Insurgency and national security: a perspective from Cameroon’s separatist conflict

This study examines the nature and factors associated with onset of conflict in Cameroon’s North West South regions to contribute conceptual, theoretical methodological debates war/conflict studies. It used an explorative approach, examining immediate political tensions prior hostilities major government policy areas. shows that teachers’ lawyers’ protests (beginning 2016) strategic miscalculations by rebels are conflict. The underlying include greed, colonial heritage, a history insurgencies, internal geography conducive group guerrilla warfare, poor macroeconomic performance, ability finance authoritarianism without relying on taxes, decay, slow development, turbulent regional neighbourhood unfavourable international relations. results enable four main contributions longstanding First, insurgency is distinct type war. Second, insurgencies occur due several unique each case. Third, studying requires holistic factors. Finally, although rebel victory impossible insurgency, multiple widespread can nullify essence state, making important national security threats.