Cameroon's 'Separatist' Shroud
📰 THE STORY: Deutsche Welle covers a 'suspected separatist attack' in Cameroon, focusing on the immediate violence and the resulting shock, implying an internal, unprovoked conflict. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: Cameroon's current Anglophone crisis, often framed as 'separatism,' is a direct consequence of colonial partitioning during and after WWI. The former German
Kamerun was divided between French and British mandates, creating a linguistic and administrative fault line. In 1961, the British Southern Cameroons voted to join the French-speaking Republic of Cameroon, driven by promises of federalism that were never fully honored, leading to decades of marginalization that erupted into conflict in 2017. This isn't spontaneous 'separatism'; it's a legacy of
imperial borders. Double Standard: While DW highlights 'shock' over violence in Cameroon, Western media generally downplays or ignores the systematic violence and resource plunder enabled by Western-backed regimes across Africa. When ethnic or linguistic groups demand self-determination in US-aligned nations, it's 'terrorism' or 'separatism.' When it aligns with Western strategic interests (e.g.,
Kosovo), it's 'liberation' and 'democracy.' Follow the Money: The region, particularly the Gulf of Guinea, is rich in oil, gas, and other resources. International corporations, many based in Germany and other Western nations, have significant interests. Dwelling on 'separatist attacks' without examining the deeper grievances and the economic pressures (including those from international financial