Cameroonian Scottish lecturer Manu Lekunze says Ambazonia’s quest for independence has failed

By Charity Nginyu

Dr. Manu Lekunze, a Cameroonian Scottish lecturer and researcher, has declared the Anglophones, who prefer to be called, Ambazonians, quest for independence, in a recent outing as a failure.

Over a decade expert in conflict studies, Dr. Lekunze in his outing outlined several critical factors contributing to the stagnation of the separatist movement.

“The conflict has stalled because the rebels lack the numbers, money, and cohesion to move beyond an insurgency,” Dr. Lekunze stated bluntly. “This makes a rebel victory impossible.”

Highlighting the challenges faced by the separatist groups, Dr. Lekunze said the lack of unity and resources. “A larger form of war requires a cause that unites a population large enough to form a military with tens of thousands of combatants. Ethnic divisions between the armed and political groups demonstrate that the independence cause is not strong enough to displace other interests,” he explained.

Financial instability he stated, has further hampered the separatist movement. “Rebel victory requires consistent funding. The insurgency has, thus far, sourced funding mainly from remittances from Cameroon’s diaspora separatists and criminal activity in the region. The funding is intermittent.

The Anglophone crisis in Cameroon stems from historical grievances dating back to the country’s independence. Following the merger of the British-administered Southern Cameroons and the French-administered Cameroun in the early 1960s, tensions between the Anglophone and Francophone communities persisted due to the perceived marginalization of Anglophones in various aspects of society.

These grievances escalated in 2016 when Anglophone lawyers and teachers protested against the imposition of French-language practices in Anglophone regions, sparking broader demonstrations calling for greater autonomy and recognition of Anglophone identity.

The protests evolved into a secessionist movement seeking the restoration of the independent state of Southern Cameroons. Armed separatist groups emerged, clashing with government forces and leading to widespread violence, human rights abuses, and displacement of civilians.

Dr. Lekunze in his analysis suggested that the Cameroonian government is well-equipped to manage the peripheral insurgency posed by the separatist movement. “The three principal shortcomings mean the war cannot become anything more than a peripheral insurgency,” he remarked. “The Cameroonian government can live with a peripheral insurgency.”