The Anglophone Crisis: The Birth of Warlords, the Impact of Warlords Activity on the People of North West and South West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Things are falling apart in Cameroon, as the marriage of inconvenience between the Former British Southern Cameroon (West Cameroon) and The Republic of Cameroon (East Cameroon) is about to explode into a violent crisis. Cameroon which is a member of the Central African community (CEMAC), shares borders with Nigeria which has an ongoing Boko Haram crisis, Chad is suffering from not only droughts but also Boko Haram crisis, the Republic of Central Africa also has political tensions, and Gabon amongst others. This article overviews the Cameroon Anglophone crisis and the Birth of warlords. The main objective of this study is to analyze the birth of Warlord, the impact of the Warlords on the people of (NW and SW), possible solutions to the crisis. In the process, the article also highlights gang violence by warlords and the Military of Cameroon, which includes: 1) Displacement of thousands of people (internal and external displacement), 2) imprisonment of thousands of civilians both those allegedly concerned and those innocent, 3) heavy loss of property by government and civilians not only in the two English speaking regions but the entire country as a whole. This article is a sociological analysis of the phenomenon, the birth of Warlords and the intensification of gang violence on the people of Northwest and Southwest of Cameroon. Using a qualitative case study based research strategy, this research investigates and analyzes the different system of government and other factors which can be used as a solution to the Anglophone crisis. The solution includes: 1) Federalism, 2) Unitary system, 3) Secession, 4) Dialogue, 5) United Nations and African Union, as actors and strategies that can be implemented in Cameroon.