On November 28, 2024, history was made at the 17th Session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues in Geneva, Switzerland, as the plight of the English-speaking people of Cameroon was presented at a UN conference for the first time. Prof. Januarius Asongu, representing the Alliance for Peace & Justice in the Former British Southern Cameroons (APJ), delivered a powerful speech on behalf of over eight million marginalized individuals. This landmark presentation marks a pivotal moment in the fight for justice, peace, and self-representation for the former British Southern Cameroons.
A Crisis Decades in the Making
Since the failed unification experiment of 1961, the English-speaking people of Cameroon have endured systemic marginalization, exclusion, and silencing within a predominantly French-speaking system. This neglect reached a breaking point in 2016 when peaceful protests over basic rights and representation degenerated into a devastating conflict. The consequences have been catastrophic:
• Over 700,000 people internally displaced, with thousands more living as refugees.
• Widespread destruction of schools, healthcare facilities, and basic infrastructure, leaving children without education and communities without access to essential services.
• The “special status” offered by the Cameroonian government has failed to address these grievances, deepening the mistrust and suffering of English-speaking communities.
APJ: A Unified Voice for Peace and Justice
The Alliance for Peace & Justice (APJ) is a coalition of 14 communal groups, political organizations, and self-defense movements from the former British Southern Cameroons. Together, they have crafted a cohesive vision for resolving the conflict, outlined in their Peace Plan Paper (PPP) manifesto, which articulates a pathway toward sustainable peace and autonomy.
The APJ’s proposals include:
• An autonomy model to ensure local governance, education, healthcare, economic development, and policing, empowering the people to rebuild their communities.
• A framework for a referendum on independence by 2030, allowing the people of the former British Southern Cameroons to decide their future democratically.
• Provisions for protecting displaced persons, refugees, and former combatants to foster reconciliation and long-term stability.
A Historic Platform for Advocacy
Prof. Asongu’s presentation at the UN Forum underscored the significance of addressing these grievances on a global stage. He highlighted the urgency of minority representation and self-representation in public discourses, calling on the international community to support the APJ’s vision for peace and justice.
“This Forum on Minority Issues provides us with a critical opportunity to share these grievances and our vision for peace,” Prof. Asongu stated. “The Alliance for Peace & Justice (APJ) offers a path forward, one that respects the identity, rights, and dignity of the former British Southern Cameroons.”
A Call to Action
The APJ concluded its presentation with a passionate appeal to global leaders, human rights advocates, and the international community to engage with and support their vision. This historic step at the United Nations is only the beginning of a larger movement to secure justice and lasting peace for the English-speaking people of Cameroon.
The time for action is now. The world must not look away from the suffering and silencing of the former British Southern Cameroons. By embracing the APJ’s vision and the principles outlined in the Peace Plant Paper, we can forge a path toward reconciliation, self-representation, and a future rooted in peace.
For more information about the APJ’s work and their Peace Plant Paper manifesto, visit www.aforpeace.org
The historic significance of the UN presentation is a huge success not just for the coalition of groups under APJ, and the importance of the PPP manifesto as the blueprint for peace and justice. It is also a step towards restoring the dignity and pride of the people of the Southern Cameroons whose plight have been neglected by the international community over the years.
Ndong Emmanuel (Capo Daniel)
APJ Vice Chair
