Impact of Separatist Actions on the Council Socio-Economic Development Roadmap in the Northwest and Southwest Regions (Cameroon)

Since October 2016, the socio-political conflict in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon, commonly referred to as the “Anglophone problem/crisis/struggle or conflict†, has persisted and transformed into an armed conflict characterised by unprecedented violence between government forces and non-state armed or separatist groups, otherwise known as the “Amba Boys†. This scenario rapidly escalated into a secessionist political conflict that is threatening the unity of the country and has the potential to degenerate into a complex emergency. The systematisation of Ghost Town and Lockdown operations imposed by the separatists, recurrent clashes between soldiers and secessionists, fires in public and private institutions and buildings, kidnappings, and even murders of public authorities, security forces personnel, traditional authorities, religious authorities, and civilians, among other havocs, didn’t work well for the various municipalities. This study thus assesses the impact of the separatist actions on the socioeconomic development plans of the Northwest and Southwest Regions. In fact-finding, the study adopted an exploratory research design. Data was collected from the field through observations and correspondence with communities, as well as newspaper and online news reports and scientific works. Resulting from our findings, it is revealed that the separatist actions in these regions have adversely disrupted the socioeconomic roadmap of the council’s developmental plans. Therefore, it is recommended that efforts to restore peace and stability be prioritised, as this will create the enabling environment to revive the council’s developmental objectives in these areas.