By Ngembeni Wa Namaso
1. Introduction
The ongoing socio-political crisis in Cameroon's Northwest and Southwest regions, formerly Southern Cameroons, arises from complex historical, cultural, and systemic issues. Key causes include the failure of assimilation policies, perceptions of political marginalization, and cultural dominance struggles between Anglo-Saxon and French traditions. With the unfortunate outset of armed conflict in 2016, this paper attempts to “think outside the box” and examine how to be more intentional in balancing and coordinating the current hybrid approach of "Crowding-Out", and "Repression" to create a more sustainable pathway towards peace. The analysis explores some of the root causes, compares the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, and advocates for an integrated framework tailored to the region's unique challenges.
2. Root Causes of the Crisis and its Sustenance
Failed Assimilation Policies:
Efforts to assimilate the Afro-Anglo-Saxon culture of former Southern Cameroons into a dominant Francophone framework have largely failed. Instead of fostering unity, these policies deepened cultural and systemic divides.
Perceived Political Marginalization:
Anglophones view their diminished representation in public life as a historical injustice, particularly given the voluntary union between British Southern Cameroons and French Cameroun in 1961. The promise of equal status has eroded, fostering mistrust and resistance.
Economic and Structural Inequities:
High unemployment, systemic underdevelopment, and loss of economic opportunities have fueled discontent.
A "Culture of Poverty" narrative is further separating the “masses” and their “Elite” in both affected regions, is exacerbating marginalization and spawning a potentially more complex and unhealthier situation.
3. The Culture of Poverty Narrative
As the crisis continues unresolved, the " Culture of Poverty " theory, which suggests that poverty and strife are perpetuated by the values and behaviors of the poor and crisis-affected, is now being co-opted by the political system and some Elite, to justify their hegemony and explain the marginalization of vulnerable populations.
By framing poverty and vulnerability as a result of inherent cultural flaws and behavior, rather than structural weaknesses, some political Elite shift the focus away from systemic issues like economic exploitation, unequal access to resources, and justifiable historical disenfranchisement.
This narrative helps maintain the status quo by reinforcing the idea that poverty and victimhood are self-sustaining and the individuals' fault, rather than a consequence of inaction and poor governance.
In this way, political Elite can avoid responsibility for policies that contribute to underdevelopment and instead place blame on the poor victims themselves.
This rhetoric also supports the arbitrary use of centralized power, as it frames the Elite as the omnipotent and benevolent solution to an alleged socio-cultural dysfunction, reinforcing their control over resources and decision-making.
In environments where the fear of losing limited political advantages is high, reinforcing the "Culture of Poverty" theory helps sustain the Elite dominance, keeping vulnerable populations in a perpetual state of dependency, fear and undermining movements for systemic change.
There is a need to urgently shift strategy to intensify a "Crowding-out" approach to address structural and economic inequalities, and gradually reduce reliance on the "Repression" strategy, which seems so far unable to lift people out of poverty. The goal here is, to rebuild trust between the "masses" and their political Elite and foster closer relationships through developmental and inclusive sustainable development strategies.
4. Crowding Out vs. Repression approaches: a Comparative Analysis:
4.1.Crowding-Out Approach (Positivist Strategy)
Core Principle: Replace drivers of conflict with opportunities for socio-economic inclusion.
Strengths:
Addresses root causes like unemployment and systemic frustrations.
Fosters trust in governance through community engagement and developmental investments.
Aligns with sustainable peace-building goals.
Weaknesses:
Time-consuming to yield measurable results.
Ineffective in environments with immediate security threats.
Application in the conflict zones:
The approach has been underutilized. Limited investment in infrastructure, agriculture, conservation, opportunity for trade with Nigeria, education, and employment perpetuates grievances. Without immediate stabilization, developmental initiatives often fail to gain traction
4.2.Repression Approach (Control Strategy)
Core Principle: Suppress conflict through military and legal measures.
Strengths:
o Can ensure more rapid containment of violence.
o Can help establish conditions for developmental strategies to take root.
Weaknesses:
o Risks alienating communities and escalating grievances.
o Lacks sustainability without accompanying socio-economic measures.
Application in the conflict zones:
Repression has been disproportionately employed, marked by military interventions, widespread violence, and civilian displacement. This approach has exacerbated mistrust and radicalization, undermining peace-building efforts
Table 1: Comparative Analysis: crowding-out versus repression
Aspect | Crowding Out | Repression |
Focus | Socio-economic inclusion | Immediate law and order |
Timeline | Long-term | Short-term |
Impact on Communities | Builds trust and opportunities | Alienates and escalates grievances |
Sustainability | Promotes lasting peace | Unsustainable without developmental efforts |
Application in conflict zones | Underutilized | Overemphasized, leading to adverse outcomes |
The imbalance in applying these approaches has significantly shaped the conflict's trajectory. Heavy reliance on repression without meaningful developmental measures has perpetuated cycles of violence and mistrust, as the Elite, often targeted have largely become disconnected from the communities. Conversely, the limited application of crowding-out strategies has failed to address the underlying socio-economic and sustainable development grievances of marginalized communities.
5. Toward a Balanced Approach
A combined strategy is essential for resolving the crisis, leveraging the strengths of both approaches while mitigating their limitations. The proposed framework includes the following elements:
5.1. Sequencing Actions:
Deploy targeted repression on criminal elements to stabilize conflict zones, focusing on disarming militias, apprehending criminal elements and restoring order (e.g. suppress characterizations of “red zones”).
Gradually phase in crowding-out strategies to rebuild trust and socio-economic resilience.
5.2.Community-Driven Solutions:
Intentionally engage local leaders, NGOs, and community stakeholders in the design and implementation of developmental programs.
Create platforms for dialogue to address cultural and systemic grievances.
5.3. Policy and Governance Innovations:
Progressively use community consensuses instead of unilateral administrative orders to determine "safe zones" where economic projects can thrive under security protection.
Promote use of the English Language by forces of law and order to foster mutual respect for both inherited cultures.
5.4. Addressing Historical Injustice:
Acknowledge the region’s historical status as an equal partner in the union. Minimize alienation by promoting proportional and linguistically appropriate representation in political, judicial, and administrative systems in day-to-day contact with populations in the affected regions.
5.5.Transparency and Oversight:
Implement accountability mechanisms to prevent abuse of power under repression.
Use data-driven approaches to monitor progress and adjust strategies accordingly.
6. Anticipated Outcomes
Reduced Violence: Targeted repression combined with socio-economic incentives could reduce violence by up to 80% within three years
Economic Recovery: Investments in infrastructure, agriculture, conservation, trade with Nigeria, education, and employment could boost regional GDP by 5% annually .
Rebuilt Trust: Promoting and multiplying engagement by the Political and other Elite with communities and cultural respect would re-build trust, strengthen public confidence in governance.
Conclusion
The crisis in former Southern Cameroons demands a multifaceted resolution strategy that addresses its historical, cultural, and systemic dimensions.
Firstly, a clear and demonstrable abandonment of all Policies or their variants, of assimilation.
Over-reliance on repression has deepened grievances, while insufficient crowding-out (sustainable development) efforts have failed to address underlying issues.
A balanced approach—integrating targeted repression with robust developmental initiatives—offers the most promising path toward sustainable peace and prosperity.
By fostering trust especially between the Political Elite and communities, ensuring equitable representation, and addressing systemic inequalities, Cameroon will build a future where the Northwest and Southwest regions thrive as integral parts of a unified nation.
Comments