Barrister Agbor Balla Says Anglophones Cannot Continue To Rely On The Current Anglophone Political Leaders To Champion Their Interests.

“Anglophone Cameroon Has Long Suffered From Political And Economic Marginalization, Yet Those Who Claim To Represent The Region Rarely Challenge The Status Quo”

“The Silence Of Anglophone Political Leaders In The Face Of Economic Stagnation, Broken Promises, And Delayed Projects, Suggest That Many Are More Focused On Protecting Their Positions Than Advocating For Their People”

“Their inability – Or Unwillingness – To Rise And Defend Regional Interests, Starkly Contrasts With The Assertiveness Of Elected Officials From Other Regions, Such As The Far North”. “What Is The Essence Of Having Leaders Who Do Not Lead? The Time Has Come For New Voices To Emerge”

A prominent  Anglophone Civil Society Leader, Barrister Felix Agbor Nkongho  ( Agbor Balla), who heads the Center for Human Rights and Democracy, Buea, Southwest Region, has decried the lack of assertiveness  in  the defense of the interests of the two Anglophone Regions (Northwest and Southwest Regions), by those who currently pass  for Anglophone Political Leaders. This outcry is contained in an article written by Agbor Balla titled: “The Silence Of Anglophone Political Leaders:  Who Truly Speaks For The People?”

Barrister Agbor Balla draws his inspiration for the article from an incident that happened a couple of days ago in the Far North Region precisely in Kousseri, when local political leaders, elites and others, stood up like one man to protest against the decision by the visiting Minister of State, Secretary General at the Presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, who wanted to hurriedly return to Yaounde without having listened to the grievances of the people. Following the strong protest, Ngoh Ngoh was forced to postpone his return journey to the next day. He spent the night in Kousseri, in order to meet with the local political leaders, who wanted him to carry the grievances of the people to President Biya.

“This incident highlights the proactive stance of Far North leaders and the residents in advocating for their development and well – being, contrasting with the more passive approaches observed among regions facing similar challenges. The silence of Anglophone Political Leaders in the face of economic stagnation, broken promises and delayed projects suggest that many are focused on protecting their positions that advocating for their people. They remain passive, seemingly content with their positions, while their regions remain trapped in economic stagnation”, weeps Agbor Balla.

He repeatedly brings up as example the important Limbe Deep Sea Project which for decades has been suffering from repeated unfilled government promises. Yet the political leaders cannot raise their voice on the issue. “Why is their silence so deafening on critical development issues, such as the Limbe Deep Seaport?”, he questions. Agbir Balla asserts that the Limbe Deep Seaport, is a port that if constructed would transform the economic fortunes of the Southwest and Northwest Regions.  “This project holds immense potential for job creation, trade and regional development, yet Anglophone leaders seem incapable of demanding action”, he regrets.

Agbor Balla thinks that the persistent inaction by the current Anglophone Political Leaders sends a clear message that Anglophones cannot continue to rely on these to champion their interests. “The people must instead take ownership of their destiny by demanding accountability, supporting leaders who prioritize development, and pushing for a new political class that will not shy away from defending regional interests”, Agbor Balla recommends.

BELOW IS THE AGBOR BALLA’s ARTICLE IN ITS ENTIRETY:

The Silence Of Anglophone Political Leaders:  Who Truly Speaks For The People?

In Cameroon’s political landscape, the question of legitimate representation for Anglophones remains unresolved. Can the current Anglophone political leaders genuinely claim to speak for the people they represent? If so, why is their salience deafening on critical development issues, such as the Limbe Deep Seaport? Their inability – or unwillingness – to rise and defend regional interests starkly contrasts with the assertiveness of elected officials from other regions, such as the Far North.

Anglophone Cameroon has long suffered from political and economic marginalization, yet those who claim to represent the region – whether mayors, parliamentarians, Regional Assembly members, senators, or government – appointed officials – rarely challenge the status quo. Anglophone leaders remain passive on issues of fundamental importance. Small wonder, that they are indifferent towards the realization of the Limbe Deep Seaport, a seaport, which would transform the economic fortunes of the Southwest and Northwest Regions. This project holds immense potential for job creation, trade and regional development, yet Anglophone leaders seem incapable of demanding action, If they truly speak for the people, why haven’t they raised these concerns with the same intensity as their peers from other regions?

Anglophone leaders should take a leaf from their counterparts from the Far North Region. During Minister of State Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh’s visit to Kousseri in Cameroon’s Far North Region on February 15, 2025, local political leaders, elites, residents protested to ensure their grievances were heard.  This incident highlights the proactive stance of Far North leaders and residents in advocating for their region’s development and well –being, contrasting with the more passive approaches observed among regions facing similar challenges.

The silence of Anglophone political leaders in the face of economic stagnation, broken promises and delayed projects, suggest that many are more focused on protecting their positions than advocating for their people. They remain passive, seemingly content with their positions while the regions remain trapped in economic stagnation. Some people may have grown complacent, prioritizing personal benefits over the collective good. Worse still, some may be complicit in the systematic neglect, content with symbolic representation while avoiding advocacy.

Whatever the reason, their inaction sends a clear message: Anglophones cannot to rely on these to champion their interests. The people must instead take ownership of their destiny by demanding accountability, supporting leaders who prioritize development, and pushing for a new political class that will not shy away from defending regional interests.

The Way Forward

What is the essence of having leaders who do not lead? If Anglophone leaders cannot speak for their people, then who will? The time has come for new voices to emerge – leaders who challenge economic neglect and advocate for transformative projects like the Limbe Seaport. Development cannot happen in silence. It requires courageous, bold, unapologetic representation, just as seen in other regions of Cameroon. Until then, the question remains: Do Anglophone leaders truly represent their people, or are they merely symbolic placeholders in a system that continues to sideline their regions while the leaders remain comfortably in office, doing nothing and benefitting from their positions as their people suffer from neglect, economic decline and unfulfilled promises.

Anglophones must demand more from their leaders by:

Challenging those in position of power to act, rather than remain silent.

Supporting leaders who show courage and are willing to confront the government.

Rejecting complacency and demanding advocacy for long – promised projects.

                                                              AGBOR BALLA