Role of undemocratic leadership and governance in fuelling intra-state conflicts in Africa: The case study of Cameroon.

Abstract

This study explored the role of undemocratic leadership in fuelling intra-state conflict. In addition, the study illustrates tangible policy measures that will mitigate against undemocratic leadership and governance in fuelling intra-state conflicts from a national, regional, continental and international community levels, to restore long lasting peace. It further analyses the drivers of undemocratic leadership and governance in advancing intra-state conflict in Cameroon, it examines the historical perspective, the role played by several pressure groups in an attempt to reassert their identity in a bilingual Cameroon, constitutional perspective and political perspective amongst other drivers. This is critical in understanding the crisis in an in-depth manner so as to come up with sound solutions in attaining a middle ground of ending this problem and attaining permanent peace and maximum nation building in Cameroon. A cross-sectional descriptive research design and stratified sampling method with a sample size of respondents was used. Primary data was obtained via questionnaires, key informant interviews and focused group discussions interviews and quantitative data analysis were done with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 21.0 and presented in tables, charts and graphs with a brief description thereafter. Qualitative data was analyzed by content analysis and presented as verbatim. The study found that Democratic leadership at all levels had a significant impact in promoting sustainable peace and security since it responds to the needs of the people without discrimination. The study establishes that measures that Cameroon has put in place are not sufficient to promote unity in the country hence the need for full implementation of the constitution in a just manner and enhancement of political goodwill for inclusivity in governance. Collective national dialogue with all stakeholders should be enhanced to express the interests of all the citizens so that frequent conflicts can be mitigated amicably.