In the picturesque highlands of Cameroon lies a story of profound transformation and resilience. Ateasong Belts Tajoah, once part of the Red Dragons separatist militia, has traded his firearm for a chalkboard, advocating peace and educating young minds through logic and philosophy.
Cameroon, with its complex socio-political landscape, faced turbulence stemming from tensions between its French and English-speaking communities. This unrest reached a crescendo a decade ago, sparking deadly conflicts as English-speaking regions fought for independence under the banner of Ambazonia. The result was tragic: over 6,500 lives lost and more than a million displaced.
Tajoah, like many of his compatriots in the English-speaking southwest, felt marginalized under the French-speaking majority's governance. This sense of disenfranchisement propelled him into the Red Dragons at 23, where he was engulfed in a life fraught with danger and moral dilemmas. The militia's strategy to undermine government control by targeting educational institutions left a lasting impact on the region.
Such strategies have created severe educational deficits, with thousands of children out of school as of 2024, according to UNICEF. Despite playing a role in this devastation, Tajoah witnessed first-hand the personal cost of conflict, including losing his child in an attack by government forces, an incident that drove him to surrender and reevaluate his path.
He entered a rehabilitation program in Buea, the heart of the Southwest, where he confronted the ghosts of his past amidst allegations of drug misuse and coercion within the centers designed to aid ex-combatants. The journey was arduous, spotlighted by societal stigma and a lack of systemic support from Cameroon's demobilization initiatives.
Amidst these challenges, Tajoah found solace in education. He pursued a master's degree in philosophy, a field he had long cherished, as a means to rebuild and redefine his identity. His entry into teaching was initially met with skepticism, yet through dedication and transparency, he earned the trust of his students and their families.
Teaching philosophy and logic, Tajoah encourages critical thinking and peaceful resolution of conflicts, aiming to steer his students away from the mistakes of his past. His advocacy extends beyond the classroom into social media, where he actively raises awareness about the harsh realities of rebellion.
Tajoah's activism has not gone unnoticed; his outreach efforts have been credited with convincing some fighters to surrender their arms, contributing to a fragile but growing sense of hope in his community. His endeavors, however, have not been without danger, as evidenced by threats to his family from separatists attempting to silence his work.
Alongside Tajoah, other former combatants like Okha Naseri Clovis are voicing their experiences. Clovis, now a logistics student, criticizes separatist leadership and promotes reintegration into society.
The broader conflict remains unresolved, with peace negotiations faltering amid accusations of bad faith from both sides. Tajoah vehemently distinguishes between the desire for recognition of the Anglophone crisis and the violent tactics of separatism, advocating for dialogue as the true path to peace.
In the face of adversity, Tajoah stands firm in his new mission. I fought to close schools, but now I teach to open minds, he states, embodying the change he wishes to see in his students and broader community.
