Title: Biya Defeated: Southern Cameroons Conflict Exposes Yaoundé Regime’s Failure
By Andre Momo
BaretaNews Staff Writer
After nearly seven years of armed conflict in the Southern Cameroons—known to its people as Ambazonia—it has become undeniable: President Paul Biya and the regime in Yaoundé have failed to win the war. Despite the deployment of elite military units, widespread crackdowns, and a massive security apparatus aimed at suppressing dissent, the spirit of resistance in the English-speaking regions remains unbroken.
From the earliest days of peaceful protests in 2016, when lawyers and teachers took to the streets to demand equal treatment and preservation of their Anglo-Saxon heritage, to the current entrenched conflict marked by guerrilla warfare, scorched-earth tactics, and mass displacement, the Biya administration has misjudged the Southern Cameroons at every turn.
The Illusion of Military Victory
Cameroon’s central government, long characterized by autocratic control and opaque governance, chose militarization over negotiation. But instead of pacifying the region, military aggression only hardened local resolve. Villages were razed, civilians were killed or disappeared, and tens of thousands fled into exile or became internally displaced. Rather than crushing the movement, these actions galvanized it.
Armed resistance movements—though fragmented—have not only survived but have adapted. They’ve imposed “ghost towns,” controlled stretches of rural territory, and maintained alternative governance structures in defiance of Yaoundé. Despite the government’s claims of restoring order, independent analysts and humanitarian organizations report that the situation has only worsened.
Signs of Silent Defeat
Over the past year, subtle but significant shifts have emerged from Yaoundé. Behind closed doors, there have been overtures to Ambazonian leaders in exile. The tone of public communication has softened, with officials speaking more frequently of “dialogue” rather than victory. This pivot, however restrained, signals a tacit admission: Biya’s war is unwinnable.
The so-called “Major National Dialogue” of 2019, touted by the regime as a solution, is now widely regarded as a political charade. It failed to address the root causes of the crisis—historical marginalization, cultural erasure, and the dismantling of a federal structure that once respected Southern Cameroons’ autonomy.
Human Cost and International Apathy
The humanitarian toll has been staggering. According to the United Nations, over 700,000 people have been displaced, with thousands of civilian casualties and widespread reports of human rights violations. Schools remain shuttered in many parts of the region, and access to healthcare and basic services is dangerously limited.
Yet, the international community has remained largely passive—issuing statements of concern without taking meaningful steps to intervene or mediate. France, Cameroon’s traditional ally, has offered tepid support for dialogue while continuing military cooperation with the regime.
This complacency, if not complicity, has prolonged the suffering of millions.
The Path Forward: Real Dialogue or Prolonged Chaos
With the regime cornered, the only viable path forward is a negotiated political settlement—one that includes all factions of the Southern Cameroons leadership, including those in exile. Half-measures, decentralization gimmicks, and cosmetic reforms are no longer acceptable to a population that has endured decades of political and cultural marginalization.
The world must now act. BaretaNews joins growing voices across Africa and the diaspora in calling on the United Nations, the African Union, and key international actors to pressure Yaoundé into genuine, inclusive negotiations. Silence is no longer an option.
History will remember this moment—not for Biya’s might, but for the unyielding will of a people who refused to be erased.
