Security challenges of Cameroon and the effects on France-African relations

This thesis is focused on an overview of Cameroon's security challenges and the direct effects they will have in the entire Central African sub-region if patriotically addressed by the ruling elite. This thesis tries to answer the question why Cameroon though rich has many unattended security challenges. Secondly, it questions its domestic and foreign policies vis-à-vis its immediate neighbors as well as its foreign Western partners. In other words, it explores, firstly, the egocentric politics of its ruling elites and on the international scene, the economic interaction (diplomacy) that fosters the relations between China, and now Russia and very recently, Turkey. It's worth noting that the arrival of Turkey and others directly threatens France's interests. This thesis consists of five main chapters. The first chapter gives a general overview of the research materials and plan of the thesis. The second chapter defines some key concepts like foreign policy, security, France-Afrique and gives an overview of the conceptual framework of security studies beginning first from the general point of view and then narrowing it down to the epicenter of the study, Cameroon. The third chapter presents the history of Cameroon from colonization to independence. It also in some ways highlights its current security challenges. The fourth chapter deeply elucidates the current security threats of Cameroon, the geopolitical positioning of Cameroon and looks at the game in the Gulf of Guinea. It also suggests a largesse why Cameroon and many other countries within the belt of the Gulf of Guinea must endeavor to reformulate their policies for an emerging Africa if they ever dream of advancing. Lastly, the counter security measures come in as the culmination of the study and conclude with what Cameroon has achieved and what the setbacks are.