Nation and the increasing consideration of the specific concerns of indigenous peoples to
which detailed analysis will be devoted in addition to information on the rights of peoples as
provided for in Articles 19 to 24 of the Charter.
Section 1: Right to Equality of Peoples (art 19)
557- Information contained in the previous Report (§564-566) highlighted the sociological
and linguistic diversity of Cameroon and the option of a harmonised and balanced
management of the said diversity through inclusive and anti-discrimination policies. Such
information is still relevant. It must be remembered that the major challenge of the
construction of the Cameroonian nation since independence has been to find the right way to
capitalize on the positive aspects of the colonial past without calling into question the
Africanity and the ancestral links that unite the populations beyond cleavages based on
borrowing identities.
557- It is worth mentioning that the main challenge of building the nation of Cameroon since
its independence has been to find the best way to take advantage of the positive experiences
of its colonial heritage and inherited institutions, without sacrificing its africanity and links
ancestral peoples that unite their peoples beyond divergences emanating from foreign
cultures.
558- During the reference period and especially in 2016, Teachers and Lawyers in North West
and South West Regions raised occupational claims based on discrimination and
marginalization and more globally, in the management of public affairs.
559- On 12 October 2016, English-speaking Lawyers in North West and South West Regions
went on strike claiming acknowledgement of the specificities of the Common Law system
with especially the proper translation of the Uniform Acts of the Organization for the
Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), the CIMA (International Conference of
Insurance Markets) Code, and the Regulations of the Economic and Monetary Commission of
Central African States (CEMAC). The Lawyers also complained about the transfer of Frenchspeaking Judicial and Legal Officers who do not understand English and the Common Law
system to the said Regions, and clamoured for the opening of a Common Law Division at the
Supreme Court and a Common Law Department at the National School of Administration and
Magistracy (ENAM).
560- On 21 November 2016, teachers of the English-speaking subsystem also went on strike.
The latter denounced the gradual “francophonization” of the English-speaking subsystem, and
clamoured for the withdrawal of all French-speaking teachers who do not understand English
from the classroom in North West and South West Regions.
561- It should be noted that English and French are the 2 official languages in Cameroon.
Besides, the country also has a legal system characterised by the dual heritage of Common
Law and droit civil from the romano-germanic inspiration, both stemming from historical
considerations. The education system at the levels of primary education and secondary
education is subdivided into an English-speaking Subsystem and a French-speaking
Subsystem.
562- An analysis of the grievances raised by the Lawyers and Teachers especially within the
framework of the 2 ad hoc Commissions and other frameworks made it possible for measures
of adjustment to be taken. The Government has taken multiple measures to handle the crisis.
Two Ad hoc Interministerial Committees were formed to examine the concerns raised by
English-speaking Lawyers and Teachers consequent upon which a number of decisions were
taken to enhance, respect the specificity of the Common Law including opening a Common
Law Division at the Supreme Court to examine appeals from the Court of Appeal of the South
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