Amid an intense government crackdown and dwindling hopes for independence, separatist in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions are changing tactics. Instead of engaging in physical manifestations and confrontations, they have turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate their propaganda efforts.
The streets were eerily empty and business was at a standstill on Tuesday, October 1, the day that separatists recognize as the former British Southern Cameroon’s Independence Day. This date, typically marked by violence as separatists push for a breakaway nation, passed in relative silence this year.
Government Ban Stifles Celebrations
In previous years, the day saw widespread celebrations across the Northwest and Southwest regions, areas claimed by separatists as part of an independent Southern Cameroon. Authorities in Cameroon, however, forbade gatherings this year, which prevented any public protests.
To maintain the appearance of control, despite their declining physical presence, separatist fighters have begun using AI-generated images and videos to showcase supposed support for their cause. These images depict scenes like students dressed in the blue and white colours of the Ambazonia flag marching in celebration of Independence Day. However, after analysing the content, MMI confirmed the pictures were fabricated using AI technology.
Recycling Old Videos to Create an Illusion of Strength
In addition to these AI-generated images, separatists have also resorted to recycling old videos from past years to create the illusion of ongoing support. In the past, fighters would parade through areas under conflict, armed and defiant. This year, however, the festive atmosphere that once characterised October 1 was conspicuously absent.
By the evening of October 1, the usually volatile towns of Buea and Bamenda were quiet, with residents staying indoors. Unlike previous years, no reports of gunfire or violence emerged. Instead, the regions saw only a heavy military presence, with the government’s forces patrolling the streets and ensuring compliance with the ban on public gatherings.
Experts believe that the separatists’ use of AI is a calculated strategy to create the impression of widespread support for their cause, even as the government’s crackdown has significantly weakened their movement on the ground.
The Significance of October 1
October 1 holds deep historical significance for separatists in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions. The roots of the conflict date back to February 11, 1961, when the people of British Southern Cameroon voted in a United Nations referendum to join La République du Cameroun, which had already gained independence from France. On October 1 of that year, the British officially handed over the territory to Cameroon’s first president, Amadou Ahidjo.
At the time, French Cameroon and British Southern Cameroon entered into a federation, which was abolished in 1972 when the two territories became the United Republic of Cameroon. Under President Paul Biya, who renamed the nation La République du Cameroun in 1984—the name that French Cameroon had originally used at independence—tensions continued to simmer. This decision fueled resentment among Anglophones, who felt increasingly marginalised.
Escalation of the Crisis and the Push for Independence
Agitations for independence grew in the years that followed, but it wasn’t until 2016, when frustrations over government policies reached a breaking point, that the situation escalated into the current conflict. By 2017, separatists had declared symbolic independence on October 1, marking the beginning of an armed struggle for outright secession.
Since then, the conflict has claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands, leaving many in the Anglophone regions caught between the separatists’ demands for independence and the government’s aggressive response.
The Future of the Separatist Movement
Today, as separatists resort to AI and recycled media to keep their movement alive, the government’s crackdown has severely limited their ability to show real control on the ground. The struggle for independence continues, though increasingly played out in the realm of propaganda rather than on the battlefield.
