Cameroonian exiles, especially those who have fled to neighboring Nigeria, continue to live in a state of peril and uncertainty, far from their homes and yet still gripped by fear. The ongoing Anglophone Crisis, which erupted in 2017, has led to massive displacement, violence, and destruction, leaving thousands stranded in refugee camps across the border. For many, the journey of fleeing their homeland was just the beginning of a new nightmare.
The crisis began when tensions between the English-speaking minority and the French-speaking government reached a boiling point. What started as peaceful protests in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon quickly escalated into a violent separatist movement. The separatists, seeking an independent state of Ambazonia, clashed with government forces, and the violence has only intensified since then. Thousands have died, and an estimated one million people have been displaced, with many seeking refuge in Nigeria.
One such refugee is Solange Ndonga Tibesa, a 30-year-old woman who fled to Nigeria after a traumatic experience. She was abducted by separatists who accused her of betraying their cause. Solange was tortured for days before managing to escape. Fleeing for her life, she crossed the border into Nigeria, where she found herself in a refugee settlement in Cross River State, alongside thousands of others who had suffered similar fates.
The camp, like many others in the region, is a makeshift collection of tents, each offering little more than temporary shelter. Solange, however, found a way to contribute. She has become a volunteer, helping others in the camp while training in environmental technologies. The work is not easy, but it gives her a sense of purpose. It also helps her stay connected to the home she lost. Despite the dire circumstances, she remains determined to rebuild her life.
However, life in the camp isn’t without its challenges. While the UNHCR provides some aid in the form of monthly stipends and vocational training, the refugees face constant struggles. Access to healthcare is limited, and educational opportunities for children are sparse. The lack of resources and opportunities has left many in a state of hopelessness, wondering if they will ever be able to return home.
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The political situation in Cameroon is not helping matters. President Paul Biya, who has ruled the country since 1982, is expected to seek re-election in the October 2025 elections. His government’s approach to the Anglophone crisis has been one of suppression and violence. Separatists are labeled as terrorists, and there has been little effort to engage in meaningful dialogue with the English-speaking population. For those in exile, the prospect of returning to Cameroon under Biya’s rule is a terrifying thought.
The government’s refusal to consider the legitimate grievances of the Anglophone community has only deepened the divide. The separatists, too, remain entrenched in their demand for an independent state, further complicating the chances for peace. For many refugees, the idea of returning to Cameroon seems impossible, given the ongoing violence and the lack of political will to resolve the crisis.
The international community’s response has been lukewarm at best. While organizations like the UNHCR and NGOs provide some support, the scale of the crisis requires more sustained and coordinated efforts. The Cameroonian exiles in Nigeria remain vulnerable, living in a state of limbo, trapped between their desire to return home and the fear of doing so. Their lives have been upended, and yet, there is little hope on the horizon that the conflict will end anytime soon.
The refugee camps, though filled with people who share a common plight, offer little comfort. Despite their shared experience of displacement, each person carries the weight of their individual loss. Some have lost family members to the violence, others have seen their homes destroyed. All of them are left with the painful memory of a Cameroon that once was—a Cameroon they may never return to.
For those like Solange, the refugee settlement is a place of survival, not living. The daily struggle to get by is a stark reminder of how far they are from the lives they once knew. The future is uncertain, and the political stalemate between the government and the separatists shows no sign of breaking. As the conflict drags on, more Cameroonians will be forced to flee their homes, adding to the growing number of exiles who live in fear, uncertainty, and despair.
In the end, the plight of the Cameroonian exiles underscores the urgent need for a political solution to the Anglophone Crisis. The international community must act more decisively to end the violence and ensure that the rights of all Cameroonians—regardless of their linguistic background—are respected. Until that happens, those who have fled their homes will remain trapped in a state of limbo, far from their country, but still haunted by it.
