Cameroon’s anglophone crisis: how government inaction is fueling economic and humanitarian collapse
The time for words has passed. In Cameroon’s anglophone regions, every day without meaningful dialogue between government forces and separatist groups deepens the humanitarian catastrophe and economic paralysis gripping the North-West and South-West. Local businesses shutter, children go without education, and families flee to overcrowded displacement camps. Economists warn that Yaoundé’s refusal to engage in constructive talks is accelerating the country’s economic decline, with ripple effects felt nationwide.
Humanitarian fallout: villages emptied, lives shattered
The anglophone crisis, now in its tenth year, has left deep scars across Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions. Once thriving communities have been reduced to ghost towns. Schools, clinics, and markets close indefinitely as threats of violence and curfews paralyze daily life. According to local leaders, more than 4,000 people have been killed, and over 760,000 have been displaced from their homes. Many now live in makeshift camps with limited access to food, clean water, and medical care.
Civil society leaders, including prominent human rights lawyer Felix Agbor Balla, warn that the humanitarian toll is reaching a breaking point. “This is not just a conflict—it is a man-made disaster,” Balla states. “Families are being torn apart, farmers cannot harvest their crops, and healthcare workers cannot reach those in need.” The situation is particularly dire for women and children, who make up a large portion of the displaced population.”
A paralyzed economy: businesses collapse, jobs vanish
The economic consequences are staggering. Before the crisis, the anglophone regions were Cameroon’s economic engine, producing cocoa, coffee, and palm oil. Today, production has plummeted by over 60%, and key export chains are at a standstill. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of the local economy, have closed en masse. According to a report by the National Institute of Statistics, the anglophone regions’ contribution to Cameroon’s GDP has dropped from 15% in 2016 to less than 3% in 2024.”
The transportation sector is in ruins. Roads once bustling with traders are now high-risk zones patrolled by armed groups. Farmers hesitate to tend their fields due to kidnappings and extortion. “Agriculture was our livelihood,” says a cocoa farmer from Kumba. “Now, we barely survive.” The banking sector has also withdrawn services in many areas, leaving communities without access to loans or financial safety nets.
Investors flee: Cameroon’s image as a stable nation fades
International investors, once drawn to Cameroon’s potential as a gateway to Central Africa, are now pulling out. Major infrastructure projects, including road and energy developments, have been suspended. Foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 42% last year alone. “Cameroon once had one of the most promising business environments in Africa,” says an economic analyst. “But the anglophone crisis has eroded investor confidence. No business wants to operate in an environment where conflict disrupts supply chains and security is unpredictable.”
Schools closed, futures at risk
Education has been one of the hardest-hit sectors. Over 80% of schools in the anglophone regions remain closed, leaving nearly 600,000 children without access to learning. For many, this means a future of poverty, child labor, or recruitment into armed groups. “Education is the foundation of development,” says a teacher from Bamenda. “Without it, we are raising a generation that has no hope for progress.”
Humanitarian agencies report a sharp rise in child labor and early marriages as families struggle to survive. NGOs operating in the region say they lack the resources to respond adequately to the escalating crisis.
Political inaction: a recipe for deeper crisis
The Cameroonian government continues to frame the anglophone crisis as a security issue rather than a political one. Security forces have deployed heavily, but military operations have done little to restore peace—instead, they have fueled resentment and driven more people into the arms of separatist groups. There is no clear strategy for reintegration, reconciliation, or meaningful autonomy talks.”
Felix Agbor Balla has become a vocal advocate for dialogue. “Dialogue is not a sign of weakness,” he argues. “It is the only way to avoid total collapse. The government must recognize that the people of the anglophone regions are Cameroonians first. Their grievances must be addressed through negotiation, not force.”
What needs to happen now
- Immediate ceasefire and humanitarian corridors: Allow aid organizations safe access to displaced populations in areas cut off by conflict.
- Reopen schools and economic activity: Restore basic services and support local economies to prevent further collapse.
- Launch inclusive dialogue: Engage all stakeholders—separatists, civil society, and government—to outline a political path forward.
- Invest in reconciliation: Fund community-based peace initiatives and support victims of violence.
Can Cameroon afford to wait any longer?
With each passing day, the cost of inaction climbs higher. The humanitarian crisis worsens, the economy shrinks, and Cameroon risks losing a generation to violence and poverty. Experts warn that without urgent and genuine dialogue, the anglophone regions could slip further into chaos—spilling over into Cameroon’s other regions and destabilizing the entire country.
Felix Agbor Balla leaves no room for doubt: “The clock is ticking. Every day the government delays engaging in real talks, more lives are ruined, and more of Cameroon’s future is lost.”
