The Unrecognized African Country Nobody Knows About (Ambazonia) 

*Are there any other examples like this? Of break-away states that aren't recognized?*

Wow, this was a very nice surprise! My family is from this part of Cameroon and I have studied Ambazonia extensively for the past year or so. I'm really happy that it's getting recognition!

Portuguese explorers reached the coast in the 15th century and named the area Rio dos Camarões (Shrimp River), which became Cameroon in English

I myself is a Cameroonian (from the french speaking part) and can tell it brought unrest in my country. As I acknowledge the government brutality in this matter, but the Biya regime has been the one that emphasized this confict by bringing tribalism to a whole other level, and not only marginalizing anglophones but other groups such as the Bamileke which are close to the population living in the North-West region as though being the largest ethnic group have been suppressed from the beginning of the state of Cameroon (Bamileke war). The French are undoubtely involved in this conflict as President Ahmadou Ahidjo had been selected as the first government of Cameroon for protecting french interests in the area, and since the oil rich South-West region could not be exploited by the french under the Federal Republic the pressured Ahidjo to put an end to the Federation. But the Biya regime was what mostly sparked this whole conflict as he has been in power since 1982 through clearly rigged election neglecting the Cameroonian people and further creating division between francophones and anglophones by enforcing french in every sectors such as administrative, schools, court etc giving priviledge to the francophones that are often not able to speak a word of English, eventhough French and English are mandatory and are of equal status. I believe that the intauration of a more democratic party (meaning kicking out Biya's regime) and return to the Federal republic made up of 10 states would be better as even in the fench speaking area many are seeking autonomy from the highly centralised-Yaounde government like the West region, and this will permit the anglophones to gain back their autonomy. Maurice Kamto is the main opponent to the Biya regime and seeks to build back this identity of what it means to be a Cameroonian and to give equal opportunities to all. As I believe that united we are stronger of a people.

African union, has to lead the resolution on these conflict. Ignoring it is only effect African economy as a whole.

I found out about ambazonia several years ago while doing a school research project for Liberia. At the time I could only find a handful of news articles and the Wikipedia page so I’m grateful for this

Thank you for presenting our story. We have been under occupation and oppression for 60 years. Ambazonia is not Seceding. You failed to mention that we had a government in our capital Buea and had three prime ministers and a parliament. All were destroyed by french Cameroon with international complicity. These are two territories in terms of culture, language etc. it’s not a language divide problem but rather a decolonisation problem. #FreedomForAmbazonia

Few know that Ambazonia is one of the few countries with an embassy in Bandiaterra

My mum is Cameroonian. She passed away a year and half ago 😢😢 I look forward to visiting my homeland ♥️♥️

Never heard of Ambazonia thank you for making this video I always love memorizing next countries

Some of the nicest guys i met while working in Dubai were Ambazonians..very humble, kind, and humorous brothers..God bless them with peace and plenty ❤

As a geography nerd I'm impressed that your claim in the title is true and that you could present this issue so interestingly and concisely. I also appreciate the summary in the middle. One of your better videos.

It's really amazing to me how just language can spark something like this

Learned something new today. Not only about a "new country", but also that this South Cameroon is, in fact, in the North-west of Cameroon proper.

As a Basque person, (The basque country is a spanish region fighting for independence) i personally feel for the ambazonians and think they deserve independence.

So accurate Surprised to see our struggle here Thanks for sharing 👍

The union between the former French Cameroun and the British Southern Cameroons on October 1, 1961, to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon was a unique experiment in nation building and the struggle for independence in Africa. For instance, the Union des Populations du Cameroun (UPC), the first truly nationalist party in the former French trusteeship that advocated immediate independence and reunification with the British Cameroons, was banned in May 1955 by French colonial authorities because of its radical views, since France was still reluctant to grant its African colonies complete independence. For France, the choice of who and which party could lead the territory to independence depended on who French authorities thought could guarantee continued relations with France following independence. In the end, Ahmadou Ahidjo and his Union Camerounaise (UC) emerged as the best candidate to meet France’s objectives in a postcolonial Cameroun. On the other hand, because of the colonial arrangement that allowed Britain to administer its section of the former German colony as part of its colony of Nigeria to the west, the nationalist struggle took a different trajectory and was more against Nigerian rather than British colonial domination. In other words, for many Southern Cameroonians, the focus by the two major parties (Kamerun National Democratic Party (KNDP) and Cameroons Peoples’ National Convention (CPNC)) during the campaign leading to the plebiscite on February 11, 1961, was whether the territory should be part of the Republic of Cameroun, which was engulfed in violence and bloodshed following its independence on January 1, 1960, or face the threat of Igbo domination if Southern Cameroonians decided to become part of an independent Nigeria.

Thank you for the great knowledge, keep up the good work.

England: "Wot's all this" Rebels: "We're fightin the French for Anglo independence mate" England: "It's Falklands time baby"

Thanks for this, I've never heard about this country.

thank you so much for bringing attention to the cause!

Watching from Limbe Cameroon 🇨🇲 😂😂😂

The flag looks really good

Thanks for the update

I always find new unrecognized states in this channel. :D

This absolutely meets the definition of a people's history. Great presentation 👏🏽

Well there goes the naive and honestly pretty ignorant saying of "everybody loves Cameroon". The central government surely has succeeded on portraying a peaceful and stable look to the outside world at least - despite the opposite being the case. Thanks for this insightful video!

Thanks for the documentary.

First video I've watched of this channel. Very well delivered and well researched. I'll be subscribing to learn more! Thank you so much for your effort!

actually I've randomly just visiting Cameroon wikipedia and learning it's subdivisions and surprised when i've find out about this

I have been to Cameroon, and very near this area. Baffousom, Duoula, Dshcang. I went in 2021. We had to go through checkpoints, when on long road trips, by the military that was armed. I am an American, so I speak English, but so do decent amount of people in the area. This area is not considered a state by anyone in the area that I met. There is definitely conflict and tension in the area, and there are many English speakers throughout the country.

Great video.

Thanks so much sir for remembering us👏👏

While going to college, I had a four-year relationship with a woman from English Cameroon, which is what she called where she was from. Another married couple who was also going to college was from there as well. To add to this video, while, yes, English Cameroon speaks English, it is just the "common" language and not their primary one. Their primary one is their tribal language. In English Cameroon alone, there are over 380 tribal languages. Literally each tribe (think village) has their own separate language and it is only known to that tribe. The tribal language is ONLY for those in the tribe. And, no, just because you know the tribal language of the tribe next door does not mean you know and can even guess at their tribal language. In fact, that's on purpose. Think of it like a secret code that only your small community knows and they want it to be kept secret. Why? So if you are with others from other tribes, you can talk to your fellow tribe member without being understood by those around you. You speak the common language (in their case English) to the others but when you need to impart something important ... such as, "That man over there. He is a spy." ... they can switch to their tribal language. Oh, and spies are everywhere. Everywhere. No one trust anyone. Not even family members. It is estimated that 50% of the population are spies. If you and your wife wanted to have a private conversation, you would leave your home and go for a long walk. When you're can see no one near you thus can hear you, you then whisper to each other. When I was over for dinner at the couple's apartment, I started bad-mouthing our President. They were shocked that I did. I was surprised by their silence and how uncomfortable they acted. The husband calmly and quietly said that they would never speak poorly of their President in their country for fear a spy would over hear them and then they would be abducted in the night never to be heard from again. I then explained our Bill of Rights to them and how the #1 right was Freedom of Speech and, unlike anywhere else in the world, it was protected by an independent judiciary branch. All three were amazed by this and asked countless questions about it all night long. Here's another thing interesting to know. Those in English Cameroon would love to join the USA as a state. Just like Liberia.

Ambazonia? Awesome. Thank you for the sauce, General Knowledge.

I'm hearing about these African countries today for the first time, thank you for posting this information

Great presentation.

I work with a couple people from the English part of Cameroon and from what they say, a lot of people are leaving because of all these issues between them and the French part.

Cameroon originally was a German colony until 1916 when British and French occupied them, This is where the problems began since most of the territory is French-speaking while the northwestern part is English-speaking and the latter have fewer privileges than those already mentioned. I think that in general it should be a bilingual federal country but I do not think that the regime of the day allows it, especially with France meddling in the affairs of these countries.

Hope they get recognition so that we can have another sister flag in the club🇬🇷🇺🇾

Every country should recognize Ambazonia’s independence.

I learned this place when i searched on wikipedia on a country and then i found this i was going to make video but then you posted but still this is great

The african union does not like to recognize new countries at fear the continent would get fragmentized (despite it already partially happening in somalia and sudan)

Thanks 🙏🏽

Can't believe their is a video about my country!

Go Ambazonia! I recognise them as a country ... the revolution starts with but one recognition ...

I was learning about this topic and I found out about PWD Bamenda, a football Club from the Anglophone region won the Cameroon Elite One top league for the first time last year. Shout out the Abakwa Boyz. Blue and white checkerboard jersey is crazy I would love to find a way to get one.

Would be interesting to see a video on future of Gibraltar

Very accurate good job on the detailed research 🔬 and very well presented this shed a great light on the the darkness going on

Can we have a video about the Cabinda crisis as well? Though it’s a part of Angola, it also has fought for its own independence.

I lived in Bamenda, Northwest Province for a year in my twenties. I saw Ni John Fru Ndi speak and supported the SDF. The chronic underdevelopment imposed by the Biya government in Yaoundé posted these people to the brink. Down with Paul Biya!

4:29 I love how there is a county called Meme in Ambazonia

South Cameroon was part of Nigeria and voted to join the former French colonies. Northern Cameroon voted to remain in nigeria

Ambazonia has a Meme-County. Now I support independence.

“Sometimes known as South Cameroon” “Claims the northwest region of Cameroon”

My history make me to understand that, the German's were still negotiating their colony in kamerun before they were ousted in 1916, that they faced a lot of resistance from the indigenous people. This made it difficult for the German to setup school that would have made easy for them to spread their culture. The first German school was created around 1905 and within a space of 11 years they were ousted by Britain France and Britain. Thus cultural wise it is difficult to say Germany where in Cameroon. The colonial masters whose culture were felt in Cameroon was the French and British culture. And this two cultures took over 44 years to spread. The two cultures created two types of people. The people of French east Cameroon were assimilated and made to behave like French people in France, while the people British southern Cameroon were given indigenous treatment by the British that is the British only accessed their chiefs and the chiefs relates the people. This made the people of British southern Cameroon to move on from colonial period in a purely African indigenous role unlike the case in French east Cameroon. So in conclusion those who decided to combine two unrelated people together as a nation only set the stage for a future unrest which will have it today. Knowing that before the coming of European colonial masters African was made up of thousands of independent kingdoms and chiefdom with each one running it affairs though they were warily in nature

A video about Szeklerland would be interesting

I feel so sad that I coming from ambazonia and all what u said it’s true …! People are suffering and nobody cares 😢what a world

Very interesting I believe my French teacher from Cameroon mentioned this a few times but we never did get it

Oh wow, Thats real cool

I vaguely remember reading a few years ago about a conflict in Cameroon with English speakers being suppressed, but sadly, like a lot of these news stories, it was forgotten about. So it's great that GK has provided some context and an update. Hasn't Cameroon recently joined the British Commonwealth? I'd assume the default language is English when they meet. So those Francophone leaders will probably need to brush up!

Amazing...Can you talk about Biafra, the secessionist group in South Eastern Nigeria?

Where I'm from.....thanks for bringing this to the world

Fantastic Presenttion, Pls do one on BIAFRA

I grew up there - at Tiko to be precise, I attended St. Joseph's Primary school. This unification was engineered by Mr. J.N. Foncha and his party. This is a sad situation because many of my friends in Southern Cameroons are trapped in this mess. A peaceful solution will be professed some day.

how about Biafra their neighbor who still struggles for independence from Nigeria same as Ambazonia?

As a Cameroonian and prince from that rergion, i only aspire that the country knows peace again. I do believe that Ambazonia won't win this diplomatical or militarily . We need to just revisit the constitutions and decisions made at the Foumban and Yaounde conferences and negociate for peaceful unitary state or federal state .A lot of lives have been lost so i do not think the government is going to settle this through military dominance . instead i would call on the government to organise a conference open to the media and world not the last failed conference that i would call a "trap".During that confernce let diverse stake holders participate, let the president be present and creat a diplomatic admosphere with the seperatist leaders.This is 1 of 13 suggestions i have

Cameroonians and Canadians: Fight over english and french. Indigenous Languages: Are we a joke to you?

I support one Cameroon 🇨🇲

Omg! I had no idea! I am from Liberia not far away and didn’t know about this general knowledge.

Bem interessante.

Thanks for shining a light on something that most of us outside Africa had no idea was going on. My default position is always in favor of independence for any group that seeks it, and in this case it seems particularly relevant since they were functions as an autonomous regions prior to joining Cameroon. It is also scenarios like that this that confirm what a complete waste the UN's existence is. Their independence should be recognized.

The Federal Republic Of Ambazonia Is Not Breaking Away From La Republic Du Cameroun At All. We Restored Our Statehood After An Attempted Unification With LRC That Turned Out Void. Please, People Trying To Educate The Public Must Make Sure They Harvest The Most Authentic Information Or History Before Doing So. Anger Or Zeal Must Compel Fellow Human Beings Toward Authentification Before Proclaiming Any Message Either Way. Consumers Must Also Make Sure They Are Consuming The Authentic Message.

Tøp 💯

South Cameroon flag -*exists Greece - Am I a joke to you

If undeveloped countries put as much energy into improving their economy, employment and education as they do in squabbling over border lines they'd be miles ahead in their living standards.

The UN need to recognize Ambazonia as a country.

I am Cameroonian and there is nothing to accept about Ambazonia, we are one and colonization will not separate us with language.

People who live in own country wherever in the world, they don't care if they are recognize or not recognize. That's not their problem because they live real life in that country.

Even though these countries are not recognized they do have everything a country needs to be recognized as a country like Somaliland Which I have visited many times

It's not about languages, it's about Britain vs France, and Nigeria's court room outfits will tell you why they are there to fight

Your voice is like a lullaby also try to update the Moroccan map

good to see english / french animosity has been successfully exported.

Thanks for shedding sure light in this issue. That being said there are glaring errors in your expression that I find quite important to rectify. First of all, those territories never had the status of "colony". It was first a German "protectorate", then, divided after WW1 by the SoN, it became two "tutorates", one English and one French. I know from the outside it seems to be a minor difference, but I can assure you it does matter a lot from the inside, for the people back then, and even more so now. Also, I think it's always better to sell accuracy in history. Secondly, you said "Europe started declining Africa". This is not only false but very condescending to the different people who had to fight for those declarations of independence to happen. Indeed, said as you did, it sounds like it was a good grace that was done to the different people of Africa, while it was really some bloody battles, and other more diplomatic, using law degrees, the tools of the "colonizers". And even then, they never really left and continue, to this day, to plunder the local resources, while simultaneously meddling in the local political affairs, in the worst way possible. The continent is the siege of proxy wars even to this day, with foreign powers rigging elections, arming troops, army or "rebels" according to their interests, and so much more... Anyway, I'm not trying to diminish the work you've done on this video: I'm quite grateful you made it and it's quite informative. Still I think those mistakes need to be pointed out and addressed, for more accuracy. 🙂✊🏿🖖🏿

Are the Ambezonians ethnically different to other parts of Cameroon or is the (European) language the only thing that separates them from each other from a cultural/ethnic perspective?

Cameroon is getting better. Youths are traveling aboard not to wash plates anymore, but to embark on literature and film projects. It is only getting better. They send money back home and even your Amba boys are joining the program both from the bushes and from jail. I know more about this than you think. I myself went last year when the curriculum was a British novel called Angel of Death by Jack Higgins. They change it every year. Last year it was with Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. We need peace.

You should do a video like this one about the Republic of Artsakh.

There is similar situation in ‘Western Togoland’ ie Eastern Ghana

One does wonder why Somaliland and the Western Sahara are better known than this place

Neat

l.am.Ambazonian...From the French CameroUn Colony of Ambazonia...Ambazonia shall never beg for Freedom....lt will be liberated by Force....It may take some time but we shall be free

The only solution is a United Africa. Individual cultures would be given there freedom to grow within the United state. One Africa for the future. We must be forced to live together while recognizing that different cultures must be respected.

This flag looks a bit like a flad that the United States had assigned to them during the reign of Louis Louis XVI; it also looks like the flag for an organization of Revolutionary War Veterans

Please do a video about the Bangsamoro Republik too.

Love your videos

Should Ambazonia become independent?

Do they happen to be a former Greek colony?

@General.Knowledge- First, I would've also addressed Ambazonia's alliance with the neighboring break-away territory of Biafra in Nigeria. Here are some lesser known examples what you descirbed: 1. Anjouan-Comoros 2. Bornholm Island-Denmark 3. Khalistan-India 4. West Papua-Indonesia 5. Chuuk Islands-Federated States of Micronesia 5. Matabeleland-Zimbabwe 6. Cascadia-USA/Canada 7. Balochistan-Pakistan/Iran 8. Principality of Seborga (partually legitemate micronation in a village)- Italy 9. Karakalpakstan-Uzbekistan 10. Székely Land-Romania

wow what an amazing facts that Ambatukam Omaygot lives in Ambazonia.

I hope they get independence