Have you ever wondered how forced assimilation can drive a region toward separation? Southern Cameroons (now the North West and South West regions of Cameroon) provides a poignant example. What began as a promise of national integration has evolved into a systematic erasure of Southern Cameroonians’ identity, leading to political and cultural alienation.

In 1961, Southern Cameroons voted to join the Republic of Cameroon in a UN-supervised plebiscite. The agreement envisioned a federal union that would respect the distinct cultures and systems of both regions. However, instead of fostering true integration, the government pursued assimilation, marginalising the Anglophone minority. Political and economic policies favoured the Francophone majority, undermining the Anglophone legal, cultural, and educational frameworks (Mbah, 2000). This forced assimilation gradually stripped Southern Cameroonians of their identity, fuelling grievances.

The transition from integration to assimilation became apparent in the education system. Anglophone students were forced to adopt French curricula, leaving them disadvantaged in a system that disregarded their linguistic and cultural needs. Imagine learning complex subjects in an unfamiliar language—this was the reality for many Southern Cameroonian students. Such policies alienated the region, fostering resentment toward the central government.

By 1995, the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) emerged as a key organisation advocating for the restoration of Southern Cameroons’ statehood. The SCNC argued that forced assimilation had robbed Anglophones of their political and cultural autonomy, making separation the only viable path to preserving their identity. This struggle came to a head in 2016 when widespread protests erupted, as teachers and lawyers demanded respect for Anglophone institutions. The government’s violent crackdown deepened the crisis, further convincing many that independence was the only solution (Achirim, 2017).

Economic marginalisation also compounded the issue. Despite its natural resource wealth, Southern Cameroons remained underdeveloped as resources were siphoned to Francophone regions. This unequal treatment left Anglophones with poor infrastructure and limited opportunities, amplifying their sense of exclusion.

Today, Southern Cameroons faces an identity crisis. The government’s insistence on assimilation over diversity has fractured the nation, demonstrating that forced unity cannot succeed without respect for differences. The SCNC continues to advocate for the preservation of Anglophone heritage, showing that for Southern Cameroonians, separation is less about rejection and more about survival. National integration should never require the erasure of identity.

References
Achirim, P. (2017). The Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon: A Political Analysis. University of Yaoundé Press.
Jua, N. (2019). National Integration or Forced Assimilation? The Plight of Anglophones in Cameroon. Cambridge University Press.
Mbah, A. (2000). Historical and Cultural Identity of Southern Cameroons. Douala Publishers.
Ngoh, R. T. (2018). The History of Cameroon: From the German Period to Independence. Routledge.

Written by: Camillius Agbor Takang

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