Neoliberal Bandwagonism. Civil society and the politics of belonging in Anglophone Cameroon: Civil society and the politics of belonging in Anglophone Cameroon

Contents

v Contents Acknowledgements viii Abbreviations ix Map of the Republic of Cameroon xi 1 CIVIL SOCIETY IN ANGLOPHONE CAMEROON 1 Introduction 1 Towards an African version of civil society 2 Neoliberal reforms, civil society and the politics of belonging in Anglophone Cameroon 5 Organisation of the book 8 Conclusion 11 2 MOBILITY AND EXCLUSION: THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUTOCHTHONY MOVEMENTS IN THE SOUTH WEST PROVINCE 12 Introduction 12 The South West plantation economy and labour mobility 14 Labour mobility and relations between autochthons and allochthons in the Southwestern estates prior to political liberalisation 17 The growing divide between the South-West and North-West elites in Anglophone Cameroon 20 Political liberalisation and the aggravation of the autochthonyallochthony issue in South West Province 27 Conclusion 34 3 AUTOCHTHONY AND ETHNIC CLEANSING IN THE SOUTH WEST PROVINCE: THE 1961 TOMBEL DISTURBANCES 35 Introduction 35 Factors underlying the 1966 Bakossi-Bamileke confrontation 39 Bamileke mobility and encroachment on Bakossi land 40 The UPC rebellion and insecurity in the Bakossi region 42 The Bakossi elite and ethnic mobilisation 44 The 1966 Bakossi-Bamileke confrontation in the Tombel area 47 Conclusion 51 4 THE MARANATHA MOVEMENT AND AUTOCHTHONY IN THE SOUTH WEST PROVINCE 53 Introduction 53 The emergence of the Maranatha movement crisis in the Buea diocese 57 Vehement South West resistance against the victimisation of the autochthonous founder of the Maranatha movement 63 Conclusion 70 vi 5 THE ENTRY OF ANGLOPHONE NATIONALISM INTO PUBLIC SPACE 72 Introduction 72 The emergence of anglophone nationalism in public space 75 Bringing back Anglophone identity into historical space 80 Creating space for Anglophone identity in arts 84 Placing Anglophone identity in virtual space 85 Expansion of Anglophone identity into legal space 87 Experiencing Anglophone identity in everyday space 88 Conclusion 91 6 ANGLOPHONE STUDENTS AND ANGLOPHONE NATIONALIST STRUGGLES 92 Introduction 92 The vanguard role of Anglophone students in Anglophone nationalist struggles 95 The Southern Cameroons Youth League (SCYL) 99 President Biya’s Youths (PRESBY) 102 Conclusion 106 7 UNIVERSITY OF BUEA STUDENTS ON STRIKE 108 Introduction 108 Authoritarian governance of the University of Buea 109 The 2005 UB students’ strike 113 The 2006 UB students’ strike 121 Conclusion 125 8 AUTONOMOUS TEACHERS’ TRADE UNIONISM IN ANGLOPHONE CAMEROON, 1959-1972 127 Introduction 127 Political and educational reforms in Anglophone Cameroon 132 The role of the Southern Cameroons Union of Teachers 134 The role of the West Cameroon Union of Teachers 139 Conclusion 146 9 ANGLOPHONE TEACHERS’ ORGANISATIONS DURING CAMEROON’S POLITICAL LIBERALISATION 149 Introduction 149 The Teachers’ Association of Cameroon (TAC): Defending regional interests versus the state 152 The Cameroon Teachers’ Trade Union (CATTU): Defending class interests versus the state 158 Conclusion 165 10 RELATIONS BETWEEN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE STATE IN CAMEROON’S POSTCOLONY 168 Introduction 168 RCC-state relations in Cameroon during one-party rule, 1961-1990 171 RCC-state relations in Cameroon during political liberalisation, 1990-2007 177 Conclusion 184 vii 11 PRIVATISATION AND ETHNO-REGIONAL PROTEST IN ANGLOPHONE CAMEROON 186 Introduction 186 Governance and privatisation in Cameroon 188 Privatisation of the CDC and ethno-regional opposition 192 Ethno-regional protest actions against CDC privatisation 194 Conclusion 204 12 PRIVATISATION AND LABOUR MILITANCY IN ANGLOPHONE CAMEROON 205 Introduction 205 The Tole Tea Estate labour force prior to privatisation 206 Growing labour militancy after the estate’s privatisation 210 Conclusion 218 13 THE ANGLOPHONE CAMEROON-NIGERIA BOUNDARY: OPPORTUNITIES AND CONFLICTS 220 Introduction 220 The Anglophone Cameroon-Nigeria boundary during the British mandate and trust eras 222 The Anglophone Cameroon-Nigeria boundary after reunification 226 The Anglophone Cameroon-Nigeria boundary: Contesting sovereignty over Bakassi 231 Conclusion 238 References 239 Index 255 ...