Cameroon: Ten years later, remembering the mobilization of Anglophone lawyers in Bamenda

October 6, 2026, marks the tenth anniversary of a historic peaceful march by lawyers in Bamenda, in the North-West of Cameroon. According to a report published by RFI, this 2016 event served as the starting point for a broader protest by Anglophone professional bodies. This social movement subsequently led to a political crisis and a persistent armed conflict between government forces and separatist groups.

At the root of this mobilization, legal professionals in the Anglophone regions were concerned about the loss of influence of the 'Common law,' the British-inspired legal system in force in their area. According to the testimony of lawyer and civil society actor Félix Agbor Balla, the appointment of Francophone magistrates who did not master English or were ignorant of the local culture posed serious difficulties for litigants. Furthermore, the absence of an English version of OHADA texts on business law violated the constitutional principle of bilingualism.

Faced with these dysfunctions, approximately 150 lawyers dressed in their black robes and traditional wigs marched peacefully in Bamenda on October 6, 2016. This demonstration ended abruptly when security forces used tear gas to disperse the crowd. A general strike was then declared, followed by another demonstration on November 10, 2016, in Buea, in the South-West, which was brutally repressed.

This security-led response quickly catalyzed other demands put forward by teachers and students. Despite the initially corporatist and peaceful nature of the protests, the escalation of tensions and the repression awakened federalist and secessionist aspirations. From the beginning of 2017, the cycle of 'ghost towns' and clashes plunged the two Anglophone regions into a lasting instability that the actors of the time could not have imagined.

Our perspective

This commemoration serves as a reminder of the urgency of respecting cultural and linguistic diversity as the foundation of national unity. For Story Africa, the recognition of historical specificities and inclusive dialogue are the only viable paths to guarantee justice, preserve citizens' rights, and build a lasting peace in Cameroon, far from purely military solutions.