The Guardian Post creates column to denounce marginalisation of Anglophones.

However, since the federation was abolished and a Unitary State put in place after the 1972 referendum, Anglophones, who are about 20% of the population of Cameroon, have been complaining of being marginalised in a country they call theirs.

In many circumstances, Anglophones have been given several derogatory tags, such as “les ennemies dans la maison”, “Anglo fools”, “Les Bamenda pensent toujours à gauche”. These and other xenophobic statements and issues of marginalisation have not gone down well with Anglophones. 

Not only that. These developments, far from posing serious threats to national unity and the spirit of living together, are said to be among the root causes of the more than seven-year crisis in the North West and South West Regions. 

It should be recalled that the lingering Anglophone Problem, an issue of marginalisation, was what sparked the armed conflict in the North West and South West regions, which has claimed over 6,000 lives, internally displaced 630,000 people, with 86,000 seeking refuge in Nigeria, whole villages burnt down, schooling disrupted, businesses ruined, among several atrocities allegedly committed by both separatist fighters and the military. 

Despite the non-acknowledgement/denial of the Anglophone problem by Francophone government leaders and even some Anglophone CPDM barons, there has existed a discontent by Anglophones, both young and old, as to how Anglophones are treated in a country they call theirs. This discontent presents itself in calls for federation or separation.

Though the constitution of Cameroon stipulates that English and French are official languages, English has often been relegated to the backburner, with official documents sometimes issued only in French. Oftentimes, the English versions are issued, albeit reluctantly, several days after.

For the record, the number one Cameroonian, President Paul Biya, who, normally should be leading by example, has, for his more than 41 years in power, never addressed the nation in English!

It is common for an Anglophone to get to a government service, speaks English and be told by a Francophone that “Je ne comprends pas votre partoire la” (roughly translated into English as “I don’t understand that your dialect”).

The complaints of Anglophone marginalisation are inexhaustible, but some easily come to mind.

National entrance examinations into some professional schools are often set in French only, sometimes even in English-speaking Regions. When there are translations, such translations are sometimes poorly done, only helping to confuse Anglophone candidates, causing many of them to fail.

Most heads of government offices, especially administrators, speak only French, even in English-speaking Regions. Visitors and clients to government offices are then expected to speak in French, which may not be their first language.

Most senior administrators and members of the forces of law and order in the North West and South West Regions are French-speaking and there is no effort made to require them to demonstrate an understanding of Anglophone culture. Whether in the military or the police force, the official language, though not decreed, is French.

Members of inspection teams, missions, and facilitators for seminars sent from the Ministries in Yaounde to the North West and South West Regions, are mostly French-speaking, and English-speaking audiences are expected to understand them.

Most of the military tribunals in the North West and South West Regions conduct their court proceedings in French.

Despite the creation of the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, the above-mentioned ills still persist, to the chagrin of many Anglophones, who want to realise their dreams of a country with every citizen’s rights protected, irrespective of his or her origin, language, ethnic or religious background.   

Gross disparity in government appointments

Anglophones’ complaints of marginalisation and being short-changed in a country they call theirs can be justified in the fact that there is always a gross disparity between Anglophones and Francophones, when it comes to appointments into positions in the state apparatus. 

There are several ministerial positions such as defence, finance, and the Secretary General at the Presidency that have never been held by an Anglophone. No Anglophone has held the positions of Delegate General for National Security or Secretary of State in-charge of the Gendarmerie since the reunification of 1961.

Within the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM, no Anglophone has occupied the position of Secretary General of the Central Committee; though the party was launched in the North West Regional capital, Bamenda, in 1985.  

There are also many state corporations where an Anglophone has never been General Manager, but always play second fiddle as deputy to a Francophone. Several cases abound; SNH, CRTV, SOPECAM, SCDP, Port Authority of Douala, CNPS, and SNI, just to name only a few. 

The case of SONARA, is more pathetic. Though located in Anglophone soil, in the coastal town of Limbe, SONARA, since its creation in 1972, has never had an Anglophone as General Manager or assistant General Manager. More worrying, over 70% of its senior and junior staff are overwhelmingly Francophones. The unofficial working language in SONARA is French!  

The position of Prime Minister, which has been a preserve of Anglophones since April 9, 1992, is a distant fourth position in the state protocol.

Anglophones have also been clamouring for the institution of alternation between Francophones and Anglophones in the position of President of the Republic. All these, they say, will make them feel at home in Cameroon.

Column to denounce marginalisation of Anglophones sees light of day

It is therefore in this melee that The Guardian Post, considered as the mouthpiece of Anglophones, has created a column to denounce marginalisation of Anglophones. The column, christened "Cry Anglophones," will highlight all forms of injustice, victimisation and marginalisation of Anglophones in all sectors of both public and private spheres. It will name and shame those who perpetrate these ills against Anglophones. 

As for us at The Guardian Post, we will not budge, no matter whose ox is gored. 

Victims or their close ones will have to dial the newspaper's call centre or write through The Guardian Post email address, guardianpostnews@gmail.com, to register their complaints.