The Anglophone Problem in Cameroon: Political Representation and Socio-Economic Development

Sammanfattning: Minority group conflicts and marginalization has been a challenge to the peaceful existence and development of many African countries. This thesis is based on the topic: The Anglophone problem: Political representation and Socio-economic development. Cameroon is the case since its independence in 1960 till date. The Anglophones who form the minority claim they are marginalized by the Francophones who are the majority and the ruling group. They claim that they are not politically represented both in the Government and in decision making of the country, and also their regions, the Northwest and Southwest Provinces lag behind both in social and economic development. The origin of the Anglophone problem and ways in which the Anglophones are being marginalized is an important part of this thesis and is being looked at. Attention is also focused on what the Anglophone movements like the SCNC, AAC, and the SCYL have been doing to stop the marginalization of the Anglophones and the response of the Cameroonian Government to provide a solution to the problem. Theories based on Ethnicity, Political systems and Regional development based on social and economic development will be used to analyze the empirical material. In addition analysis of course and related literature on Cameroon will be the methodology used because of the inability to undertake field research. It is hoped that this work will contribute to a framework on which peace and development organizations can rely in the fight against minority conflict and poverty in Cameroon and Africa as a whole.