British Southern Cameroon (Anglophone) Crisis in Cameroon and British (Western) Togoland Movement in Ghana: Comparing two Post-Independence separatist conflicts in Africa

ABSTRACT: The UN trust territories of British Togoland and British Southern Cameroons at independence andfollowing UN organised plebiscites, choose to gain independence by joining the Republic of Ghana and theRepublic of Cameroon in 1955 and 1961 respectively. Today, some indigenes of the two territories areprotesting against the unions and are advocating separation. This study, based on secondary sources, examinesthe similarities and differences between the two secession movements arguing that their similar colonial historyplayed in favour of today’s conflicts and that the violent, bloody and more advanced conflict in Cameroon isinspiring the movement in favour of an independent Western Togoland in Ghana. It reveals that colonialidentities are unfortunately still very strong in Africa and may continue to obstruct political integration on thecontinent for a long time.

Key Words: Anglophones, Cameroon, Ghana, Secession, Togolanders,