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2016–17 Cameroonian protests

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For similar protest, see Syrian protests (March–April 2016).

2016 Cameroon protest
Date23 November 2016 – ongoing
Location
Southern Cameroons
Caused byLanguage and Marginalization[1]
GoalsTo protect the common law system of Anglophone Cameroonians[2]
MethodsDemonstrations, ghost town, shutdown of schools
StatusOngoing
Parties
Lead figures
Casualties and losses
27 killed, many injured.[3][4]

The 2016 Cameroonian protest refers to a series of protests that occurred following the appointment of Francophone judges in English-speaking areas of the Republic of Cameroon.[5] In October 2016, protests began in two primarily English-speaking regions: the Northwest Region and the Southwest Region.[6] On the first day of the protests (23 November 2016), it was reported that at least two people were killed and 100 protestors were arrested in Bamenda, a city in the Northwest Region.[7][8]

Causes and protest

The protest began on October 6, 2016 as a sit-down strike initiated by the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC), an organization consisting of lawyer and teacher trade unions from the Anglophone regions of Cameroon. The strike was led by Barrister Agbor Balla, Fontem Neba, and Tassang Wilfred.[9] Common Law Lawyers of Anglophone Cameroons were said to have written an appeal letter to the government over the use of French in schools and courtrooms in the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon. In an effort to protect the English culture, they began a sit-down strike in all courtrooms on October 6th, 2016. Demonstration of a peaceful protest began by marches in the cities of Bamenda, Buea, and Limbe calling for the protection of the common law system in Anglophone Cameroon. They asked for the common law system to be practiced in Anglophones courts and not the civil law used by the French-speaking magistrate. Laws such as the OHADA uniform acts, CEMAC code, and others should be translated into English. They also asked for the common law system of education in Anglophone universities such as the University of Buea and the University of Bamenda should be addressed by the creation of a law school.[10] The government responded by sending security forces to fire tear gas and allegedly assault protesters and lawyers.[11][12] During November 2016 thousands of teachers in the Anglophone regions joined the lawyers in solidarity to protect the English culture in Anglophone Cameroon they came together to identify their grievances to stop the French language not to be used in schools and courtrooms in English-speaking regions of Cameroon.[13][6] All schools were shutdown in the Anglophone regions, with only two months and three weeks of the start of 2016/2017 academic year.

Violence and arrests

Within two weeks, more than 100 activists have reportedly been arrested. Six are reported dead. Unconfirmed videos released over social media depicted a variety of violent scenes, including demonstrators "parading the dead body of an activist, barricades set ablaze, [and] police brutally beating protesters and firing tear gas against the crowds".[14][6]

September 22, 2017

Friday, September 22, thousands of protesters came to the street demanding full independence across villages, towns and cities of Southern Cameroons. In Buea, the Capital of Southern Cameroons freedom fighters took down a national flag outside a police station, while officers looked on, and hoisted the blue and white striped one of Ambazonia (Southern Cameroons) while young boys painted their faces blue and white to represent the territory they are all fighting for independence and chanting "we want {freedom}". About 8 people were reportedly killed with photos circulating social media.
Still Friday, President Paul Biya, who has been in power for 35 years and was addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, thousands of Anglophones protesters rally at the UN headquarters asking for Independence lead by Ayaba Cho Lucas, Sisiku Tabe Ayuk, Barrister Bobga Harmony and others.[15][16][17]

October 1, 2017

Anglophone Cameroonians declared Independence from Francophone Cameroon on Sunday, October 1. Peaceful marches took place on the streets of the English speaking regions; the protests occurred in several towns: Buea, Bamenda, Kumba, Kumbo, and Mamfe. Protesters carried leafs to symbolize freedom and sang songs as they celebrated their independence. The following day, Monday of October 2, Amnesty International reported that at least 17 people were killed due to military confrontation.[18][19]

President Paul Biya's response

In his yearly New Year's message to the country, Paul Biya spoke on protests and the Anglophone problem (though without mentioning the phrase 'Anglophone problem'). He said,

All the voices that spoke have been heard. They have, in many cases, raised substantive issues that cannot be overlooked. I have enjoined the Government to engage in frank dialogue with the various parties concerned to find appropriate solutions to the issues raised. I urge them to participate, without any bias, in the various discussions. However, we should never forget that we are walking in the footsteps of our country's founding fathers, our national heroes, who shed their blood to bequeath to posterity a nation that is united in its diversity. Cameroon's unity is, therefore, a precious legacy with which no one should take liberties. Any claim, no matter how relevant, loses its legitimacy once it jeopardizes, even slightly, the building of national unity. Do I need to repeat this? Cameroon is one and indivisible! It shall so remain.[20]

Government dialogue

In response, the government of Cameroon created an ad hoc committee to dialogue with members of The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC) lead by Tassang Wilfred in Bamenda from the Consortium and minister Jacques Fame Ndongo, in January 2017. The first meeting was not fruitful as the consortium members demanded the government to release all arrested before any dialogue; more cases of arrest continued and were condemned by the Consortium members in the bid to solve the Anglophone problems. They presented a draft for federalism which was condemned by the government and on the 17 of January 2017 through a ministerial decree signed by minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi, The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC) and SCNC was banned in Cameroon and described its activities as illegal against the security and unity of Cameroon. A few days later members of the Cameroon civil society were arrested, namely Agbor Balla and Fontem Neba.[21][22]

International reaction

More than 13,000 Anglophone Cameroonians residing in Maryland began to protest and called for international bodies to help stop arrest and marginalization in Cameroon. On June 27th, United States Congressman, Anthony G. Brown, filed a petition to United States Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, to call for the government of Cameroon to immediately show concern and solve the ongoing crises.[23] The United States condemned the loss of life and brutality against Anglophone protesters.[24]

Internet outage

Around January 17, 2017, reports emerged that an Internet blockade had been implemented in major cities of the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon; many suspected it was a government ploy to disorganize and stamp out the Anglophone protests.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ "What you need to know about Cameroon's Anglophone protests". 13 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Mass protests in Cameroon are exposing the fragility of its dual French-English system".
  3. ^ Okie, Eyong Blaise (13 December 2016). "Cameroon urged to investigate deaths amid anglophone protests" – via www.theguardian.com.
  4. ^ "Arrests in Cameroon language protests". 23 November 2016 – via www.bbc.com.
  5. ^ "Rights groups call for probe into protesters' deaths in Cameroon". CNN.
  6. ^ a b c "Rights groups call for probe into protesters' deaths in Cameroon". CNN. Retrieved 2017-09-13. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  7. ^ "Cameroon: Two were reported killed during pro-Anglophone protests". Africanews. Retrieved 2017-09-13. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  8. ^ "Cameroon urged to investigate deaths amid anglophone protests". The Guardian. 2016-12-13. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-09-13. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  9. ^ "Trial over Cameroon's Anglophone protests exposes national divide". Reuters. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-13. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  10. ^ "Anglophone Cameroon Common Law Lawyers Protest - Contra Nocendi International". contranocendi.org. Retrieved 2017-09-13. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  11. ^ "(True or False?) Two Anglophone lawyers beaten up in Buea - StopBlaBlaCam". StopBlaBlaCam. Retrieved 2017-09-13. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  12. ^ "Brutalization of lawyers in Cameroon and the "Anglophone problem"". On The Road To Success | Personal Blog of Zuzeeko Abeng. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  13. ^ "Cameroon teachers, lawyers strike in battle for English". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  14. ^ "Arrests in Cameroon language protests". BBC News. 2016-11-23. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  15. ^ (www.dw.com), Deutsche Welle. "English speakers protest in Cameroon, demand equal rights amid calls for secession - News - DW - 22.09.2017". DW.COM.
  16. ^ Kindzeka, Moki Edwin. "Cameroon's French-English Divide Flares Up".
  17. ^ "English speakers take to the streets in Cameroon".
  18. ^ "At least 17 killed in Cameroon anglophone unrest: sources - Vanguard News". 2 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Cameroon's "Anglophone" crisis has reached a boiling point as security forces kill 17 protesters".
  20. ^ "President Paul Biya's New Year Message to Cameroonians (Full Text of December 31, 2016 Speech)". cameroonlatest.blogspot.com. January 1, 2017.
  21. ^ "- CrTV". crtv.cm. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  22. ^ "The Government Just Banned SCNC and Consortium ‹ The Standard Tribune". thestandardtribune.com. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  23. ^ "Anglophone protests: More pressure from United States' congress". Journal du Cameroun. 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2017-09-13. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  24. ^ "Cameroon Strike: The United States expresses concern over the loss of life and brutality against anglophone protesters". Cameroon Concord. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  25. ^ "JUST IN: Internet Blocked in Bamenda Regions of Cameroon". pctechmag.com. January 18, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2017.

External links

Template:Anti-government protests in the 21st century

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