Unemployment, Bedrock of Social Violence in Cameroon.

Major cities in the Northwest, Southwest and the Far North regions of Cameroon are gradually becoming empty of youth as a result of the rising insecurity in these areas.

No one knows their whereabouts, but many think they have joined the trending forces popularly referred to as Boko Haram and the "Amba Boys".

Finance Junction (main entrance into Bamenda) 

 However, that seem not to be the major preoccupation in this writers mind. It becomes baffling how youths will mortgage their futures by joining such groups where the line between life and death is very thin. However, a greater reflection pushes this writer to assert unemployment is a greater factor that pushes most of these youths to join the armed groups.

Regular bans on commercial motorbikes in major cities of the North West and South West regions as means to counter armed groups in these regions have left many young people who depend on the activity gnashing their teeth. The bans are still in full force in localities like Widikum, Bafut and Batibo, thus the lure to join armed groups in hope for a better future becomes tempting.

I talked to this gentleman who at the time of one of these administrative bans of bikes in Bafut, was the President of the bike riders in his neighbourhood but has since relocated to Bamenda.

Former president of a bike union in Bafut

"I waited for 5months thinking that the ban will be lifted,  but because of hardship, I had to transport my bike to town. I'm the successor to my father. For this reason, I stayed in our family compound and took care of the 3 wives and 18 brothers and sisters my father left behind. Since I moved to town it has not been easy. Numerous ghost towns, curfew, house rents and the difficulties to send food or money to the village is a serious challenge."

Consider students who have spent over 15 years in school, obtaining one certificate to the other, but no jobs for them. Nothing else looms in their minds but frustration. Thousands of unemployed youths are stocked with many certificates but nowhere to go.

Ndonwi Derick Shu, Former SDF National Socialist Youths Coordinator is a Masters degree holder in Business and Management. Unemployment is the main reason he decided to gainfully employ himself and 47 others by cultivating ginger on this piece of land in Bafut.

Ndonwi Derick Shu (Farmer)

"All efforts of business are closed, farming activities are impossible with crops from the previous season already rotten in the farms since it's impossible to harvest. Consequently, processing of such crops too has been suspended thereby affecting the complete chain from the funders (MFI) who provide micro loans to us (farmers), to the farmers who supply the raw materials."

Inhabitants have been hurt in one way or the other. People have lost their lives, property, houses reduced to ashes, businesses paralyzed and many people internally displaced.

In anonymity, a local administrator on phone spoke to this reporter, "You know it all Ambe. That is exactly the reason. More than 30 bikes were burnt in Bafut and as if that was not enough, the Governor placed a permanent ban on the movement of bikes in Bafut. As such, almost all the young men who were engaged in this activity for a living, had no option than to enter the bush."

Accepted, the iron can be bent if it is still hot, but how will it be bent now when he to do so is afraid of the heat? A thousand dollars question.

Ambe Macmillian A.
PJ Advocate.