Towards the Sustainable Integration of Internally Displaced Anglophones in the West Region of Cameroon

This paper argues that a set of socio-cultural, economic and institutional factors explain the difficulties in effectively and sustainably reintegrating Anglophone internally displaced persons in Cameroon, before proceeding to propose solutions to the challenge of integration in this context

Published on November 24, 2021

Tindo Narcisse Saturnin Kaze | genida, IDPs, Integration, Africa

Cameroon. Camp hosting displaced people. 06 August, 2020 © UNHCR/Moise Amedje

This paper explores the repercussions of the on-going Anglophone conflict in the North West and South West regions of the Republic of Cameroon. One of these consequences has been the forceful massive displacement of the Anglophone population to other regions as a result of the violent armed confrontation between government security forces and multiple separatist groups. The paper analyses the state of the social integration of Anglophone internally displaced persons in the West region of Cameroon. Since the beginning of the conflict in October 2016, the government in collaboration with humanitarian actors has been instrumental in providing assistance and protection to Anglophone IDPs seeking refuge in the West region. However, despite these efforts, the state of the social integration of Anglophone IDPs has not been efficient and sustainable.

This paper argues that the ineffectiveness of humanitarian assistance deployed so far can be explained by a series of socio-cultural, economic and institutional predicaments. The paper suggest that an effective and sustainable solution towards the effective integration and mitigation of IDPs in Cameroon and particularly Anglophone IDPs, requires two urgent fundamental measures; the creation of a National Coordination Program to support the efficient integration of IDPs (NCP-IDPs) and the sustainable resolution of the Anglophone problem through sincere and frank dialogue to ensure the autonomization of Anglophone IDPs willing to return to their original homes after cease-fire and return of peace.

Tindo Narcisse Saturnin KAZE holds a PhD in Political History and International Relations from the University of Yaoundé I – Cameroon. He currently lectures at the Pan-African Institute for Development-West Africa (PAID-WA). His research interests include African studies, migration patterns, armed conflicts, humanitarian action, and ethnic politics.

This paper was written by the author during his Summer Fellowship on Internal Displacement at the Internal Displacement Research Programme at the Refugee Law Initiative. The Fellowship was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, on behalf of the UKRI Global Challenge Research Fund, as part of the funded project “Interdisciplinary Network on Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection” (AH/T005351/1).

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