Cameroons | Cameroun - Two Independence Days Neither Celebrated & A Civil War

Cameroon has been embroiled in a civil war 6 years. Prior to this there has always been 2 Independence days yet none are celebrated. One which is the 1 January 1960. The second one being 1 October 1961.

Paul Biya the 40 year despot ruler of Cameroon isn’t blinking when it comes to separatists groups within and outside of the country. As Paul Biya turned 89 in 2022 and shows little signs of stepping down from his 40 year reign over the country.

Cameroon: Two Independence days, none celebrated

On January 1st 1960, The Republic of Cameroon gained independence from France.

This national flag had been adopted by Law 46 of October 29, 1957 and confirmed by the constitution of February 21, 1960, following independence on January 1st that same year.

Today therefore marks the 62nd independence anniversary of French Cameroon (La Republique du Cameroun).

On October 1st 1961, Southern Cameroons gained independence as West Cameroon and the Republic of Cameroon became East Cameroon.

The two became the Federal Republic of Cameroon and the flag acquired two stars on the green strip to represent the two States.

Source: Mimimefoino News Cameroon

Anglophone Cameroon: From crisis to chaos

A separatist crisis that began five years ago in Anglophone Cameroon has spiraled into unmitigated violence. The UN says a humanitarian catastrophe is on the horizon — but the key players aren’t willing to compromise.

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

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

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

Source: DW

There has been division within the separatists groups in Cameroon as well as abroad. As seen when the US — Africa summit was held in Washington DC. Some members of the separatists groups waited outside the airport to gleefully welcome President Paul Biya to the United States. There have been fighting and power struggles within Cameroon as well.

Cameroon’s government is praising U.S. authorities for arresting three Cameroonian Americans accused of supporting separatist violence in the country's western regions. The three, arrested a week ago and indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice, allegedly raised funds to abduct persons and use weapons of mass destruction in a foreign country.

Cameroon's government has for years been urging the U.S. and Europe to crack down on separatists operating outside the country. Government forces have been battling separatist groups for five years.

John Billy Eko, inspector general in Cameroon’s External Relations Ministry, said the arrest of the three Cameroonian-born U.S. citizens indicates the U.S. has come to understand that some people who sponsor the separatist conflict live in America.

Cameroonian lawyers in the U.S. say they have filed complaints against 200 Cameroonians and American citizens of Cameroon origin in the U.S. who are suspected accomplices to separatist violence.

Source: VOA

As millions of Cameroonians celebrated the incoming New Year, some were under the heavy gun fire by clashing groups. Videos flooded Facebook from news sources showing the night time gun fire.

There is currently no end in sight for the fighting in Cameroon as even the separatists groups can't get along.

Thank you for reading 🙏🏽 Please consider buying a coffee for Lacey's House efforts in Gender Equality & Children's Rights as it tries to move international.

©️TB Obwoge 2023 All Rights Reserved