Alchemy of Transforming Insurgency in The Intelligentsia Age

This book submits that the recent Anglophone crisis in Cameroon is protracted for two main reasons. Firstly the unreconstructed colonially inspired education system has institutionalized a bifurcated elite class based on the historic French–British cultural rivalry. The two cultures have historically not been mixed successfully in a Unitarian state structure. Implementing education system reforms to progressively unify the intellectual culture of upcoming Cameroonian youth elites is necessary. Secondly many disadvantaged youths perceive that they are excluded from participation spaces and support systems that can help them realize their aspirations. To deal with this aspiration gap crisis an alchemical process to transform the mental models of ex-combatants and those at risk of joining rebel movements is proposed and articulated here. The mindset transformation program will ease the process of accumulating ingenuity capital and channel the beneficiaries toward utilizing it in productive activities. Success in implementing both transformational processes will end the Anglophone crises and at the same time leapfrog Cameroon to economic emergence sooner than can be imagined.. Prof. Essia lived and worked in Cameroon for seven years (2014 -2021) as the Regional Director of the Pan African Institute for Development – West Africa (PAID-WA) Buea (2014 – 2020) and the Technical Adviser on Projects Programs and Fundraising PAID Secretariat Yaoundé (2020 – 2021). However the views expressed here are his and not the official views of the International Association PAID.