In 1919 after the 1st world war, Cameroon was a country divided by the French and the British.
The territory was divided into two, Northern Cameroon , and Southern Cameroon.
In 1954 British Southern Cameroon wanted to have their own nation, and developed their own state governance and institutions.
1959 election took place in the region, and a new prime minister elected.
On the 1st January 1960 the republic of Cameroon became independent from France.
1st October 1960 Nigeria ( and part of Cameroon) gained their independence from Britain
Both British North and Southern Cameroon remained a trust territory of the UN
In 1961 there region ( the 'in betweenness') was given the choice to become either become independent by joining either the French Republic of Cameroon or the British republic of Nigeria
They were not given the choice to become independent in their own right and considered too small a landmass.
The British southern Cameroon voted to join the French speaking republic of Cameroon
The British northern Cameroon voted to join Nigeria.
Are you still with me?
At a conference on the 30th September 1962, designed to bring the 2 nations together, a pre prepared constitution was drawn up and ratified. The people were ill prepared.
the conference was designed to bring the two nations together.
On the 1st October French speaking Cameroon forces entered the region and took over.
The British flag was lowered, as was the French
The federal republic of Cameroon was born.
In 1972, this was abandoned in favour of a 'United republic of Cameroon'. no federation.
The people ( Ambazonians) stuck 'between borders' feel they have been disregarded, and with oil available in their region, an oil refinery was built, but channeled to the French speaking north.
So , the people, the 'in-betweeners' the Ambazonians, are fighting for their independence.
A people who previously practiced British common law 'innocent until proven guilty'. are now forced to practice French civil law, 'guilty until proven innocent.
Perhaps they would have been better off joining Nigeria.
Or maybe not.
It's a difficult one. as if you decided to enter a man's house, you should expect to live by the rules of the homeowner.
20% of English speaking Cameroon are really stuck between a rock and a hard place. They want independence. Ironically, `The right to practice the ways of their former British 'colonizers'
Perhaps they will get it, perhaps not, but ultimately, war is not the answer.
The brutal treatment the southern English speaking Cameronians have received, cannot be condoned
On and on it goes, and innocent people are getting hurt, on both sides.
They must talk.
Britain and France, (the colonisers) have left you to it.
What are you really fighting for?
and ....are you not fighting your 'brothers'
This is for those of you ( like myself) who ever wondered what the Cameroon struggle was about.
My question is, who were you before the colonisers came?
Surely Love is the answer, and the only way forward.
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