Ambazonia was an UNPO member between 2006 and 2021, represented by the Southern Cameroons National Council and Ambazonia Governing Council. 

Ambazonia originates from the former British Southern Cameroons, a territory with a distinct colonial history and cultural identity that differs significantly from the predominantly French-speaking Republic of Cameroon. After the 1961 plebiscite, Southern Cameroons was unified with French Cameroon under terms that many Ambazonians argue have since been violated, leading to decades of political marginalisation and cultural suppression. These tensions escalated into a violent conflict starting in 2016, driven by demands for autonomy or outright independence. 

Key issues facing the Ambazonian community include the denial of their right to self-determination as recognised under international law, ongoing systemic discrimination in governance and public services, and numerous documented human rights abuses—including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and displacement of civilians. The Ambazonian people continue to advocate for international recognition of their political status, the preservation of their English language and cultural heritage, and accountability for violations committed during the conflict. Additionally, economic marginalisation, restricted access to education conducted in their native languages, and the militarisation of their homeland exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. 

Ambazonian identity and culture are deeply rooted in the historical and social fabric of the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon, territories formerly known as British Southern Cameroons. This identity is characterised by a strong sense of Anglophone heritage, distinct from the Francophone majority of Cameroon. The Ambazonian people are ethnically diverse, encompassing groups such as the Bakweri, Widikum, and Tikari, each with unique languages, traditions, and customs. 

Culturally, Ambazia is known for its vibrant festivals, traditional dances, and ceremonies that celebrate community, spirituality, and ancestral ties. The region’s rich volcanic soils support diverse agricultural practices, while its coastal areas offer important marine resources. The Ambazonian flag, adopted in 2017, symbolises democracy, purity, peace, and prosperity, reflecting the people’s aspirations for a just and sovereign nation. 

The Ambazonian identity has been further solidified through the ongoing struggle for independence, marked by the 2017 Declaration of Independence and the formation of the interim Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia. 

The historical background of Ambazonia was shaped by the colonial partition and post-colonial evolution of Cameroon. Originally part of German Kamerun from 1884 until Germany’s defeat in World War I, the territory was divided between the British and French colonial powers under the 1919 Versailles Treaty. The British-administered Southern Cameroons developed a distinct legal, political, and social system heavily influenced by British colonial governance, creating a unique Anglophone identity separate from the Francophone majority. 

In 1961, following Cameroon’s independence from France, a United Nations-organised plebiscite gave the Southern Cameroons the choice to join either Nigeria or the Republic of Cameroon. Due to complex ethnic and economic considerations, the regions voted to join Cameroon under a federal system that promised to preserve Anglophone autonomy. In 1972, just over a decade after reunification, a controversial national referendum dissolved the federal structure, replacing it with a unitary state and effectively abolishing the autonomous institutions of West Cameroon. This centralisation was carried out without the consent of the Anglophone population and was widely perceived as a constitutional betrayal. From that point forward, the former British Southern Cameroons were gradually absorbed into  a Francophone-dominated political system, losing their distinct institutional framework.  

These tensions deepened under President Paul Biya, who continued centralising power from Yaoundé. In 1984, Biya removed the word “United” from the country’s official name—a move widely seen as the symbolic erasure of the 1961 unification agreement. Despite the 1996 constitutional promise of decentralisation, reforms were never implemented. By the early 2000s, many in the Anglophone regions viewed the union not as a partnership, but an annexation. 

This longstanding discontent erupted in 2016 when Anglophone lawyers and teachers launched peaceful protests against the imposition of French-speaking judges and teachers in their courts and schools. The movement, initially calling for a return to federalism and respect for Anglophone systems, was met with violent military repression. Dozens were killed, hundreds arrested and internet access in the North-West and South-West regions was cut off for months. The government’s heavy-handed response radicalised the situation, pushing many moderate voices aside. 

In October 2017, separatist leaders declared the independence of the “Federal Republic of Ambazonia.” Since then, the country has descended into a brutal armed conflict. Over 6,000 people have been killed, more than 600,000 displaced, and thousands more subjected to human rights abuses by both the Cameroon military and separatist militias. Civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, has been repeatedly targeted.