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The Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon exemplifies the severe consequences of governance failures in managing historical grievances and socio-political diversity in a postcolonial African state. Rooted in colonial legacies and intensified by centralized governance, systemic corruption, and political exclusion, the conflict reflects the state’s failure to constructively address calls for equity, recognition, and reform. This paper argues that the government’s coercive responses to legitimate corporate revendications, particularly in education, legal systems, and regional autonomy, have eroded trust and escalated tensions, resulting in entrenched conflict and humanitarian distress. Multinational corporations operating in resource-rich Anglophone regions have further contributed to instability by prioritizing profit over social responsibility, deepening socio-economic inequalities and environmental harm. Drawing on recent academic research and policy analysis, the article examines how political centralization, elite-driven economic governance, and shrinking civic space have prolonged the crisis. It affirms the urgent need for decentralization, inclusive governance, and corporate accountability while highlighting the role of local agency and participatory peacebuilding. Situated within broader discourses on governance in conflict-affected settings, the paper offers practical insights for policymakers, corporate actors, and civil society. It concludes with targeted recommendations to promote transparency, equitable development, and inclusive dialogue as foundations for sustainable peace in Cameroon and similarly divided societies. This study synthesizes insights from recent academic research and policy analyses to explore how governance failures, both political and corporate, have exacerbated the crisis. It argues for the urgent need for decentralised governance frameworks, corporate accountability mechanisms, and inclusive conflict resolution approaches that prioritize local agency and stakeholder participation. Situating the Anglophone Crisis within broader discussions of governance in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, the article offers valuable lessons for policymakers, corporations, and civil society actors committed to preventing similar conflicts. It concludes by outlining targeted recommendations focused on fostering meaningful dialogue, ensuring transparency in governance practices, enhancing corporate social responsibility, and building robust accountability frameworks to sustainably address grievances and promote enduring peace in Cameroon and comparable settings.

Africa continues to witness sustained conflicts owing to a number of different reasons. Already, evidence shows that a majority of these conflicts have been driven by long-standing social- political and economic reasons. Yet a closer look at the conflicts reveals that they have not only transformed, but are now sustained by different actors, methods, and have different objectives. Traditionally, conflicts in Africa have been driven by issues such as natural resources and struggles for political and economic power. However, there are now new factors that are significantly fueling and sustaining violence and conflicts in many parts of Africa. The paper focuses on why there have been such sustained conflicts in Africa and largely categorizes them into two main classes- old and new. Kadlor’s New War Theory helps explain and distinguish these two categories of conflicts by pointing out the salient features in each. However, what cannot be categorized is the effects that these conflicts have previously had and continue to leave in the countries and populations in which they occur. These are also briefly discussed which highlights the implications - both short-term and long-term that these conflicts have in Africa. Through these discussions, perhaps a new way of conceptualization of the nature of conflicts in Africa can be developed. This guides the approaches and means to be used in their mitigation and ultimate resolution.