Marginalisation: Urgent need for Anglophone pressure group!.

Non-violent methods like lobbying, public protests, and legal challenges to represent specific interests are often their modus operandi.

While such actions increase democratic participation and promote equity, they often skew policies which may be offensive to the apparatchiks of the ruling majority who "have their way and the minority must have their rights", as the maxim dictates.

The people of what is today called North West and South West Regions, "joined" their brothers and sisters, West of the Mungo, on clearly defined terms by the United Nations as "two States," under a federal system; with a Constitution that provided that both the President and Vice President cannot come from the same State.

That, at least sets a compass to navigate a governance route of equity and balance in the distribution of other top government offices, development infrastructure, social amenities and admission into professional schools like ENAM, National Advanced Police School and EMIA.

Without such a paved roadmap for regional balance to conform with the tenets of social justice on which unity, peace and development gyrate, the people of the North West and South West Regions have in the past four decades been grumbling, shouting and spilling blood in the name of marginalisation in all aspects of public life and development.

Such complaints begging for equity have been taken to the African Commission for Peoples and Human Rights in Banjul, Gambia, and discussed informally at the United Nations Security Council on May 13, 2019.

It focused on the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country, with Western powers pushing for greater attention to the violence, while Cameroon, supported by China and Russia, maintained that the internal situation did not require formal international intervention.

The government then organised a Major National Dialogue in Yaounde, from September 30 to October 4, 2019; which was advertised as a panacea to solve the Anglophone marginalisation issue. 

The National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, NCPBM, and the Special Status granted the two Anglophone Regions, were touted as solutions to Anglophone grievances. 

Today, like in the past decades, Anglophones continue to be treated and regarded as second class citizens in a country they call theirs. 

"Les Anglos", as they are derogatorily referred to by Francophones, are often sidelined and treated with reckless abandon. Take this week's creation of the National Electricity Corporation, SOCADEL, that has replaced ENEO. 

Its General Manager, Deputy General Manager and Board of Directors are all Francophones! This is unacceptable in such an important national government utility, whose top management should reflect the national character of two States that came together as equals. 

It is also unacceptable that with the appointment of a Vice President in view, Francophone names are being mentioned as possible appointees! 

The Guardian Post needs not mention the neglect to repair the burnt National Oil Refining Company Ltd, SONARA in Limbe; for over four years. This was systemically done in preference to building a new refinery in Kribi, in his Biya’s native Region. The Deep Seaport in Limbe has been abandoned, just like the uncompleted Bamenda Ring Road.

A few years back, there were groups like the Cameroon Teachers' Trade Union, CATTU, South West Elite Association, SWELA; North West Fons' Union, NOWEFU; and the South West Chiefs' Conference, SWECC, that lobbied for the rights of Anglophones.

There was also the All Anglophone Conference, AAC; that held in Buea and Bamenda. The key items on their agenda were Anglophone marginalisation and pressing for Anglophones' share of the proverbial national cake.

Under the leadership of the late Barrister Ben Muna, the Cameroon Bar Association also canvassed for equity, not only among Anglophones but for the entire country.

With the eruption of the macabre fighting in the North West and South West Regions, pitting separatist fighters against security and defence forces, a conflict that still spikes up sporadically, the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium emerged.

It consisted of lawyers and teacher trade unions of the Anglophone Regions. They were opposing what they saw as threats against the Anglo-Saxon education system and the Common Law system in the Anglophone Regions, particularly the use of French in schools and courtrooms.

Their sit-down strike and the repressive reaction of the government degenerated into a bloody conflict, which remains unresolved, affecting not only the two Anglophone Regions but the entire nation.

The Pope has come, prayed and gone but the problem remains, with its weekly Monday ghost towns impacting negatively on the entire country. 

Friendly countries and international organisations like the United Nations, UN; European Union, EU; African Union, AU; the Commonwealth and Francophonie have all used the diplomatic soft voices of "calling" for an inclusive dialogue with all issues on the table, but Yaounde remains stubbornly adamant.

"It is an internal affair to be resolved only by Cameroonians," government apologists have often said.

Last month, Dr Simon Munzu, one of the architects of the AAC and Barrister Agbor Balla, who led the Consortium of Civil Society Organisations before it was banned with other lobby groups, renewed efforts to convene another All Anglophone Conference; to address the ongoing conflict in the North West and South West Regions.

They are attempting to continue what Cardinal Tumi had initiated and it was frustrated by government agents to a still birth before he passed on to glory.

There is no question that such trade unions, traditional lobby groups and other initiatives like the AAC, Consortiums, SCNC, and conferences had a vision for a country to be in peace, unity and justice.

That dream, and that nationalistic vision of equity, devoid of sidelining people of the former West Cameroon, has not come to pass. Anglophones live it, they feel it but cannot give up. After all, no good thing comes on a platter of gold.

The Guardian Post has been on the frontline speaking not only for the voiceless in the country but in particular for those in the two Anglophone Regions. There is no gainsaying the fact that they are the hardest hit by inequality in the distribution of top public offices and infrastructure.

With the country now in a state of uncertainty, following the delay of reshuffling a government short of new ideas, continuous postponement of municipal and legislative elections and a hurried amendment of the Constitution, it is urgent for Anglophones to get on the fast lane and throttle for their rights.

It is time, more than ever before, for the people of the North West and South West Regions, keeping partisan politics aside, to form a pressure group to lobby for Anglophone rights.

They make up at least 22 percent of the population and that percentage should be reflected in all top government appointments and development.

Without acting like the proverbial lizard, we at The Guardian Post can say it without mincing words that, for now, we are the only ones speaking for, and on behalf of the marginalised and neglected Anglophone community in Cameroon.

For its 25 years existence, The Guardian Post has devoted more than 80% of its content advocating Anglophone rights and privileges, and drawing Yaounde’s attention to the dangers of treating the people of the two Anglophone Regions as orphans and second class citizens. 

Prior to the eruption of the crisis in the North West and South West Regions in 2016, The Guardian Post, in 2013, penned a thought-provocating open letter to Biya, warning against the dangers of the slave-like treatment of Anglophones. 

He ignored the letter, and we are where we are today. Even after the crisis erupted, we have ran several publications, proposing solutions to the crisis; which again have been ignored!

Surprisingly, the Biya regime has continued the marginalisation and ill-treatment of Anglophones. That is why at The Guardian Post, we think the time has come for the putting in place of an Anglophone pressure group.

If created, their role should be void of any political coloration. The body, that should have as members; independent personalities from the civil society, the clergy, the media and judiciary; should have as principle objectives drawing public attention and denouncing in very strong terms any attempts by authorities to marginalise, demean Anglophones and deny them what is theirs as a right.

In addition, such a body should engage in consistent media outreach, signing public petitions to draw government's attention, peaceful demonstrations, making use of the social media, funding legal challenges, and launching publicity stunts to raise public awareness on any anti-Anglophone decisions. It has worked elsewhere and there is no reason it will not succeed in Cameroon.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3782 of Thursday May 07, 2026