Let this be a moment for reflection across the country: What kind of nation do we want to build? And how many more lives are we willing to lose before choosing a political solution? Peace between neighbours is not weakness. It is wisdom
An Open Letter to the mothers, fathers, and young people of La République du Cameroun,
By Lester Maddox
Independentist News Contributor
Oakland County, California
YAOUNDÉ – 26 February 2026 – We write to you not in hostility, but in sorrow — and with questions that deserve honest reflection.
For years, you have been told that the military operations in the English-speaking regions are necessary to “protect national unity.” State broadcasts speak of preserving sovereignty and combating instability. Yet beyond official language lies a human cost that no slogan can soften.
Young men from Douala, Bafoussam, Yaoundé, Garoua, and countless other towns are deployed into a conflict that has stretched nearly a decade. Many return injured. Some do not return at all. Families on both sides of the conflict carry grief that no political speech can repair.
It is fair to ask: What is the long-term objective of this war? What political solution is being pursued beyond military containment? How many more years of deployments will be required before dialogue replaces gunfire?
A Conflict Without a Clear End
The situation in the North-West and South-West regions is no longer a short-term security operation. It has become a protracted political crisis with deep historical roots.
Wars without clearly defined political outcomes tend to exhaust nations — economically, socially, and psychologically. Markets slow. Investment declines. Inflation rises. Public trust erodes. The cost of maintaining internal conflict often exceeds the cost of negotiating reform.
When families struggle with rising prices of food, fuel, and electricity, it is natural to question national spending priorities. Military campaigns are expensive. Reconstruction after war is even more expensive. These are not accusations — they are realities observed in many nations that have experienced prolonged internal conflict.
Shared Humanity
It is important to say clearly: ordinary citizens of La République du Cameroun are not the enemy of ordinary citizens in the English-speaking regions. Families across the country want the same things — stability, opportunity, education for their children, and peace.
The tragedy of this crisis is that young Cameroonians — whether from the West, Littoral, Centre, or North — are placed in direct confrontation with other Cameroonians. The deeper political questions that sparked the crisis remain unresolved, while generations bear the cost.
A Call for Reflection, Not Retaliation
To parents: ask difficult questions about the future your children are inheriting.
To citizens: encourage open civic discussion about sustainable political solutions, including meaningful dialogue, decentralization reform, or other constitutional pathways that can end the violence.
To policymakers and public servants: history tends to favor those who choose negotiation over escalation when stalemates persist.
Lasting peace does not come from battlefield dominance alone. It comes from addressing root causes, acknowledging grievances, and crafting arrangements that allow communities to coexist without fear.
Toward Peaceful Coexistence
The future of this region — whether within one state, two states, or a restructured constitutional arrangement — must ultimately be decided through lawful, political processes, not perpetual armed confrontation.
The bloodshed has lasted long enough. If there is to be stability for future generations, it will require courage — not only on the battlefield, but at the negotiating table.
Let this be a moment for reflection across the country: What kind of nation do we want to build? And how many more lives are we willing to lose before choosing a political solution? Peace between neighbours is not weakness. It is wisdom.
Lester Maddox
Independentist News Contributor
Oakland County, California
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