English — Language of the Oppressed in Anglophone Cameroon
English — the language of the oppressed in Cameroon
Cameroon is a linguistically and legally divided country — eight of its ten regions are French-speaking and follow a legal system based on French civil law, while the Northwest and Southwest are Anglophone, applying British common law. This divide is a legacy of colonial history and still shapes politics, education, and daily life today.
Cameroon is one of the few African countries officially bilingual in English and French, yet government business overwhelmingly runs in French, leaving English speakers marginalized.
Although the Cameroonian constitution recognizes both English and French as official languages, most government communication, administration, and business are conducted in French. President Paul Biya — in power since 1982 — rarely speaks English in public, fueling frustration among Anglophone citizens.
The Law Protests
In late 2016, lawyers in Bamenda, the capital of the Northwest region, protested the assignment of French-speaking judges and legal procedures to Anglophone courts. Teachers joined with sit-in strikes, complaining that educators with poor English skills were hired for English-speaking schools.
French is the official language in 19 African countries — a colonial legacy still shaping education and law across the continent.
Security forces cracked down harshly on peaceful demonstrations. In December 2016, reports said at least four protesters were killed and about 100 arrested in Bamenda. Internet access in Anglophone regions was later shut down for months — an unprecedented digital blackout.
Teachers Boycott
Southern Cameroonian English-speaking teachers boycotted the General Certificate of Education (GCE) exams, part of a wider civil disobedience movement called “ghost towns.” During the June exams, security was heavy at testing centers. By the 2017–2018 school year, registration remained low as protests entered their eleventh month.
Internet blackouts have been used in Cameroon to silence dissent — during the 2017 protests, Anglophone regions lost online access for more than 90 days.
Human Rights Violations
Human rights organizations criticized the government’s heavy-handed response. After January 2017 arrests of leaders from the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium, Amnesty International warned that arbitrary detention and harassment were “inflaming an already tense situation.”
Despite international pressure, many detainees remain imprisoned in undisclosed locations. In August 2017, a video surfaced showing protesters in dark, overcrowded cells with little food or water.
Learn more about the role of language and resistance in Africa and how identity struggles continue to shape post-colonial nations.
How Cameroon Got Its Name
In the 15th century, Portuguese explorers named the Wouri River area “Rio dos Camarões” (River of Prawns) for its abundance of shrimp. Over time, the name evolved into “Cameroon” in English — the only country named after a crustacean.
