The “Ambazonia Accord”: A Template for Resolving Africa’s Frozen Conflicts

The “Ambazonia Accord” is not merely about borders. It represents a new political philosophy for the continent—one that places democratic will above territorial ego, and citizen legitimacy above regime convenience.

By Timothy Enongene, Guest Editor-in-Chief, The Independentistnews

The protracted war in Southern Cameroons has become a defining test of the credibility of the African Union (AU). For decades, the continent has been marked by so-called “frozen conflicts”—struggles for self-determination and justice that are allowed to simmer indefinitely because political elites fear the precedent of change. These conflicts are not unresolved by accident; they are maintained by a system that prioritizes regime stability over human dignity.

As we stand in 2026, the path toward a stable and prosperous Africa requires a decisive break from this model. That break can take the form of what may be called the “Ambazonia Accord”—a third-party mediated settlement process that transforms the Ambazonian quest for independence into a continental template for resolving frozen conflicts.

By adopting an EU-style framework for mediation and legal settlement, the AU has an opportunity not only to resolve the Ambazonian conflict, but to redefine how Africa manages political crises.

The EU Blueprint: Mediation Over Might

In Europe, territorial and political disputes are addressed through diplomacy, law, and supranational mediation—not through indefinite militarization. The European Union model functions because it prioritizes democratic legitimacy, negotiated settlements, and neutral arbitration over the logic of force.

The “Ambazonia Accord” proposes the same principle for Africa. Rather than allowing one party to function simultaneously as aggressor, administrator, and judge, the AU must facilitate a credible, third-party mediated process led by neutral international actors. This process must move beyond performative dialogues and symbolic forums and confront the core political issue directly: the question of Ambazonian sovereignty.

This is not about optics or appeasement. It is about institutional seriousness. No conflict can be resolved when one party controls the process, the narrative, and the enforcement mechanisms.

Resolving a “Frozen” Continent

Across Africa, from the Sahel to the Horn and beyond, conflicts remain frozen because colonial-era borders are treated as untouchable, even when they no longer reflect social, political, or historical realities. The doctrine of “internal affairs” has become a shield behind which mass violence is normalized and accountability is postponed indefinitely.

A mediated settlement for Ambazonia that respects sovereignty would break this pattern. It would demonstrate that:

Africa can solve its own conflicts. By leading a settlement rooted in law and self-determination, the AU affirms its institutional maturity and independence from inherited colonial frameworks.

Sovereignty creates stability. An independent Ambazonia, recognized through a formal accord, shifts from being a conflict zone to becoming a legitimate partner in regional security, trade, and development.

Diplomacy replaces repression.It sends a clear signal that political identity can no longer be managed through militarization and terror, but through negotiation and legal processes. This would not fragment Africa—it would stabilize it.

2026: The Year of Democratic Will

The “Ambazonia Accord” is not merely about borders. It represents a new political philosophy for the continent—one that places democratic will above territorial ego, and citizen legitimacy above regime convenience.

It envisions a continental order where peoples pursue justice through institutions, mediation, and ballots, not through endless warfare. It offers a pathway where oppressed communities seek recognition through diplomacy and law rather than armed resistance.

If the AU successfully mediates a sovereign settlement for Ambazonia, it establishes a blueprint for resolving every other frozen conflict on the continent through peaceful, structured processes.

Conclusion: A Historic Opportunity

The African Union faces a defining choice in 2026. It can continue to observe from the sidelines as orchestrated violence and political paralysis consume communities—or it can assume its role as a genuine continental institution.

The Ambazonia Accord represents that opportunity. It calls for a third-party mediated settlement that recognizes the Federal Republic of Ambazonia as a sovereign and independent nation, not as a security problem to be managed, but as a political reality to be resolved.

This would mark Africa’s own “Brussels moment”—a turning point where diplomacy replaces domination, sovereignty replaces suppression, and people replace regimes as the center of political legitimacy.

For the sake of Gidado. For the sake of Egbekaw.
For the sake of future generations. And for the future stability of the continent itself— Let the mediation begin.

Timothy Enongene, Guest Editor-in-Chief, The Independentistnews