Editorial: The TPS Debate—Who Really Deserves Protection?
BARETANEWS EDITORIAL | APRIL 6, 2025
By Mark Bareta
The United States government’s designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroon was a critical lifeline for many escaping violence. It recognized two major crises: the brutal conflict in the Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) and the Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North of Cameroon.
TPS, by design, is meant to shield individuals who cannot safely return to their countries due to ongoing armed conflict or environmental disasters. In Cameroon’s case, those who truly qualify for TPS must either be:
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Southern Cameroonians (Ambazonians) fleeing the war zones and persecution in the Anglophone regions, or
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Northern Cameroonians displaced by the violent attacks of Boko Haram.
But as recent images show, there is growing concern about who exactly is benefiting from TPS, and whether some are misrepresenting the crisis for personal gain.
The Flags Tell the Story
A protest photo making rounds online shows individuals—allegedly TPS beneficiaries—waving Cameroon flags while pleading for TPS renewal. This alone raises critical questions.
No true Ambazonian fleeing the genocidal war in Southern Cameroons would raise the very flag of the regime responsible for their displacement. A Southern Cameroonian facing death, torture, or imprisonment for advocating independence would proudly hold the Ambazonian flag, not that of La République du Cameroun.
Let us be honest: this is not a cosmetic mistake—it is a contradiction of identity and cause.
The Identity Question
Those familiar with Cameroon’s diverse people know the visible cultural and physical markers of different regions. Most individuals in that protest photo do not appear to hail from the Far North either. So, again we ask:
Who are these people?
Are they truly victims of war—or opportunists?
With former President Donald Trump vowing to end TPS for Cameroon, the integrity of this program comes under renewed scrutiny. While such a move may punish genuine victims, it is also a response to abuse—people falsely claiming persecution when they have no ties to the real hotspots of conflict.
The Diaspora’s Role and Responsibility
This is a call-out to the Ambazonian diaspora. If you have genuinely fought for independence—through activism, protests, donations, or social media advocacy—your asylum claim stands strong. Your digital footprint and community involvement are your evidence.
But if you faked allegiance to Ambazonia, waved the Ambazonia flag once for optics, and disappeared into the background while others carried the cross, you are part of the problem. Gaining asylum or TPS under false pretenses undermines the cause and gives ammunition to critics who want to label the entire movement as fraudulent.
Conclusion: Enough Said
TPS is not for everyone. It is for those in true danger—those whose return would mean persecution, death, or imprisonment. Ambazonians and Northern Cameroonians deserve protection. But let us not allow the program to be hijacked.
Wave the right flag. Fight the right fight. Tell the truth.
Anything else is betrayal.
Enough said.
— Mark Bareta
Editor-in-Chief, BaretaNews
6 April 2025
