The Tactics Institute is urging quick action to deal with the worsening crisis driven by the rebellion in Cameroon by its English-speaking minority. This conflict has now spread into Nigeria’s Cross River state.

Ambazonia, Known as the Federal Republic of Ambazonia or the State of Ambazonia, is a political faction claimed by Anglophone separatists who are aiming for liberation from Cameroon. The separatists argue that Ambazonia should consist of the Northwest Region and Southwest Region of Cameroon. Since 2017, Ambazonian insurgents have engaged in armed confrontation with the Cameroonian military, in what is understood as the Anglophone Crisis, placing up a Government-in-exile and seizing territory. No nation has recognized Ambazonia’s presence as of 2024.

Since the rebellion started in 2017, a lot of civilians have suffered. More than 6,000 people have died. Approximately, 760,000 have had to escape their homes in the western part of Cameroon. The state is rich in oil. The fighting has caused a lot of damage. What’s worrying is that the violence has also moved into Nigeria. At least 70,000 refugees seeking protection in border areas like Belegete.

The rebels from Ambazonia want independence from Cameroon, where most people speak French. This has caused big problems in the area. Government services, like schools, have stopped in places controlled by the rebels. More than 600,000 kids can’t go to school. Over half the population needs help from aid groups, according to the United Nations.

Recent attacks by the Ambazonian rebels on Nigerian communities near the border resulted in civilians being hurt or killed, It shows that action needs to be taken quickly. The fact that Nigerian authorities haven’t responded strongly to these attacks raises worries that they might be working with local rebel groups. It makes the situation worse.

Security Experts are worried about what might happen next. An attack on Belegete, which seems to have connections to Ambazonian separatists and Nigerian groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra, means that everyone needs to work together to keep the region safe.

Even though Nigeria and Cameroon have been trying to cooperate better lately, the growing danger from the Ambazonian rebellion shows that they need to work together even more. The Nigerian military is already busy dealing with threats inside Nigeria, like Boko Haram. So it might not be ready to handle attacks from Ambazonian rebels.

The Tactics Institute is calling on everyone involved to understand how serious this is and to take action fast. We can’t ignore that the rebels are hurting civilians and taking over land that isn’t theirs. We want the fighting to stop and for everyone to talk peacefully to find a solution.

If we don’t deal with the Ambazonian rebellion quickly, it could make things worse not only in Cameroon and Nigeria but also across West Africa. The Tactics Institute is committed to keeping the region safe and peaceful. We need to act fast and work together to deal with this big problem.