Low Morale and Embezzlement: The Struggles of Cameroon’s Security Forces in Anglophone Regions

CAMEROON — A profound crisis is currently unsettling the security forces in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon. Intelligence assessments indicate a worrying decline in troop morale, exacerbated by reported embezzlement of bonuses and the absence of regular personnel relief.

Testimonies gathered from soldiers and gendarmes stationed in these areas reveal a pervasive sense of injustice and fatigue. Many service members allege that embezzlement schemes divert bonuses and other social benefits, depriving them of vital resources necessary to support their families.

This predicament has grave implications for troop morale and operational effectiveness. As a result, security forces exhibit an increasing reluctance to engage in their mandated missions, further compromising security in a region already beset by unrest.

The lack of consistent rotations for personnel exacerbates the situation. Military members are frequently compelled to serve extended stints under challenging conditions, leaving them without adequate opportunities for rest. This relentless strain fosters fatigue, demotivation, and contributes to rising desertion rates.

These systemic dysfunctions within the security forces have tangible repercussions for managing the ongoing Anglophone crisis. Undermotivated and poorly equipped troops find themselves ill-prepared to confront the security challenges that arise.

This crisis coincides with the recent display of mass mobilization among Ambazonian forces, highlighted in videos commemorating their October 1st Independence Day celebrations.

Estimates suggest that hundreds of Cameroonian soldiers, gendarmes, and police officers have perished since the onset of the crisis. Some reports indicate that by 2024, approximately 3,000 military personnel had lost their lives; however, this figure likely continues to rise as hostilities persist between Cameroonian security forces and separatist combatants in the North-West and South-West regions.

The Cameroonian government has typically been reticent to disclose precise casualty statistics, compounding the uncertainty surrounding the situation. International organizations and local NGOs have endeavored to monitor casualty figures, but discrepancies persist in the numbers they report.