SUMMARY

The conflict between the Banya on the one hand, and the Foulbe, Hausa on the other was triggered by political events in Cameroon. In the period leading up to the first multi-party elections that were to be held in March 1993, but were moved forward to October 1992, the opposition, namely the Social Democratic Front (SDF) struggled to be granted basic political rights. During the early 1990s the pressure on incumbent president Paul Biya to open up the Cameroonian political system grew. In an attempt to push for the legalization of oppositional parties a general strike was instigated. The strike was observed by a large number of Cameroonians regardless of ethnicity, closing markets, halting taxi services, and creating a difficult situation for Biya. It was during the fourth week of this strike that the fighting in this conflict occurred.

The actual violence that resulted in approximately 50 deaths was carried out when Foulbe and Hausa youths attacked the local market in Meiganga in northern Cameroon. The market, which was supposed to be closed in honor of the general strike, was run by indigenous Banya women. Intense fighting ensued for a three day period, carried out, partly, with bows and arrows dipped in a powerful local poison. There were also reports of mutilated corpses. After two days of fighting the government intervened and deployed troops in the town. The situation calmed down and by the end of the week, after government officials mediated between the tribes, tribal chiefs were seen drinking water from the same glass, a sign of peace.

The violence was confined to Meiganga town, in the Adamoua region.

The non-state conflict between the Banya ethnic group on the one hand and the Foulbe, Hausa ethnic groups on the other is first included in UCDP data in 1991. In July of that year clashes between the ethnic groups resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.