Colonial Borders Keep Cameroon Divided as Conflict Persists

Tiko, Cameroon – In the quiet village of Mudeka, nestled across the river from Cameroon’s Francophone region, supercentenarian Atemafac Anathasia Tanjuh recalls memories of a past shaped by colonial rule.

At an estimated 120 years old, Tanjuh is among the last living witnesses to European colonization in Africa and her Bangwa people’s defiance against German occupation.

“They imposed their rules on us,” she says, surrounded by her children and great-grandchildren, her voice carrying both nostalgia and defiance.

After European powers divided Africa during the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, Cameroon became a German protectorate. But the aftermath of World War I brought a new reality—Britain and France carved up the country, setting in motion a division that persists today.

A Nation Split by Colonial Lines

The partition of 1919 tore communities apart. Tanjuh’s village, once closely connected to neighboring towns, suddenly found itself severed by an imposed border.

“We could no longer travel from Fontem to the market in Dschang,” she recalls. “We lost touch with our relatives and trading partners.”

Over time, this division went beyond geography—it became a linguistic and cultural divide. After gaining independence in the 1960s, Cameroon remained largely influenced by its French colonial past, leaving English-speaking regions marginalized.

This deepening rift eventually led to a violent conflict between Anglophone separatists and Francophone government forces. Since 2016, the clashes have claimed over 6,500 lives and displaced approximately 700,000 people in the northwest and southwest regions.

The echoes of war still bring back painful memories for Tanjuh. When gunfire erupts today, she instinctively tells her family, “Let’s hide in the caves, just like we did back then.”

‘Artificial Borders Still Haunt Us’

Before colonial rule, Cameroon was home to independent kingdoms, each with distinct cultures and governance. However, European powers disrupted these organic structures, imposing arbitrary boundaries without considering the ethnic or cultural makeup of the region.

After Germany’s defeat in World War I, Britain and France redrew Cameroon’s map at the Treaty of Versailles, further fragmenting communities. The Picot Line, named after French diplomat Georges Picot, divided families and ethnic groups, forcing some to speak English while their relatives just across the Mungo River spoke French.

A retired professor of African anthropology explains, “Colonial powers didn’t study Africa’s composition. They simply drew straight lines.” The result? Entire communities, like the Efik people, found themselves split between Cameroon and Nigeria.

Even after independence, these divisions persisted. While French Cameroon gained sovereignty in 1960 and British Cameroon followed in 1961, the unification process was fraught with challenges. The deep-seated colonial legacy disrupted traditional governance, divided families, and fueled ongoing tensions.

A Struggle Over Identity

In the village of Muangwekan, located near the historical Picot Line, colonial-era remnants still shape daily life. A concrete border marker, once used to delineate British-controlled territory, stands as a testament to a past that refuses to fade.

The village’s traditional ruler, Chief Atabe Emmanuel Ndonjume, is alarmed by a recent proposal to reassign Muangwekan to a Francophone subdivision, despite its long-standing affiliation with an Anglophone administrative unit.

“This pillar was planted in 1947 by the British Commissioner in Buea,” Chief Atabe explains, tapping the marker with his walking stick. “It shows that Muangwekan belonged to British Southern Cameroons.”

For the villagers, the proposal isn’t just a bureaucratic matter—it threatens their cultural identity. The colonial-era border might have been arbitrarily imposed, but generations have since fought to preserve their heritage.

Despite the tensions, deep-rooted connections remain. Many in Muangwekan have family across the border in Francophone villages. “My father’s wife is from Mbuasum,” Chief Atabe says. “Many of us have uncles and brothers there.”

His 95-year-old father, Atabe Francis, recalls a time before the divisions hardened. “We used to travel freely and trade across the region. Now, all we see is conflict.”

The Lasting Impact of Colonialism

The artificial borders imposed by European powers continue to fuel discord across Africa. Scholars argue that without the Berlin Conference, the continent’s political landscape might have evolved naturally.

“If not for colonial partition, Cameroon would have been one big, united nation,” says an African historian. Instead, today’s Cameroon remains entangled in a struggle between its Anglophone and Francophone identities.

Some experts believe restoring Cameroon’s former federal system—where English- and French-speaking regions governed themselves separately—could ease tensions. But without meaningful dialogue, reconciliation remains elusive.

Beyond Cameroon, similar struggles persist across Africa. Colonial powers not only redrew borders but also extracted resources, exploited populations, and left behind fractured societies. Some advocates call for reparations, though opinions vary on what form they should take.

“Africa doesn’t just need money,” a professor argues. “We need technology transfer—something that can truly rebuild our economies.”

A Hope for Unity

For elders like Tanjuh and Atabe, the effects of colonial rule remain deeply personal. They have lived through wars, partitions, and political upheavals, witnessing firsthand how imposed divisions have shaped their communities.

Yet, despite the turmoil, they believe unity is possible.

“One day, I will be gone,” Tanjuh reflects from the doorstep of her home in Mudeka. “But before I leave, I want to see peace return.”