The Gendarmerie, (In-)Security and Popular Reaction in West Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon 1961–1964

The presence and activities of the Gendarmerie is as old as French influence in Africa. Since the re-birth of multi-party politics during the 1990s in Cameroon, the military crackdown in erstwhile West Cameroon rekindled old memories of Gendarmerie brutality and popular reaction. As a paramilitary...

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Main Authors: Walter Gam Nkwi, Henry Kam Kah, Martin Sango Ndeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Hradec Králové, Philosophical Faculty 2016-12-01
Series:Modern Africa
Online Access:http://edu.uhk.cz/africa/index.php/ModAfr/article/view/36
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spelling doaj-d5c33872bcb342e89199762b154326412020-11-25T01:38:35ZengUniversity of Hradec Králové, Philosophical Faculty Modern Africa2336-32742570-75582016-12-0142 The Gendarmerie, (In-)Security and Popular Reaction in West Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon 1961–1964Walter Gam Nkwi0Henry Kam Kah1Martin Sango Ndeh2University of BueaUniversity of BueaUniversity of Buea The presence and activities of the Gendarmerie is as old as French influence in Africa. Since the re-birth of multi-party politics during the 1990s in Cameroon, the military crackdown in erstwhile West Cameroon rekindled old memories of Gendarmerie brutality and popular reaction. As a paramilitary force, it was charged with the provision of security but instead instilled fear and insecurity in the West Cameroon state. This article examines the activities of the Gendarmerie and pays close attention to the tradition and origin of this paramilitary force in West Cameroon. What circumstances led to the introduction of the Gendarmerie in West Cameroon? What was the strength of the West Cameroon security forces before the introduction of the Gendarmerie in 1961? In providing answers to these questions we consulted documents from the National Archives Buea in Cameroon and secondary sources from libraries. These sources reveal that the Gendarmerie force was abhorred by many West Cameroonians. This was because of the brutality of Gendarmes on the civilian population, police and custom officers. The paper also contends that, although the Gendarmerie corps was out to ensure peace and security, it became more or less an insecure force to property and the lives of the West Cameroonian population, as well as to the police and custom officials in West Cameroon. http://edu.uhk.cz/africa/index.php/ModAfr/article/view/36
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Walter Gam Nkwi
Henry Kam Kah
Martin Sango Ndeh
spellingShingle Walter Gam Nkwi
Henry Kam Kah
Martin Sango Ndeh
The Gendarmerie, (In-)Security and Popular Reaction in West Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon 1961–1964
Modern Africa
author_facet Walter Gam Nkwi
Henry Kam Kah
Martin Sango Ndeh
author_sort Walter Gam Nkwi
title The Gendarmerie, (In-)Security and Popular Reaction in West Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon 1961–1964
title_short The Gendarmerie, (In-)Security and Popular Reaction in West Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon 1961–1964
title_full The Gendarmerie, (In-)Security and Popular Reaction in West Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon 1961–1964
title_fullStr The Gendarmerie, (In-)Security and Popular Reaction in West Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon 1961–1964
title_full_unstemmed The Gendarmerie, (In-)Security and Popular Reaction in West Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon 1961–1964
title_sort gendarmerie, (in-)security and popular reaction in west cameroon, federal republic of cameroon 1961–1964
publisher University of Hradec Králové, Philosophical Faculty
series Modern Africa
issn 2336-3274
2570-7558
publishDate 2016-12-01
description The presence and activities of the Gendarmerie is as old as French influence in Africa. Since the re-birth of multi-party politics during the 1990s in Cameroon, the military crackdown in erstwhile West Cameroon rekindled old memories of Gendarmerie brutality and popular reaction. As a paramilitary force, it was charged with the provision of security but instead instilled fear and insecurity in the West Cameroon state. This article examines the activities of the Gendarmerie and pays close attention to the tradition and origin of this paramilitary force in West Cameroon. What circumstances led to the introduction of the Gendarmerie in West Cameroon? What was the strength of the West Cameroon security forces before the introduction of the Gendarmerie in 1961? In providing answers to these questions we consulted documents from the National Archives Buea in Cameroon and secondary sources from libraries. These sources reveal that the Gendarmerie force was abhorred by many West Cameroonians. This was because of the brutality of Gendarmes on the civilian population, police and custom officers. The paper also contends that, although the Gendarmerie corps was out to ensure peace and security, it became more or less an insecure force to property and the lives of the West Cameroonian population, as well as to the police and custom officials in West Cameroon.
url http://edu.uhk.cz/africa/index.php/ModAfr/article/view/36
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