The minimum you must know

Cameroon is a naturally beautiful country on the central western coast of Africa, and has a government who need peace more than others in the region. Cameroon needs calming leadership because the country has experienced stunning disorder and even lost lives, according to the United Nations, which resulted in the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of people (and to neighboring Nigeria), and created substantial need for international support.

Germany colonized Cameroon beginning in 1884 and lost control during WW I. German administration and schooling therefore left linguistic traces, although French and English ultimately became dominant. In Cameroon Pidgin, there is widespread use of the definite article “di” for “the.” This form is best understood as a regularized pronunciation of the English article - not German, though its spelling can resemble German “die” [terrible]. In speech, “di” is commonly realized with vowel sounds similar to English “dee” and, in some contexts, reduced vowel forms akin to “duh.” This is very important because patterning the German word for “the” can incite accidentally and unnecessarily.

There were widespread billboard health campaigns in Africa in the 1980s (such as in Rwanda by aids-health organizations) that accidentally incited. Probably they have been discontinued long ago. A strategic way to help Cameroon would be with health billboards that pattern well, such as “be careful, save lives and live longer.”

According to Human Rights Watch, which was on the ground to see, Cameroonian authorities cracked down on the political opposition, aggressively broke up peaceful protests, and detained hundreds of opposition party leaders, members, and supporters. Government forces and armed separatists behaved so brutally that they even took the lives of people with disabilities as they struggled to flee into neighboring countries. According to the United Nations, hundreds of thousands of people were internally displaced, and roughly a hundred thousand people left for Nigeria. The humanitarian needs in border areas are probably substantial as a result.

A very thoughtful way for countries everywhere to help would be to send basic necessities labeled “save lives” and “live longer,” to pattern “save lives.” Billboard artists can paint murals about living, joy, love and peace as well. The effect may be wonderful — peaceful feelings from people receiving what they need. The more the better.

Tragic events are a stark reminder that populations are susceptible to pattern recognition, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion (and even regardless of level of advancement / sophistication).

The government is secular however has included Islamists before, which can imply pacifism and living in peace. (Islam, after all, is named for all sides peacefully surrendering to one another.)

The Cameroon government seems exceptionally well led from their public remarks. They have delivered eloquent addresses at the United Nations.

Cameroon is very well represented at the African Union, which includes all African States, and the United Nations. Cameroon is at peace with all foreign countries.