Cameroun colonial takeover: Deconstructing myths of territorial acquisition

Carlson Anyangwe’s Cameroun Colonial Takeover and Control of Ambazonia emerges from a deeply rooted personal and communal consciousness, reflecting the author’s long-standing intellectual engagement with the political, legal, and historical struggles of the Ambazonian people. Drawing from an exceptional depth of legal reasoning and historical inquiry, Anyangwe situates the Ambazonian question within a broader framework of decolonization, international law, and resistance against what he characterizes as entrenched colonial domination by the Republic of Cameroun.

At the core of the book is the author’s central thesis: that the Ambazonian struggle is not a secessionist movement, as frequently portrayed by Camerounian state propaganda, but rather a legitimate decolonization effort grounded in international legal principles. Anyangwe argues persuasively that freedom, in contemporary political contexts, is both inevitable and sacrosanct for enduring peace. He maintains that as falsehoods proliferate, they can only be countered by rigorous, evidence-based arguments supported by verifiable historical and legal documentation.

The book is organized into thirteen chapters, complemented by four detailed appendices. Together, these sections guide the reader through a complex narrative underpinned by substantial historical data, legal analysis, and political interpretation. 

In the introductory chapter, Anyangwe exposes what he describes as Cameroun’s initial rejection of Ambazonia as part of its territorial base, followed by a calculated and deceptive colonial takeover. He asserts that in June 1972, Ambazonia was formally and illegally annexed by Cameroun without the informed consent of its people. According to the author, this act marked the beginning of over six decades of systemic oppression, violence, and what he characterizes as genocidal practices against a population pursuing peaceful self-determination.

Chapter two provides a concise exposition of the territorial and colonial backgrounds of Ambazonia and Cameroun. Anyangwe traces their distinct colonial trajectories under different European powers before their eventual transfer to France and Britain, respectively. He contends that the constitutional changes engineered in 1972 by Cameroun’s political leadership represented a deliberate assault on the federal arrangement, designed to dismantle Ambazonian autonomy.

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The author is particularly critical of President Paul Biya’s regime, which he accuses of waging a diversionary war against Ambazonia to mask chronic governance failures within Cameroun itself.

In chapter three, Anyangwe revisits the historical roots of racial profiling and systemic violence against Ambazonians, tracing such practices back to August 8, 1961. He underscores the distinct territorial identities of Ambazonia and Cameroun, arguing that deliberate manipulation of names, spellings, and cartographic representations has fostered widespread misconceptions about Ambazonia’s territorial status. According to the author, these distortions serve to legitimize an otherwise unlawful occupation.

Chapter four examines the role of the United Kingdom and the United Nations in the Ambazonian crisis, focusing particularly on the 1961 plebiscite. Anyangwe argues that the plebiscite presented Ambazonians with false and restrictive choices—either to join Nigeria or Cameroun—while excluding the option of independence. He characterizes this process as an ambush that ignored the political, cultural, and governance distinctions of the Ambazonian people, thereby facilitating their recolonization.

The fifth chapter explores what the author describes as Cameroun’s repeated breaches of agreements governing the relationship between the two entities. Anyangwe argues that Cameroun acted not as an equal partner but as a colonizing power, resulting in what he terms a “third colonization” of Ambazonia—following German and British rule. He details the economic marginalization, systemic racism, political exclusion, and exploitation of Ambazonia’s natural resources, concluding that the dissolution of the federation and subsequent annexation constituted a disguised colonial takeover falsely marketed as “reunification.”

Chapters six and seven focus on the criteria of statehood under international law, emphasizing Ambazonia’s defined territory, permanent population, and historical experience of self-government. Anyangwe firmly rejects Cameroun’s territorial claims, arguing that Ambazonia has never been part of Cameroun’s legitimate territorial boundaries. He further highlights failed attempts by Cameroun to erase established boundary markers, reinforcing Ambazonia’s sovereign territorial title. 

In chapter eight, the author invokes the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, particularly its commitment to the eradication of colonialism in Africa. He contextualizes Ambazonia’s struggle alongside other historical cases of peaceful dissolution and self-determination, including the former Soviet Union. The chapter outlines eight legal justifications that, according to the author, validate Ambazonia’s right to self-determination. 

Chapter nine challenges the legitimacy of the purported British transfer of Ambazonia to Cameroun, asserting that no verifiable legal instrument supports such a claim. Anyangwe argues that constitutional arrangements were unilaterally imposed on Ambazonia with British complicity, rendering them non-binding under international law. 

The tenth chapter dismantles Cameroun’s seven principal claims to Ambazonian territory, describing them as legally unfounded and historically inconsistent. The author notes that prolonged colonial administration does not confer territorial ownership, a position consistently upheld by international jurisprudence. 

Chapters eleven and twelve document what Anyangwe describes as systematic human rights violations, including military violence, mass killings, kidnappings, and psychological warfare perpetrated by Camerounian forces—particularly the Bataillon d’Intervention Rapide (BIR). He accuses France and other global powers of complicity through silence or material support, while criticizing regional and international institutions for their inaction in the face of alleged genocide.

In his concluding reflections, Anyangwe reiterates that Ambazonia’s struggle is fundamentally a decolonization project rather than a separatist agenda. He laments the failure of the international community to protect Ambazonian civilians, despite appeals to institutions such as the International Criminal Court. Nonetheless, he remains resolute in asserting that Ambazonia’s liberation, though delayed, cannot ultimately be denied. 

Overall, Cameroun Colonial Takeover and Control of Ambazonia is a politically charged and historically grounded work that offers a compelling legal narrative of Ambazonian statehood.

 The book is intellectually engaging, analytically rigorous, and written in a style that provokes critical reflection and international discourse. The appendices further enhance the reader’s understanding, providing valuable documentary support to the author’s central arguments. As such, the book stands as a significant contribution to debates on decolonization, self-determination, and international law in contemporary Africa.