicked are THEY!!
Nope. It is a conscious move to exterminate a culture to seize its natural resources and back up the toilet paper currency called BEAC CFA Franc. This is the Cameroonian government's doing, enough with blaming ghosts.
I'm Cameroonian. Thanks you Sir for telling the story of my country. I like the way you explained everything exactly as my history teacher did back then. Thanks a lot. I love my country very much. I hope that things gets better and best as we rise and move further away from the pains of yesterday. Thanks
Thank you so much for the comment. I really appreciate it. It is a really tragic story. This is a conflict that was totally avoidable if the government had respected the federal constitution put in place, or had even been willing to engage in meaningful dialogue to return to that federal system. Sadly, there still seems to be little interest in finding a peaceful settlement and far too little international interest in the issue. Let’s hope that a way is found to end the fighting soon.
Yet another amazing video professor! Not only do I learn more about conflicts I’ve already heard of, and the intricacies of statehood and independence, but I also learn about conflicts I never even knew existed, like this one. Keep up the good work and thank you for all the hard work you put into this channel.
Ambazonia is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization as other groups you reported on in previous videos. Thank you so much for your work. Greetings from Catalonia 😊
Thanks so much. Yes, I spotted that it is a member of the UNPO. In fact, there is some great information on the site about the Ambazonia movement. It will be very interesting to see where the independence campaign goes. In the meantime, I hope all is well in Catalonia. Best wishes from London! 🙂
Your analysis is straight to the point and absolutely reflecting. Thank you for your time to present this to the world that has neglected our plights. We pray this go viral until it reaches the quarters that be. God bless you @Prof James Ker-Lindsay
Speechless sir, that is a complete history of that part of the world. My question is why is the UN neglecting this case for more than 3 decades? What's wrong, something must be done.
If it was in a developed country the toothless bulldog called UN would be there live. They only intervene in Africa when it comes to oil deals or other economic related businesses. Wicked set of people. We are dying here in Cameroon and all they can help is creating offices everywhere.
Thank you so much. It is such a fascinating region. I have learned so much looking at the cases there, not only Cameroon, but also Nigeria/Biafra and Ghana/Western Togoland.
As for why the UN and others don’t get involved, I think there are many reasons. But a big part of the problem is limited ‘bandwidth’. There are so many pressing international issues it becomes hard to focus on more than a very key ones. On top of this, there are no African permeate by members of the UN Security Council to press the case. (A great reason for having one.) But this where the African Union could be taking more of a lead.
UN is US, England, France, Germany and others you know, they are helping Cameroon army in this conflict because of their interest in Niger delta, look at French companies who operate 20% of oil that Nigeria export , look at US , UK oil companies in Niger delta , look at Cameroon side of Niger delta, US, French, English oil companies operate 90% of offshore oil , Nigeria , Cameroon , French troops with their marine forces operate in the whole Niger delta sea area for security of those oils and gas companies, is a risk their are managing well currently. Boko Haram is in the north of Cameroon , Tchad , Nigeria I security risk putting in danger oil that US is exploiting in Tchad and transporting through pipeline on Cameroon on 2000km Territory to sea. All those countries would not arm Ambazonia troops in Niger delta to risk their oil interest in Cameroon and Nigeria . And Paul Biya in Cameroon is still giving oil and gas concessions to French and English companies, concessions for exploitation contract which is against French speaking and English speaking Cameroon people interest. Because of all this southern Cameroon conflict is neglected by UN , by the whole world. Their not even doing effort in protecting their business by pressing criminal regime of Paul Biya to offer Federalism to southern Cameroonian , those westerns countries are doing no effort and people are dying there everyday. My personal thought is that The criminal Paul Biya who is being supported by France who put him there doesn't want to think about Federalism because of France who is scaring a federal republic of Cameroon who could be more on influence of English world , by the same this wicked and criminal France is scaring that but is able to synchronize with wicked and criminal classmate which is England. I am Cameroonian from French speaking part , exactly form West region. I am totally in agreement with anglophone fighting, they should fight for their rights and dignity, against poverty where Paul Biya is keeping the country in . French speaking part is divided by tribalism til the point that some from French speaking would said that I have this point of view because I am Bamileke , a nonsense from tribalist.
@@JamesKerLindsay This simply means the UN only gives attention to wounds that have festered already....n we all know how much it takes to treat a festering wound ... Is dat not diplomatically penny wise n pound foolish??
Greetings, professor . Probably the only solution to his case is separation of two Cameroons. The same with Yemen as well, because these two examples show, that unhappy marriage causes violence.
Thanks. Yes, I do wonder if there is now much realistic chance that the sides can reconcile. But it is so interesting to see how many of these situations exist. Territories that went into unions that didn’t work out, but then find that they have no exit options. It was also interesting to note that it was never offered the option of independence.
Secession is not necessarily the solution. The current Cameroonian government has displayed so much bad faith and the Anglophone people feel duped, insulted and neglected. Imagine that the entire UK were to vote on whether Scotland should gain independence from the UK, chances are Scotland will probably never gain independence under those conditions. It was in a similar manner that the Federal System was abolished in Cameroon - through a national vote (rather than a vote within the Anglophone minority region) and in flagrant violation of the then constitutional provisions.
@@JamesKerLindsay Southern Cameroon had the option to be part of Nigeria but opted to join French Cameroon. ...now they are paying the price of that ill advised choice
You explained the root cause of the Anglophone crisis today. I wish the UN check your facts and seperate this country. Because we will only die but we will not give up. We hate the union
It’s because they are benefiting from the conflict, but the question is. Why is black Africans waiting for European to come and settle their internal conflicts.
Thank you so much for highlighting the plight of the people in #SouthernCameroons. So long as the dictatorial regime in La Republic du Cameroun continues slaughtering innocent women&children, the people of #SouthernCameroons will rather die than live under this servitude. Long Live Ambazonian
Thank you Prof for the best and accurate description and explanation of the Anglophone crisis. I am an Anglophone Cameroonian and have been involved in protests for equality and autonomy not session. It is true that the central government's heavy handed attempted to quell the protest of 2016 caused the protes to degenerate into bloodshed and a wider unrest. The armed conflict that began in 2017 is a distinct issue. A loose set of War profiteers in the diaspora hijacked the conflict and changed the demands of the protester from equality and autonomy into session. They first distorted the history of the Country's Union to the most ignorant and marginalized. They bought and sent drugs and weapons to ignorant young people whose despondency made them prime to fight for anything. These war profiteers in the diaspora are raising funds from charities and individuals in the name of the conflict in Cameroon, meanwhile those young people fighting are living in abject poverty. Now the conflict is not with the government forces, the fractious fighters are fighting among themselves for dominance. They make a living, mass kidnappings for ransom, killing for hire and other atrocities as directed by their sponsors in the diaspora. The terrorists masters in the diaspora make millions from contract killings back home while the actual killers make on the ground get pennies. My point is that, "The Anglophone crisis" , "The Anglophone problem" are a misnomer. It should be called the Cameroon Anglophone Sponsored Terrorism. Thank prof.
I have been waiting for you to present this story,I must say you did a very good job in a short video that went straight to the point.I have been researching about this crisis for 3 years now,have watched so many Docos and read info,I must say your article was on point.Good job and we will check out your next articles,take care.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate the extremely kind words of support. This was a video I had been meaning to make for some time. This tragic situation simply doesn’t get enough international attention, especially given the huge impact it is having on millions of lives.
I am a Cameroonian n this is the first time I have really understood the history behind the anglophone crisis, it's never thought so detailed in our schools
Thank you for this insightful analysis of our current crisis. As rightly said it could have been avoided. As a Southern Cameroonian I feel disheartened and it would seem we have been left out from the international scene as far as conflict resolution is concerned.
Many in the international community claim the roots are complex, but when I hear you explain so succinctly, I know that many know the problem very well.
Thank you sir. So happy to see you making video from my country, particularly about the region where I am from. I remember mailing you asking g you to do this because after watching your previous videos I realize how I was easy to understand statehood and independence. Always on point!!!
Thank you so much Tende. Thanks so much for the email message and the great suggestion! I hope that I managed to explain the situation fairly. It was so interesting to look into the case in more detail. It is such a tragic situation precisely because it seemed so avoidable. Southern Cameroon’s had decided on unification and yet from the start they were treated as second class citizens and the constitutional system eroded. This is a case where one can clearly see that it could have worked. The sad thing is that there is still not enough attention given to the situation internationally, and certainly not enough pressure put on the Cameroon government to engage in proper dialogue on a peaceful settlement of the situation - whatever that might be now. Obviously, if you do know anyone who might be interested in the video, please do share it.
By the was, on a separate note, how did you feel about my using an image of Julius Ayuk Tabe on the thumbnail? Is this appropriate? Any thoughts very welcome.
This is one of the most objective presentations I have come across in my 31 years of activism as a Student leader in the then lone University of Yaounde and as a pro Federation and later an avowed Independentist! Thanks for touching on the historical facts hidden within the narrative in French Csmeroun and their peers!
I remember in 2010-2015 everywhere you go in Ambaland in schools courts governments offices there was a continued increasing numbers of French CAMEROUN administrators moving in It was alarming. 2016 peaceful protest started and I was part of it both us young boys girls children MOTHERS fathers( students drivers etc...) with peace plants leaves on our hands we all shouting NO VOILENCE NO VOILENCE NO VOILENCE NO VOILENCE but government arm force started teargas n beforw we realised people were dropingdown hit by life bullets It was CRAZY. How i didn't die God knows I lost many friends 🤦🤦🤦🤦. 1st October 2017 OMG 🤦 my hometown BUEA government helicopter was raining down bullets on peaceful protesters people were chased into the bushes shut and killed 2weeks we kept discovering copses in bushes
Thank you for this awareness and we Ambazonia appreciate every contribution to from the Int community in creating an awareness regarding the conflict which has not only destabilise Cameroun and cripple her economy but this conflict will destabilise the whole of the gulf of Guinea. We are Ambazonia and we have never been part of Cameeoun , so the regime using words as secessionist is not recognise by us. We are not trying to break away from CameroUn but rather , asking Cameroun to leave our territory and respect their border from independence. Right to self determination does not end in referendum. Right to self determination is u universal and CameroUn is an illegal occupier and we Ambazonians have involved self defence since the #UN and #AU has failed to uphold the responsibility to protect in face of genocide and ethnic cleansing. We will defend ourselves and end Cameroun occupation and terrorism in our country.
Thank you James..you continue to educate and elucidate.. and this time on a conflict that I was completely unaware of.. tragic though it is. all the best.. g
I was quite surprised about this conflict . I recently started listening to Africa today by the BBC and really learned of the things happening on the continent that tend to be ignored
Why can't UN do something. Every little region has right to yourself government.. Even little country in Europe has their own region control.. Why can Africa? Is it because its Afrika people
Hello! Thank you for covering this. I'm a southern Cameroonian who have been greatly affected by the crisis, some family members have been killed. The rest of the family is currently seeking refuge in Nigeria
I am so very sorry to hear about your family. But thank you so much for the comment. It is always so important for us all to remember that behind the numbers are real people and families whose lives have been destroyed by conflict. It is very easy to overlook this. I really do hope that your family find safety and are eventually able to rebuild their lives. With all my very best wishes, James
Honestly this is a fair judgment of what has transpired over the years. We hope the world would finally intervene and prevent another Rwanda 🇷🇼; where they said never again.
Firstly, as an indigenous southern Cameroonian I commend you for the witty take on the Anglophone crisis. 👌🏾 Secondly, the divide among the Anglophone speaking regions (South west & North west) makes this crisis quite complex. Some tribes in the south west do not want to collaborate with other tribes in the north west. This divide is continuously enhance by corrupt politicians in this regions who seek to enrich themselves painting a peaceful state of the Anglophone peril to the government. Thirdly, there are several factions within the separatist groups fighting over separate interest. One separate group advocates federalism while another separate group seeks for separation and an independence state widely known as the Ambazonia state. Fourthly, Some Anglophones in the diaspora are diehard proponents for this crisis as they continue to amass wealth from donors for the course. Lastly, the aloofness of international media coverage of this crisis is baneful. All these makes this crisis not akin to any and hard to report without bias. Calling it the Anglophone crisis is reducing the cause of the crisis to post colonial linguistic culture. However this crisis is born from years of discrimination, corruption, red tape bureaucracy, unemployment, police brutality, porous educational system and destitution among Cameroonians. Let’s be caution not to turn this crisis into a linguistic warfare.
Yes...the same thing is happening in Nigeria now. The federal government has refused to conduct a referendum for the indegenous peoples who want to break out because of the nepotic and subjugative attitude of the nation towards them. Moreover, the Amalgamation of these indegenous ethnic groups that form Nigeria had expired since 2014. It's unfortunate that the mainstream media is not showing the cold blood massacre, rapes, abduction, illegal human organs harvesting and overwhelming human rights abuses by the police, army and terrorists going on there.
People who have heard of these conflicts are usually from there or are from nearby nations or people who take an interest in these affairs. Conflicts exist in Niger Republic, Mali, Morocco etc.
What will happen if people keep reporting about the war? What will change? Cameroon and Nigeria have a government and are independent states. It is a failure of these same government which sought for independence and democracy in the 60s and 70s. We rejoiced ... But now we are crying to be controlled again. The same government which we fought for has turned out to be a failure. We make our own decision and Germany said they can not intervene. Most people just want foreign countries to march with the army and say Mr. President go out. But it does not work like that. Our government is the problem, "we" are the problem. And whatever happens after this we will still complain like children; if we join Biafra... "Oh the igbos are like this and that, this is not working, bla bla bla ", complains complains complains.
I'm from the region many refer to as Ambazonia. Amongst the many individuals I know who got affected by this crises is my father, who got kidnapped, tortured and maimed. In order to keep my peace of mind, I decide to be apolitical and pretend I have no sentiments or affiliations towards this matter.
I am so sorry to hear that you and your family have personally been affected by the conflict. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it so much. It is all too easy to forget that behind every number is a person killed, injured or uprooted. This is so important for people to remember. And I understand fully why you might want to take a step back from the situation. Everyone has to cope with these situations as best they can. Again, I am so sorry to hear about your father. Sending you all my very best wishes.
Boris tafon. What is your opinion about the recent alliance between Biafra agitators and ambazonia independence agitators. I think it will make a perfect cooperation?
Sir, Thank you for taking the time to cover our story. Please bring this to the world stage like the Ukraine crisis. Our families have suffered greatly from things like rapes, burnings, to gun shot murders and other forms of genocide, by the francophone troops. My family personally seems to have suffered the brunt of these attacks. We are even currently mourning the loss of a family member from this genocide. Please help us publicize this genocide to the world and cause them to undo the partial decolonization they forced us into and set the stage for this current conflict with our neighboring French country
Great piece & perfect Delivery James. Thank you for putting our struggle for justice out there. And u r right, this war could easily be avoided if the UN & international community weighed in to implement agreed UNGA Resolutions (NOW WOULD STILL HELP TO AVOID MORE BLOODSHED). thanks again James
The Ambazonia quest for independence and total decolonisation looks a bit simple but complex as the international community has neglected the conflict for far too long. Thanks for creating awareness and reaching out.
Thank you, Roger. Probably not the most cheering video to be honest. It’s a pretty grim story. But today’s news did make me think of Vanuatu, where Prince Philip was revered as a divine being!
thank you for this insightful piece. One minor correction. There are more than 240 (this figure is the least) ethnic languages spoken in the Republic of Cameroon not " an estimated 24". 24 doesn't even cover the NW Region of Cameroon.
Thanks so much sir for talking out on tho issue sir my brother was killed in this war I was force to run for my dear life ....God bless u sir 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🌠🌠🌠🌠☀🌠☀🌠🌠i pray God give us back our land ..AMBAZONIA ☀⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It is all too easy to forget that behind these videos lie stories of real people killed and injured and families and communities uprooted. Sending my very best wishes to you and you family.
I am francophone Cameroonian and I fully support you he right of Anglophones to lead their own way. Paul Biya should resign since he has failed to keep one of the most promising African countries together.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. It is such a tragic situation - and so completely unnecessary. This is a conflict that should never have happened. More pressure needs to be brought to bear on Cameroon. But I do suspect that finding a mutually acceptable solution may now be impossible.
The Bulu dominated central government is diametrically opposed to giving any autonomy to the Southern Cameroons. They are the bread basket of Cameroon and is where the oil is found.
After going through torture, rape and assault in the hands of the BIR, it is one thing that is going to hurt me all my life. My life has never be the same. Call in Anglophone crisis, call it Cameroon civil war but please call it enough is enough. I live in a foreign country today as a refugee and what hurts most is answering the name Cameroonian. Chattered dreams 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 a bleeding heart
I have been interested in learning your version of the full story of Ambazonia since we have talked about the area after one of your other videos. This is somewhat like the merger of the two Somali republics years ago and the resulting claim of ilegitimate original takeover processes and a recovered sovereignty not legally given up by British Somaliland, I believe. Recognizing this secession is not for linguistic or cultural reasons, though. I could not help thinking how Cameroun's efforts to control and absorb the populations of Ambazonia follows the same tactics Putin's Russia uses to control and "russianize" the people for control in an obvious attempt at colonization by Russians. Using the courts is another tactic he uses to supress any opposition. One needs to look at the suppression of the local languages in the republics such as Tatar, Mari, Mordvin, Chuvash in recent years. I have enjoyed your expert analysis as always. Please keep up making these videos as they often add so much to my understanding. Thank you Dr. Ker-Lindsay.
All Anglophone Cameroonians want equality and will like autonomy like in a Federation with a devolved government. A very few vociferous separatists with arms are terrorizing the majority of their own people, for their self interests, in the name of session. They are not fighting the government forces. Instead, they are killing Anglophones. The only thing that the majority of the Anglophones and the separatist subgroup is their dislike of the Central government in YAOUNDE. It is a very long leap from asking for equality and autonomy to suggesting that all Anglophones want independence from Cameroon. Again thank you Prof.
Thank you so much. I am so incredibly sorry I didn’t reply sooner. I have only just seen this. (RUclips really is terrible at notifications.) That really was incredibly kind of you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the support. And my sincerest apologies again for the delayed thank you. Very best regards, James
Thank you for schooling us again bout this scenario we thought the UN will look for a solution to the problem but realised the UN is a toothless bulldog and one corrupt organisations that solve problems where it interest lays
I pray some one like u in the right place of authority can here us, its no longer about the precident who has stayed there since I was born but the hope to see my friends when I get up in the morning. Many of my friends have all been killed
@James Ker-Lindsay #James #Ker-Lindsay. I appreciate you eloquent words on our strougle. This whole mess we are going through was created by the England and France. I have lost everthing in the war the Cameroon government waged on us. Please, do dig more into what's going on and expose it to the world. We have tried but the international organisations are turning a blind eye to this war because it doesn't benifit them. EU, UN, UK, AU etc.
Thanks for the great video. I was wondering if you would consider covering the status of first nations in Canada and the US and their limited autonomy and statehood.
Thanks so much! Great suggestion. Yes, I would really like to look into them. It is such an interesting topic. What is their exact status? And what does sovereignty mean in their context?
This response is both in English and French - the two official languages of Cameroon. Let me begjn by telling Frank Mike and Damien Ndzanga that they are barking up the wrong tree. I say so as an Historian who read History-Geography at the University of Yaounde in the 70s and who is au fait with happenings in Cameroon. I switched professions for practical reasons and on fitness-for-purpose grounds. Besides 3 minor errors in the Author's narrative, his account is in the main correct. Using statistics as my yardstick for same, I would say the narrative is about 98.5% accurate. The 3 mistakes I discerned were the number of native languages spoken in Cameroon, the date of the referenda in British Northern and Southern Cameroons (11 Feb 1961 in lieu of 11 February 1960) and the Independence Day of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( 1st October 1960). Passons maintenant en francais. Je trouve hallucinant qu'un Chercheur etranger puisse decrire l'unification du Cameroun et la dynamique qui va avec mieux que la plupart des historiens francophones au bercail. Pour votre gouverne, les specialistes de l'unification du Cameroun sont anglophones. Vu le caractere despotique du Regime d'AA, les profs francophones de l'Universite du Cameroun ne voudraient guere enseigner l'unification du Cameroun sans la falsifier. Regardez bien le 1er drapeau de la RFC et dites-moi le nombre d'etoiles la-dessus et ce que cela voudrait dire. N'en parlons pas de signataires de la Constitution de la RFC du 1er septembre 1961! Elle porte les noms de David a Ngon et d'Ahmadou Ahidjo! Le SC n'avait pas encore obtenu son independance, n'est-ce pas? Ya-t-il un Traite d'Union entre les deux Cameroun d'antan tel que prescrit par la Resolution 1608 des Nations Unies du 16 avril 1961. Les juristes ont raison quand ils disent haut et fort que le Referendum du 20 mai 1972 fut un coup d'etat constitutionnel. Si vous ne le saviez pas, le gouvernement colonial britannique avait beau tenter de corrompre les Deputes du KNDP de John Ngu Foncha pour qu'ils optent pour le rettachement du SC a la RFN. Mais les peres fondateurs ont emis une fin de recevoir.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate the comment. You are right. The languages are more numerous. I realise that now. Also, I realised the error with the dates. I am not quite sure how that happened, especially as I discussed Nigeria recently. I suspect it was caused by juggling with a lot of different issues, dates and personalities and trying to condense it all. But thank you for pointing it out. I always like it when people use the comments to add extra information and corrections. I like to think that it shows that comments on RUclips can be useful and conversations can be carried out in a polite way. Wishing you all my very best regards from London.
Public opinion in the Southern Cameroons is claimed to be 80-90% in favor of complete independence. Since France is very covetous of its former colonies, they will frustrate any international efforts to address the root causes of this problem.
Thanks. Yes, I did actually think about that. Is my view skewed because it is Anglophones vs Francophones? I’d like to think that it isn’t. I think, objectively speaking and based on the evidence available, it is clear that the Anglophones have suffered enormous discrimination and that the central government has never really acted in good faith. I can see why they have such strong grievances. But I also hope that I brought out the appalling human rights abuses being perpetrated by Anglophone militia groups.
This is a subject I have wanted to tackle for a while. It gets little international attention, but is one of the most serious conflicts in Africa. What is so tragic is that it is a conflict that could seemingly have been so easily avoided. So, is there a way back from conflict?
Sure there's!
The situation in Ambazonia is the same as Western Togoland, only that we in Western Togoland decided to adhere to non violence protest. The issue is, is not the pro groups that start the war but the very Government who supposed to know better. All I can say is that UN should intervened by sending down UN special envoy on security, a team of non governmental elements should invite the leadership and bring end to the fight by looking into the demands. As for we in Western Togoland we are ready for anything should UN respond to our questions. Ghana got no right to determine our destiny just as Britain so we need Peaceful negotiation or dialogue.
@@peacefulworld1717 the people of the Hawaiian Islands have also been deeply committed to non-violence. Interestingly, 3 years after Hawaii was fraudulently annexed by force by U.S. President William McKinley in 1898, his life came to an untimely end in a most unpeaceful manner in 1901. A certain Senator-soon-to-be-President endured a similar fate in 1963 after voting in favor of Hawai'i's fraudulent admission as a U.S. state in 1959. Of course most people already know what happened to Japan in 1945 after an unprovoked attack on Hawaii in 1941, while still captured by the U.S. Hawaiians have nonetheless maintained their steadfast commitment to non-violence in observation of existing treaties and have never retaliated until this very day.
Let's hope so.
@@peacefulworld1717 Is not the same. French Cameroun and English Cameroon where colonize by two seperate countries and also French Cameroun had it independence on 1st January 1960 without English Cameroon. These two countries join together to form a federal country of two States. But it has not work out ever since. In English Cameroon our education and everything is English while in French Cameroun everything is French.
You are indeed a true humanitarian for bringing this matter to light
I’m Cameroonian lost family members during the crisis and was forced to relocate in 2016 due to this crisis! Thanks for speaking up
Thank you so much for the comment. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. It is important to hear about the real world effects of conflict; the lives lost and ruined and the families and communities uprooted. It is so tragic. Sending you and your family my very best wishes.
@@JamesKerLindsay thank you
I can't count HOWMANY close friends I lost people's lives destroyed
Sorry for your loss bro, wishing you and all the victims of this madness the fortitude and strength to overcome at the end.
@@iambawe_grey therefore you're southern Cameroonian NOT camerounian. There's a difference.
As a Southern Cameroonian, it difficult to describe or find the right words to express our gratitude for taking the time to research and discuss the crisis in #SouthernCameroons #Ambazonia. Your analysis is fair and your facts presented, robust.
Like we say in our local Pidgin English, "thank you plenty" ☺
Elvi Kam, how can you say his analysis is fair when he says independence for Southern Cameroons was not on the table? That is false. The Southern Cameroons just like the Republic of Cameroun was granted independence in October of 1961 by the same United Nations General Assembly Assembly through Resolution 1608. If you said the UN added that The Southern Cameroons had to chose between Nigeria and The Republic of Cameroon in to attain the independence, as an independent country, you would have been right but even so in paragraph V of that Resolution 1608 it was stated tat the two countries would come together and decide the nature of the Joining. This paragraph V was an opportunity for the Southern Cameroons to accept of refuse joining either Nigeria or The Republic of Cameroun. But that never happened since The Republic of Cameroun chose to annex the defenseless Southern Cameroons to this day.
@@jonathanngwa6819 U are one of the idiots brainwashed by the Ambazonia propaganda. You read the source from the UN.
Is not language problem please
Words cannot express my feelings after stumbling on your channel and watching this video! As a Southern Cameroonian, we feel so helpless because we have been screaming for many decades about the maltreatment from The Republic of Cameroon but no one hears us. The international community and media barely talks about it. The Anglophone Problem seems to be the least important issue at the United Nations which seems to turn a blind eye on the massacres happening there. After watching your video, I said at least someone is talking about it. This is the most factual and objective presentation of the issue that I have seen. THANK YOU.
ruclips.net/video/T06fBtftEEw/видео.html
Most revolutionary new political pidgin song from Cameroon 🇨🇲 👆
As an anglophone, this brought me to tears… thank you so much for voicing this current fight that is killing us from our roots. Lots of love
Thank you. It is a truly tragic situation. I hope you and your family are all OK.
@@JamesKerLindsay we are, most of us are out of cameroon. But it is still a sad sight. Thank you
Come to Canada we will welcome you
Lol you are killing yourselves,i am francophone and we are also suffering,you are not suffering thant anybody,who are killing you? YOU ARE FUCKING KILLING YOURSELVES
Am a Cameroonian , thanks really for talking about this, never knew internationals could think about us, just the simple fact you talked about it gives me hope, thanks soo much
GOD bless you 🙏😥🙏🙏
i am telling u
Great to see you covering lesser known topics James! Keep up the good work!
Why does your title refer to an empire? Luxemburg is the last remainder of the numerous principalities that once belonged to the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.
All must hail Biafra&ambazonia👏🏿👏🏿✊🏾
hmmmm amazonian? Ambazonian
Cameroon case is just like somaliland and Somalia, colonized by different colonizers they inherit different influences from colonial powers, they will never understand each other on how to run a government it's unfortunate Africa leaders cannot figure out the problem up to now. I think commonwealth countries should try and help those Anglophone countries to get their independent, what is the use of commonwealth?
Thanks a lot. You are very right. There are so many really obvious parallels with Somaliland. (Although I think the closest parallels are with Western Togoland ruclips.net/video/HGrHFjN2y1M/видео.html) It is such an interesting story, and yet also rather tragic. This is a wholly unnecessary conflict that should never have arisen and could have been so easily solved.
As you rightly said at the end of your video, almost 96 % of The Southern Cameroonians aka Ambazonians demand total freedom and independence and are more than willing to defend this idea until La Republique du Cameroun collapses. The Southern Cameroons was the first territory in Africa to practice true democracy and exchanged governments peacefully in the 1950s up to 1961. That has been killed by the French. Thank you for your great work James.
Thank you James. It is such a tragic and unnecessary conflict. The Southerners were systematically repressed. And the government had plenty of opportunities to set things right, but just went even harder into repression. So sad. Hopefully there will be more international attention given to this crisis.
@@JamesKerLindsay James, we The Southern Cameroonians aka Ambazonians understand the geopolitics of the world. Paul Biya, the genocidal French-backed dictator is a guarantor of a continuous flow of cheap or free natural resources to the Western countries especially France. Despite the genocide ongoing Ambazonia, the West shamelessly has taken side with their puppet Paul Biya. The West is making a big mistake, for we shall bring down La Republique du Cameroun and we will never allow anyone to exploit our resources anymore. Why can't the West play a fair game and let Africans get some benefits from their resources? They want it all. How wicked are THEY!!
Ambazonia must be set free, no matter how long it takes
Cameron crisis is European legacy
And failure of African's competency.
Failure of African competency or imposed disenfranchisement?
Nope. It is a conscious move to exterminate a culture to seize its natural resources and back up the toilet paper currency called BEAC CFA Franc. This is the Cameroonian government's doing, enough with blaming ghosts.
@@nachannachle2706 CFA Franc is owned and controlled by France, the borders were drawn by Europeans.
This would not have happened if Cameroun was split they had 4 options after WW1:
1.Independence
2.All French
3.All British
4.Keep it German
Woww this is great,,,thanks for elaborating...cameroonians appreciate ur good work✌
Thank you. It should be getting far more international attention.
I'm Cameroonian. Thanks you Sir for telling the story of my country. I like the way you explained everything exactly as my history teacher did back then. Thanks a lot. I love my country very much. I hope that things gets better and best as we rise and move further away from the pains of yesterday. Thanks
Thank you so much for the comment. I really appreciate it. It is a really tragic story. This is a conflict that was totally avoidable if the government had respected the federal constitution put in place, or had even been willing to engage in meaningful dialogue to return to that federal system. Sadly, there still seems to be little interest in finding a peaceful settlement and far too little international interest in the issue. Let’s hope that a way is found to end the fighting soon.
You love France with their useless currency shame on you black
🤣🤣🤣🤣 my friend till independent
No way for the better
Yet another amazing video professor! Not only do I learn more about conflicts I’ve already heard of, and the intricacies of statehood and independence, but I also learn about conflicts I never even knew existed, like this one.
Keep up the good work and thank you for all the hard work you put into this channel.
Thank you so much! It really makes all the difference to get such encouraging comments. I really appreciate it!
That was true sir , I am from southern cameroun
This conflict is a nightmare to the people living in Anglophone Southern Cameroon. Thank you
Ambazonia is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization as other groups you reported on in previous videos. Thank you so much for your work. Greetings from Catalonia 😊
Thanks so much. Yes, I spotted that it is a member of the UNPO. In fact, there is some great information on the site about the Ambazonia movement. It will be very interesting to see where the independence campaign goes. In the meantime, I hope all is well in Catalonia. Best wishes from London! 🙂
Ambazonia is not a nation , it is a terrorist group .
@@damienndzanga2406
Everyone has ryts to self-determination
@@damienndzanga2406 that's what can come out of your mouth when you are a part of the satanic government regime.
@@catchphrase3008 Of course! And everyone has the right to oppose to your right.
So far this is the best explanation of the conflict between Cameroun and the Restorationists of Ambazonia (Southern Cameroons). Thank you so much
Thank you for saying so. I really appreciate it.
Hello, I'm a Cameroonian and thanks for covering our story ❤
Thanks. Such a tragic story. So unnecessary.
Your analysis is straight to the point and absolutely reflecting. Thank you for your time to present this to the world that has neglected our plights. We pray this go viral until it reaches the quarters that be. God bless you @Prof James Ker-Lindsay
ruclips.net/video/T06fBtftEEw/видео.html
Most revolutionary new political pidgin song from Cameroon 🇨🇲 👆
Speechless sir, that is a complete history of that part of the world. My question is why is the UN neglecting this case for more than 3 decades? What's wrong, something must be done.
If it was in a developed country the toothless bulldog called UN would be there live. They only intervene in Africa when it comes to oil deals or other economic related businesses. Wicked set of people. We are dying here in Cameroon and all they can help is creating offices everywhere.
Thank you so much. It is such a fascinating region. I have learned so much looking at the cases there, not only Cameroon, but also Nigeria/Biafra and Ghana/Western Togoland.
As for why the UN and others don’t get involved, I think there are many reasons. But a big part of the problem is limited ‘bandwidth’. There are so many pressing international issues it becomes hard to focus on more than a very key ones. On top of this, there are no African permeate by members of the UN Security Council to press the case. (A great reason for having one.) But this where the African Union could be taking more of a lead.
UN is US, England, France, Germany and others you know, they are helping Cameroon army in this conflict because of their interest in Niger delta, look at French companies who operate 20% of oil that Nigeria export , look at US , UK oil companies in Niger delta , look at Cameroon side of Niger delta, US, French, English oil companies operate 90% of offshore oil , Nigeria , Cameroon , French troops with their marine forces operate in the whole Niger delta sea area for security of those oils and gas companies, is a risk their are managing well currently. Boko Haram is in the north of Cameroon , Tchad , Nigeria I security risk putting in danger oil that US is exploiting in Tchad and transporting through pipeline on Cameroon on 2000km Territory to sea. All those countries would not arm Ambazonia troops in Niger delta to risk their oil interest in Cameroon and Nigeria . And Paul Biya in Cameroon is still giving oil and gas concessions to French and English companies, concessions for exploitation contract which is against French speaking and English speaking Cameroon people interest. Because of all this southern Cameroon conflict is neglected by UN , by the whole world. Their not even doing effort in protecting their business by pressing criminal regime of Paul Biya to offer Federalism to southern Cameroonian , those westerns countries are doing no effort and people are dying there everyday. My personal thought is that The criminal Paul Biya who is being supported by France who put him there doesn't want to think about Federalism because of France who is scaring a federal republic of Cameroon who could be more on influence of English world , by the same this wicked and criminal France is scaring that but is able to synchronize with wicked and criminal classmate which is England.
I am Cameroonian from French speaking part , exactly form West region. I am totally in agreement with anglophone fighting, they should fight for their rights and dignity, against poverty where Paul Biya is keeping the country in . French speaking part is divided by tribalism til the point that some from French speaking would said that I have this point of view because I am Bamileke , a nonsense from tribalist.
@@JamesKerLindsay This simply means the UN only gives attention to wounds that have festered already....n we all know how much it takes to treat a festering wound ...
Is dat not diplomatically penny wise n pound foolish??
Greetings, professor . Probably the only solution to his case is separation of two Cameroons. The same with Yemen as well, because these two examples show, that unhappy marriage causes violence.
Thanks. Yes, I do wonder if there is now much realistic chance that the sides can reconcile. But it is so interesting to see how many of these situations exist. Territories that went into unions that didn’t work out, but then find that they have no exit options. It was also interesting to note that it was never offered the option of independence.
Same with Biafra a referendum should be granted #BiafraExit
Secession is not necessarily the solution. The current Cameroonian government has displayed so much bad faith and the Anglophone people feel duped, insulted and neglected. Imagine that the entire UK were to vote on whether Scotland should gain independence from the UK, chances are Scotland will probably never gain independence under those conditions. It was in a similar manner that the Federal System was abolished in Cameroon - through a national vote (rather than a vote within the Anglophone minority region) and in flagrant violation of the then constitutional provisions.
@@JamesKerLindsay Southern Cameroon had the option to be part of Nigeria but opted to join French Cameroon. ...now they are paying the price of that ill advised choice
@@nigerdeltamirrortv9311
Why was there no third option, that of independence sir
You explained the root cause of the Anglophone crisis today. I wish the UN check your facts and seperate this country. Because we will only die but we will not give up. We hate the union
I don't why EU and other World leaders don't want to do something about The Killings going on Afrika continent.. Is it because its Afrika people..
It’s because they are benefiting from the conflict, but the question is. Why is black Africans waiting for European to come and settle their internal conflicts.
@@tonybrown6261 thank you I really wonder why we always wait in this EU people, who come in for their own selfish interest
I'm so so happy to see you telling the truth to the world.
Southern Cameroon shall soon become independent
Thank you so much for highlighting the plight of the people in #SouthernCameroons. So long as the dictatorial regime in La Republic du Cameroun continues slaughtering innocent women&children, the people of #SouthernCameroons will rather die than live under this servitude. Long Live Ambazonian
Thank you Prof for the best and accurate description and explanation of the Anglophone crisis. I am an Anglophone Cameroonian and have been involved in protests for equality and autonomy not session. It is true that the central government's heavy handed attempted to quell the protest of 2016 caused the protes to degenerate into bloodshed and a wider unrest.
The armed conflict that began in 2017 is a distinct issue. A loose set of War profiteers in the diaspora hijacked the conflict and changed the demands of the protester from equality and autonomy into session. They first distorted the history of the Country's Union to the most ignorant and marginalized. They bought and sent drugs and weapons to ignorant young people whose despondency made them prime to fight for anything.
These war profiteers in the diaspora are raising funds from charities and individuals in the name of the conflict in Cameroon, meanwhile those young people fighting are living in abject poverty. Now the conflict is not with the government forces, the fractious fighters are fighting among themselves for dominance. They make a living, mass kidnappings for ransom, killing for hire and other atrocities as directed by their sponsors in the diaspora. The terrorists masters in the diaspora make millions from contract killings back home while the actual killers make on the ground get pennies.
My point is that, "The Anglophone crisis" , "The Anglophone problem" are a misnomer. It should be called the Cameroon Anglophone Sponsored Terrorism.
Thank prof.
This is a masterpiece.
Thank you for this great summary.
Be Blessed.
I have been waiting for you to present this story,I must say you did a very good job in a short video that went straight to the point.I have been researching about this crisis for 3 years now,have watched so many Docos and read info,I must say your article was on point.Good job and we will check out your next articles,take care.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate the extremely kind words of support. This was a video I had been meaning to make for some time. This tragic situation simply doesn’t get enough international attention, especially given the huge impact it is having on millions of lives.
I am a Cameroonian n this is the first time I have really understood the history behind the anglophone crisis, it's never thought so detailed in our schools
Thank you. I am glad it helped.
Thank you for this insightful analysis of our current crisis. As rightly said it could have been avoided. As a Southern Cameroonian I feel disheartened and it would seem we have been left out from the international scene as far as conflict resolution is concerned.
Many in the international community claim the roots are complex, but when I hear you explain so succinctly, I know that many know the problem very well.
Thanks for covering this topic James amazing video content and informative as always!
Thank you sir. So happy to see you making video from my country, particularly about the region where I am from. I remember mailing you asking g you to do this because after watching your previous videos I realize how I was easy to understand statehood and independence.
Always on point!!!
Thank you so much Tende. Thanks so much for the email message and the great suggestion! I hope that I managed to explain the situation fairly. It was so interesting to look into the case in more detail. It is such a tragic situation precisely because it seemed so avoidable. Southern Cameroon’s had decided on unification and yet from the start they were treated as second class citizens and the constitutional system eroded. This is a case where one can clearly see that it could have worked. The sad thing is that there is still not enough attention given to the situation internationally, and certainly not enough pressure put on the Cameroon government to engage in proper dialogue on a peaceful settlement of the situation - whatever that might be now. Obviously, if you do know anyone who might be interested in the video, please do share it.
By the was, on a separate note, how did you feel about my using an image of Julius Ayuk Tabe on the thumbnail? Is this appropriate? Any thoughts very welcome.
@@JamesKerLindsay it's ok,nothing wrong at all
Tende you got to join Twitter and twit about the Biafra/ambazonia cooperation alliance
This is one of the most objective presentations I have come across in my 31 years of activism as a Student leader in the then lone University of Yaounde and as a pro Federation and later an avowed Independentist! Thanks for touching on the historical facts hidden within the narrative in French Csmeroun and their peers!
Thank you sir, you did a great job, we hope other westerners will report on the situation in Ambazonia
Please sir, keep talking about this. We are hopeless without people like you. Come and see hunger in southern Cameroon.
I remember in 2010-2015 everywhere you go in Ambaland in schools courts governments offices there was a continued increasing numbers of French CAMEROUN administrators moving in It was alarming. 2016 peaceful protest started and I was part of it both us young boys girls children MOTHERS fathers( students drivers etc...) with peace plants leaves on our hands we all shouting NO VOILENCE NO VOILENCE NO VOILENCE NO VOILENCE but government arm force started teargas n beforw we realised people were dropingdown hit by life bullets It was CRAZY. How i didn't die God knows I lost many friends 🤦🤦🤦🤦. 1st October 2017 OMG 🤦 my hometown BUEA government helicopter was raining down bullets on peaceful protesters people were chased into the bushes shut and killed 2weeks we kept discovering copses in bushes
Am a Cameroonian citizen, from the north west region, i lost my dad, brother in thesame day
Professor, you always manage to educate me about something I didn't even know existed. Brilliant work, really enjoyed this!
Hey there Ben! Great to hear from you. I hope all is well. I think I owe you an email!
Thank you for this awareness and we Ambazonia appreciate every contribution to from the Int community in creating an awareness regarding the conflict which has not only destabilise Cameroun and cripple her economy but this conflict will destabilise the whole of the gulf of Guinea. We are Ambazonia and we have never been part of Cameeoun , so the regime using words as secessionist is not recognise by us. We are not trying to break away from CameroUn but rather , asking Cameroun to leave our territory and respect their border from independence. Right to self determination does not end in referendum. Right to self determination is u universal and CameroUn is an illegal occupier and we Ambazonians have involved self defence since the #UN and #AU has failed to uphold the responsibility to protect in face of genocide and ethnic cleansing. We will defend ourselves and end Cameroun occupation and terrorism in our country.
Thank you James..you continue to educate and elucidate.. and this time on a conflict that I was completely unaware of.. tragic though it is. all the best.. g
Thanks George! Sadly, it gets hardly any international attention, despite being one of the most serious conflicts in Africa.
I was quite surprised about this conflict . I recently started listening to Africa today by the BBC and really learned of the things happening on the continent that tend to be ignored
BBC is not where you will get Authentic news about Africa.
Follow African Activists like Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
Who cares about British brainwashing corporation so called bbc mad pple everywhere
So insightful. Let a solution come please. We're still suffering here
Why can't UN do something. Every little region has right to yourself government.. Even little country in Europe has their own region control.. Why can Africa? Is it because its Afrika people
Great analysis mate, very brave of you to ook into this issue as it seems to be taboo for most MSM.
Hello! Thank you for covering this. I'm a southern Cameroonian who have been greatly affected by the crisis, some family members have been killed. The rest of the family is currently seeking refuge in Nigeria
I am so very sorry to hear about your family. But thank you so much for the comment. It is always so important for us all to remember that behind the numbers are real people and families whose lives have been destroyed by conflict. It is very easy to overlook this. I really do hope that your family find safety and are eventually able to rebuild their lives. With all my very best wishes, James
Honestly this is a fair judgment of what has transpired over the years. We hope the world would finally intervene and prevent another Rwanda 🇷🇼; where they said never again.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. It is a tragic situation. I keep meaning to make an update video.
Firstly, as an indigenous southern Cameroonian I commend you for the witty take on the Anglophone crisis. 👌🏾
Secondly, the divide among the Anglophone speaking regions (South west & North west) makes this crisis quite complex. Some tribes in the south west do not want to collaborate with other tribes in the north west. This divide is continuously enhance by corrupt politicians in this regions who seek to enrich themselves painting a peaceful state of the Anglophone peril to the government.
Thirdly, there are several factions within the separatist groups fighting over separate interest. One separate group advocates federalism while another separate group seeks for separation and an independence state widely known as the Ambazonia state.
Fourthly, Some Anglophones in the diaspora are diehard proponents for this crisis as they continue to amass wealth from donors for the course.
Lastly, the aloofness of international media coverage of this crisis is baneful.
All these makes this crisis not akin to any and hard to report without bias. Calling it the Anglophone crisis is reducing the cause of the crisis to post colonial linguistic culture. However this crisis is born from years of discrimination, corruption, red tape bureaucracy, unemployment, police brutality, porous educational system and destitution among Cameroonians. Let’s be caution not to turn this crisis into a linguistic warfare.
Na wa ooh. It shows that you don't live in the crisis zone.
Thank you so much sir ,may God continue to bless you.We need you more than ever before
Thank you sir,I really appreciate everything you have done. An internally displaced in Cameroon
Seems to be a very underreported conflict, good to see it covered here!
Yes...the same thing is happening in Nigeria now. The federal government has refused to conduct a referendum for the indegenous peoples who want to break out because of the nepotic and subjugative attitude of the nation towards them. Moreover, the Amalgamation of these indegenous ethnic groups that form Nigeria had expired since 2014. It's unfortunate that the mainstream media is not showing the cold blood massacre, rapes, abduction, illegal human organs harvesting and overwhelming human rights abuses by the police, army and terrorists going on there.
People who have heard of these conflicts are usually from there or are from nearby nations or people who take an interest in these affairs.
Conflicts exist in Niger Republic, Mali, Morocco etc.
What will happen if people keep reporting about the war? What will change? Cameroon and Nigeria have a government and are independent states. It is a failure of these same government which sought for independence and democracy in the 60s and 70s. We rejoiced ... But now we are crying to be controlled again. The same government which we fought for has turned out to be a failure. We make our own decision and Germany said they can not intervene. Most people just want foreign countries to march with the army and say Mr. President go out. But it does not work like that. Our government is the problem, "we" are the problem. And whatever happens after this we will still complain like children; if we join Biafra... "Oh the igbos are like this and that, this is not working, bla bla bla ", complains complains complains.
I'm from the region many refer to as Ambazonia. Amongst the many individuals I know who got affected by this crises is my father, who got kidnapped, tortured and maimed.
In order to keep my peace of mind, I decide to be apolitical and pretend I have no sentiments or affiliations towards this matter.
I am so sorry to hear that you and your family have personally been affected by the conflict. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it so much. It is all too easy to forget that behind every number is a person killed, injured or uprooted. This is so important for people to remember. And I understand fully why you might want to take a step back from the situation. Everyone has to cope with these situations as best they can. Again, I am so sorry to hear about your father. Sending you all my very best wishes.
@@JamesKerLindsay Thank you too, sir James Ker-Lindsay.
Much regard to your work and concern for humanity
Boris tafon. What is your opinion about the recent alliance between Biafra agitators and ambazonia independence agitators. I think it will make a perfect cooperation?
Ayuke Tabe u are the leader.
Thank you so much for teaching me my own history and drawing international attention to our crisis which is widely being ignored by the world while.
English Cameroonian Immigrant in Italy ❤️ great video 🔥🔥🔥
Great analysis and full of facts. Thank you so much for giving a voice to our sufferings.
Thank you so much. It is such a tragic situation.
Keep on the good work James
Thanks so much!
Most people especially the once base in the Northwest region are already tired of the whole thing they just want things to go back to normal again
Then you don't know what is going on in Cameroon
Sir, Thank you for taking the time to cover our story. Please bring this to the world stage like the Ukraine crisis. Our families have suffered greatly from things like rapes, burnings, to gun shot murders and other forms of genocide, by the francophone troops. My family personally seems to have suffered the brunt of these attacks. We are even currently mourning the loss of a family member from this genocide. Please help us publicize this genocide to the world and cause them to undo the partial decolonization they forced us into and set the stage for this current conflict with our neighboring French country
Great piece & perfect Delivery James. Thank you for putting our struggle for justice out there. And u r right, this war could easily be avoided if the UN & international community weighed in to implement agreed UNGA Resolutions (NOW WOULD STILL HELP TO AVOID MORE BLOODSHED).
thanks again James
The Ambazonia quest for independence and total decolonisation looks a bit simple but complex as the international community has neglected the conflict for far too long. Thanks for creating awareness and reaching out.
Thank you for this video Mr Ker-Lindsay, it brings some respite from today's sad news
Thank you, Roger. Probably not the most cheering video to be honest. It’s a pretty grim story. But today’s news did make me think of Vanuatu, where Prince Philip was revered as a divine being!
@@JamesKerLindsay He was, I wonder how they are feeling tonight there
thank you for this insightful piece. One minor correction. There are more than 240 (this figure is the least) ethnic languages spoken in the Republic of Cameroon not " an estimated 24". 24 doesn't even cover the NW Region of Cameroon.
Thank you so much. A few others have mentioned this. Point well taken!
Thanks so much sir for talking out on tho issue sir my brother was killed in this war I was force to run for my dear life ....God bless u sir 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🌠🌠🌠🌠☀🌠☀🌠🌠i pray God give us back our land ..AMBAZONIA ☀⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It is all too easy to forget that behind these videos lie stories of real people killed and injured and families and communities uprooted. Sending my very best wishes to you and you family.
Well done boss I really enjoyed the History
Thanks James. God bless
Thank you so much Stanley. All my very best wishes to you and yours.
Multi-Ethnic, Multi-Religious, Multi-Lingual, Multi-Cultural states always tend to fall into anarchy.
I am francophone Cameroonian and I fully support you he right of Anglophones to lead their own way. Paul Biya should resign since he has failed to keep one of the most promising African countries together.
Hello james greetings from another underestimated country somaliland
Hello! Yes, the parallels with Somaliland are really clear, aren’t they! Greetings from London.
Good summary of the Amazonian/La Republic du Cameroun conflict. Let the world understand this and react, for the deaths are too much for us to bear.
I am an ambalander sir your analysis a great and accurate
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. It is such a tragic situation - and so completely unnecessary. This is a conflict that should never have happened. More pressure needs to be brought to bear on Cameroon. But I do suspect that finding a mutually acceptable solution may now be impossible.
Amba for life
The Bulu dominated central government is diametrically opposed to giving any autonomy to the Southern Cameroons. They are the bread basket of Cameroon and is where the oil is found.
Which bread basket?Stop the lies. Only the truth will set us free
After going through torture, rape and assault in the hands of the BIR, it is one thing that is going to hurt me all my life.
My life has never be the same.
Call in Anglophone crisis, call it Cameroon civil war but please call it enough is enough. I live in a foreign country today as a refugee and what hurts most is answering the name Cameroonian.
Chattered dreams 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 a bleeding heart
Thanks for shining some precise light on this conflict, especially on the origin of the name Ambazonia.
Thanks so much. Really glad to hear it was useful.
Thank you may GOD Almighty bless you and keep you safe form evil ones please come and help the south West region and the North West region in Cameroon
God bless you sir for this message
Thanks for bringing this to the light and to the world. God bless you
Prof u are brilliant in your analysis. Great 👍 job.
It's sad the former colonized people are killing each other because of the languages of the colonizers.
I have been interested in learning your version of the full story of Ambazonia since we have talked about the area after one of your other videos. This is somewhat like the merger of the two Somali republics years ago and the resulting claim of ilegitimate original takeover processes and a recovered sovereignty not legally given up by British Somaliland, I believe. Recognizing this secession is not for linguistic or cultural reasons, though. I could not help thinking how Cameroun's efforts to control and absorb the populations of Ambazonia follows the same tactics Putin's Russia uses to control and "russianize" the people for control in an obvious attempt at colonization by Russians. Using the courts is another tactic he uses to supress any opposition. One needs to look at the suppression of the local languages in the republics such as Tatar, Mari, Mordvin, Chuvash in recent years. I have enjoyed your expert analysis as always. Please keep up making these videos as they often add so much to my understanding. Thank you Dr. Ker-Lindsay.
Masterpiece. A professor indeed
Thank you so much. It is such a tragic situation. So many missed opportunities for political compromise and peace by the central government.
THANK YOU MR JAMES FOR A JOB WELL DONE
All Anglophone Cameroonians want equality and will like autonomy like in a Federation with a devolved government. A very few vociferous separatists with arms are terrorizing the majority of their own people, for their self interests, in the name of session. They are not fighting the government forces. Instead, they are killing Anglophones.
The only thing that the majority of the Anglophones and the separatist subgroup is their dislike of the Central government in YAOUNDE.
It is a very long leap from asking for equality and autonomy to suggesting that all Anglophones want independence from Cameroon.
Again thank you Prof.
Thank you very much for your report to our problem. Writing from the Anglophone Cameroun/Ambazonia.
Thanks!
Thank you so much. I am so incredibly sorry I didn’t reply sooner. I have only just seen this. (RUclips really is terrible at notifications.) That really was incredibly kind of you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the support. And my sincerest apologies again for the delayed thank you. Very best regards, James
Thank you for schooling us again bout this scenario we thought the UN will look for a solution to the problem but realised the UN is a toothless bulldog and one corrupt organisations that solve problems where it interest lays
Thank you. Sadly, there has not been nearly enough international attention given to this tragic situation.
Hey great video. I heard about this for the first time 😅😅. Hey can you make a video about your understanding about the QUAD.
You narrated it exactly as it is.
Thank you so much. A truly tragic situation.
Thanks sir for making our problem know to the world 🌍 thanks sir
Thank you. It is a tragic situation.
Very interesting and educational, thanks for making this content
Thanks so much for letting me know you found it useful. I really appreciate it!
I pray some one like u in the right place of authority can here us, its no longer about the precident who has stayed there since I was born but the hope to see my friends when I get up in the morning.
Many of my friends have all been killed
Where you in Cameroon during that time grand ???
@James Ker-Lindsay #James #Ker-Lindsay. I appreciate you eloquent words on our strougle. This whole mess we are going through was created by the England and France. I have lost everthing in the war the Cameroon government waged on us. Please, do dig more into what's going on and expose it to the world. We have tried but the international organisations are turning a blind eye to this war because it doesn't benifit them. EU, UN, UK, AU etc.
Very enlightening report. Thanks Prof. James.
Thanks for the great video. I was wondering if you would consider covering the status of first nations in Canada and the US and their limited autonomy and statehood.
Thanks so much! Great suggestion. Yes, I would really like to look into them. It is such an interesting topic. What is their exact status? And what does sovereignty mean in their context?
This response is both in English and French - the two official languages of Cameroon.
Let me begjn by telling Frank Mike and Damien Ndzanga that they are barking up the wrong tree. I say so as an Historian who read History-Geography at the University of Yaounde in the 70s and who is au fait with happenings in Cameroon. I switched professions for practical reasons and on fitness-for-purpose grounds. Besides 3 minor errors in the Author's narrative, his account is in the main correct. Using statistics as my yardstick for same, I would say the narrative is about 98.5% accurate. The 3 mistakes I discerned were the number of native languages spoken in Cameroon, the date of the referenda in British Northern and Southern Cameroons (11 Feb 1961 in lieu of 11 February 1960) and the Independence Day of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( 1st October 1960).
Passons maintenant en francais. Je trouve hallucinant qu'un Chercheur etranger puisse decrire l'unification du Cameroun et la dynamique qui va avec mieux que la plupart des historiens francophones au bercail. Pour votre gouverne, les specialistes de l'unification du Cameroun sont anglophones. Vu le caractere despotique du Regime d'AA, les profs francophones de l'Universite du Cameroun ne voudraient guere enseigner l'unification du Cameroun sans la falsifier.
Regardez bien le 1er drapeau de la RFC et dites-moi le nombre d'etoiles la-dessus et ce que cela voudrait dire. N'en parlons pas de signataires de la Constitution de la RFC du 1er septembre 1961! Elle porte les noms de David a Ngon et d'Ahmadou Ahidjo! Le SC n'avait pas encore obtenu son independance, n'est-ce pas? Ya-t-il un Traite d'Union entre les deux Cameroun d'antan tel que prescrit par la Resolution 1608 des Nations Unies du 16 avril 1961.
Les juristes ont raison quand ils disent haut et fort que le Referendum du 20 mai 1972 fut un coup d'etat constitutionnel. Si vous ne le saviez pas, le gouvernement colonial britannique avait beau tenter de corrompre les Deputes du KNDP de John Ngu Foncha pour qu'ils optent pour le rettachement du SC a la RFN. Mais les peres fondateurs ont emis une fin de recevoir.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate the comment. You are right. The languages are more numerous. I realise that now. Also, I realised the error with the dates. I am not quite sure how that happened, especially as I discussed Nigeria recently. I suspect it was caused by juggling with a lot of different issues, dates and personalities and trying to condense it all. But thank you for pointing it out. I always like it when people use the comments to add extra information and corrections. I like to think that it shows that comments on RUclips can be useful and conversations can be carried out in a polite way. Wishing you all my very best regards from London.
Public opinion in the Southern Cameroons is claimed to be 80-90% in favor of complete independence. Since France is very covetous of its former colonies, they will frustrate any international efforts to address the root causes of this problem.
Great work! Keep it up.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
I always have in mind your perspective is that of an anglophone, and ask myself if your perspective would be different if you were francophone.
Thanks. Yes, I did actually think about that. Is my view skewed because it is Anglophones vs Francophones? I’d like to think that it isn’t. I think, objectively speaking and based on the evidence available, it is clear that the Anglophones have suffered enormous discrimination and that the central government has never really acted in good faith. I can see why they have such strong grievances. But I also hope that I brought out the appalling human rights abuses being perpetrated by Anglophone militia groups.