October 1: ghost town operation in Cameroon’s anglophone regions
On October 1, Cameroon’s North-West and South-West regions witnessed a ghost town operation called by anglophone separatists. In response, Cameroonian authorities deployed security forces across major cities, fearing unrest. By midday, no major incidents had been reported, but daily life had slowed considerably as residents chose to stay indoors on this symbolic date.
Why October 1 matters
October 1 marks the anniversary of the birth of the Federal Republic of Cameroon. On that day in 1961, the former French colony and Southern Cameroons, then under British administration, united. However, this reunification is contested by some anglophone separatists. On October 1, 2017, Ambazonian separatists unilaterally declared independence for the North-West and South-West regions.
Security deployment and daily life
In Bamenda, North-West region, a resident said he went out to exercise on quiet streets before returning home for the rest of the day. At intersections in Bamenda, tanks and numerous military patrols were visible, described by some residents as a deterrent. The atmosphere was similar in Buea, the main city in the South-West, and in neighboring towns, where people also stayed home.
Social media debates on a decade of crisis
On social media platforms like TikTok, several panels featuring the blue and white colors claimed by separatists hosted debates about the ten-year crisis affecting both anglophone regions.
In a reflection published on October 1, Khongor Félix Agbor, a lawyer and former detainee of the anglophone crisis, remembered “the families who have buried their loved ones, the displaced, the children whose education was interrupted, all those who are afraid, and the detainees of the anglophone crisis.”
Human toll of the crisis
According to several NGOs, the anglophone crisis has caused more than 6,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands of displacements over ten years.
