Before I came to cameroon, I was very active on blurt, and I made really good friends here too. But I slowly drifting away from blurt, not because of issues on blurt but because I was particularly afraid of making any post about the crisis in Cameroon which the rest of the world know little or nothing about. Going back memory lane, I made a post here concerning my transfer from Nigeria to Cameroon and the impression I got before and after traveling to cameroon. https://blurt.blog/r2cornell/@dicksonbem/cameroon-my-new-home
Fast forward to today, I lost my voice but not my enthusiasm to work. The first advise I got on arrival in Cameroon was not to speak about the crisis nor post about it because it may be detrimental. I soon realized that the advise was no joke... the freedom of speach I enjoyed in Nigeria, were I could stand on the pulpit and criticize the government is not the same in Cameroon. After two and a half years in Cameroon, I feel I should write about the crisis.
The Anglophone crisis in Cameroon has been ongoing since 2016, with devastating consequences for the country and its people. The conflict began as a protest by Anglophone Cameroonians against the predominantly French-speaking government's appointment of French-speaking teachers and lawyers in Anglophone schools and courts.
The crisis has resulted in significant human suffering, with over 6,000 fatalities, 60,000 refugees, and 900,000 internally displaced persons. The conflict has also had a severe impact on the economy, with businesses shutting down, and infrastructure destroyed.
The education sector has also been severely affected, with over 3,000 schools closed, and 600,000 schoolchildren deprived of regular classes. The healthcare sector has also been impacted, with only 34% of health facilities remaining operational in the North and Southwest regions.
I live in the southwest region of Cameroon and particularly the heart and heat of the crisis, so I speak from experience when I say the crisis has really shown me the dark side of humanity. I have watched people kill and killed, I have seen dead bodies paraded around the streets, and I have seen the consequences of the crisis with children giving birth to children at a very tender age. Schools only became functional 3(three) years ago in this part of Cameroon after 6 years of closure. It will interest you to note that the school I teach in, is the only functional school across 24 villages.
source
Overall, the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive and inclusive solution. The government, separatist leaders, and the international community need to work together to address the root causes of the conflict and find a lasting solution.
Good morning sir, crisis s a very dangerous and bad thing, alot of us dislikes it alot. The part of your post that surprised me alot was when you said schools were shutdown for 6 years, that's very huge and disappointing.
I just pray everything is resolved soon. Look at have it has ended alot of people's lives. May the ones that have died because of this crisis, souls rest in peace, amen.
In some parts, schools are still closed... and even places were schools are functional they are not allowed to put on uniforms
Which means they are secretly going to school in some places? This is bad.