Political Crisis, Protests and Implications on Nation Building in Cameroon

Like many African states, Cameroon has experienced different forms of protests. The country faced nationwide crack- down on protesters following the change of the constitution and the removal of tenure limits of presidents in 1985, amidst increasing fuel prices, high unemployment among youths, high cost of living and poor working conditions. The protests actually started as peaceful demonstrations by lawyers, university students and teachers calling for the use of English language in Anglophone Cameroon schools in 2016. The study which used direct interviews and focus group discussions in parts of Ambazonia to gather data on the form of protests in the history of Cameroon found that what started as student protests turned into Ambazonia secessionist protests and armed confrontations between the Ambazonian Restoration Forces and the Cameroonian military creating multiple implications on nation building process. The study recommends amnesty for political prisoners, dialogue and negotiations as well as town hall meetings, reactive peacebuilding and structural reconstructions in Ambazonia.