The French political scientist who has done much of his work in Cameroon, Jean-Francois Bayart, coined the term extraversion in African studies to describe African history as one that has focused outwardly rather than inwardly. In other words, what happens in the continent has much to do with outside influences and focus rather than the internal dealings of the people. This is especially so in what is happening in Anglophone Cameroon today where events are propelled by people who do not live in the country and for reasons that developed elsewhere.
First, The New York Times recently reported that many of those who are leading the Ambazonia army live in Europe and the United States. Far from the place of action, they urge war. Many of the supporters to the war live outside the country and much of the money raised in fighting the war is also coming from outside the country. This means that the people of Southern Cameroons can themselves not sustain such a war. It is not clear what other foreign powers may be sending help to Ambazonia fighters.
One of the arguments I hear from those supporting the war in Cameroon is that they want to remove themselves from being controlled by France. They rightly see France as source of many of the problems that the country faces today. It was recently reported that the position of France is that Cameroon should remain united and not be fractured, as the Ambazonia people want. When France says this, it is not only a verbal wish as it has battalions set up all over central Africa for just a time like this. It would therefore backup its position militarily but covertly.
France's interest in Cameroon, is however not for the benefit of the people of Cameroon but for the benefit of the French. Cameroonians stand on solid grounds when they decry French intervention in the country. However, since it is in Paul Biya's interest to keep Cameroon under France, he is eternally grateful for French intervention.
The Ambazonia people decrying French intervention, however, do not stand on good grounds because they are doing the same thing Paul Biya is doing and which J-F Bayart rightly saw - mortgaging the Southern Cameroons to foreign interests as well. Given that most of the leaders of this group are in foreign lands and working with foreign groups to see their vision materialize, if Ambazonia becomes independent, it will also be a client state to Western interests. In this light, Ambazonia will not be different from what is going on now in Cameroon. The extraversion will continue, to the detriment of the people. The only question appears to be what kind of extraversion one prefers - the current situation or what may emerge from this war?
First, The New York Times recently reported that many of those who are leading the Ambazonia army live in Europe and the United States. Far from the place of action, they urge war. Many of the supporters to the war live outside the country and much of the money raised in fighting the war is also coming from outside the country. This means that the people of Southern Cameroons can themselves not sustain such a war. It is not clear what other foreign powers may be sending help to Ambazonia fighters.
One of the arguments I hear from those supporting the war in Cameroon is that they want to remove themselves from being controlled by France. They rightly see France as source of many of the problems that the country faces today. It was recently reported that the position of France is that Cameroon should remain united and not be fractured, as the Ambazonia people want. When France says this, it is not only a verbal wish as it has battalions set up all over central Africa for just a time like this. It would therefore backup its position militarily but covertly.
France's interest in Cameroon, is however not for the benefit of the people of Cameroon but for the benefit of the French. Cameroonians stand on solid grounds when they decry French intervention in the country. However, since it is in Paul Biya's interest to keep Cameroon under France, he is eternally grateful for French intervention.
The Ambazonia people decrying French intervention, however, do not stand on good grounds because they are doing the same thing Paul Biya is doing and which J-F Bayart rightly saw - mortgaging the Southern Cameroons to foreign interests as well. Given that most of the leaders of this group are in foreign lands and working with foreign groups to see their vision materialize, if Ambazonia becomes independent, it will also be a client state to Western interests. In this light, Ambazonia will not be different from what is going on now in Cameroon. The extraversion will continue, to the detriment of the people. The only question appears to be what kind of extraversion one prefers - the current situation or what may emerge from this war?
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