# Anglophone Crisis

| Anglophone Crisis |
| --- |
| Part of the Anglophone problem |
|

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Date | 9 September 2017 – present (8 years, 9 months, 1 week and 4 days) |
| Location | Northwest Region & Southwest Region, Cameroon |
| Status |
Ongoing |

 |
| Belligerents |
|  Cameroon |  Ambazonia |
| Commanders and leaders |
|
Paul Biya Philémon Yang Joseph Ngute René Claude Meka Valere Nka |
Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe Samuel Ikome Sako Ayaba Cho Lucas Ebenezer Akwanga |
| Units involved |
|
Cameroon Armed Forces Vigilante groups |
Ambazonia Defence Forces Southern Cameroons Defence Forces Fako Mountain Lions |

The **Anglophone Crisis** (French: *Crise anglophone*), also known as the **Ambazonia War**, or the **Cameroonian Civil War**, is an ongoing armed conflict in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon. It is a part of the long-standing Anglophone problem. After the crackdown of the 2016–17 Cameroonian protests, Ambazonian separatists in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon (formerly known as Southern Cameroons) started a guerilla warfare against Cameroonian armed forces. The later said that independence has occurred. In November 2017, the government of Cameroon declared war on the separatists. It sent its army into the regions.

## Beginning

The conflict started as a small insurgency. It spread to most parts of the area within a year. By the summer of 2019, the government controlled the major cities and parts of the countryside. The separatists controlled parts of the countryside. They were also seen often in the major cities. A year later, clearly-defined frontlines had formed. Cameroonian army would raid separatist-controlled towns and villages, but it would not try to recapture them. Its main concern was securing the major urban areas. The Cameroonian government is supported by Nigeria. Some separatist groups are supported by Biafran separatists.

## Damages

Thousands of people have been killed in the war. More than half a million people have had to leave their homes. In 2019, talk took place between Cameroon and the separatists for the first time. special status was given to the Anglophone regions. Despite this the war continued to intensify in late 2019. The 2020 Cameroonian parliamentary election cause more problems. The separatists became more assertive while Cameroon sent more forces. The COVID-19 pandemic saw one group declare a ceasefire to fight the spread of the virus. other groups and the Cameroonian government ignored this and kept fighting.

## Negotiations

There has been very few tries at negotiating. Switzerland tried in 2019 but they failed. Separatist leaders who were returned to Cameroon from Nigeria in 2018 were sent to prison for life. There was growing international pressure for an end to the conflict. In July 2020 Cameroon began talking with these imprisoned leaders. The talks were held between Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe and other imprisoned leaders and representatives of the Cameroonian government.

The situation is still taking place.

## Trials

Ayaba Cho Lucas is schedule to stand trial in Norway (September 2026); Earlier that year, he was indicted for war crimes.

## Related pages

* List of ongoing armed conflicts