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He fought in a separatist rebel group that burned schools. Now he’s a teacher emphasizing peace

He fought in a separatist rebel group that burned schools He fought in a separatist rebel group that burned schools

Dschang, Cameroon – In a classroom set in the lush highlands of Cameroon, a former rebel fighter teaches logic and philosophy. His students know him as calm and thoughtful, but his past tells a more troubled story.

For a year and a half, the Tajoah Belts fought in the Red Dragons, a separatist militia in the southwest of the country. He joined the movement in 2017 at the age of 23 after local fighters came to his village and offered a chance to channel his frustration with the government.

Like many in the English-speaking parts of Cameroon, he felt marginalized by the government dominated by the French-speaking population. These tensions, starting with peaceful protests organized by lawyers and teachers, turned deadly a decade ago after government crackdowns.

The independence struggle for the English-speaking regions, led by emerging rebel groups called Ambazonia, killed more than 6,500 people and maimed more than 1.1 million.

As a rebel, Toko lived under plastic sheets in the rain, cooked for commanders and carried out attacks on military and civilian targets. “You can’t sleep with both eyes closed,” he said, pointing to the scars on his neck and bullet-ridden stomach.

Drugs and alcohol were rampant in the camps, often used as coping mechanisms to the constant threat of betrayal or betrayal. The psychological toll was enormous, Tweh said, recalling the trauma of carrying the bodies of more than 20 fallen comrades.

The rebel group believed that destroying the schools would weaken government control over the region, a strategy that left a deep scar on the educational landscape.

Armed groups imposed boycotts, burned classrooms and killed teachers who defied their orders. Nearly 488,000 children in affected areas were out of school in 2024, according to UNICEF.

Tajoah admitted to playing a role in the devastation, not sharing details but acknowledging the strategy’s profound harm to countless lives.

The breaking point for him came with the loss of his 11-year-old child during an attack by government forces on his camp. Already disillusioned with the separatist leadership and overwhelmed by grief, he surrendered in early 2019.

He entered a government-run rehabilitation center for former combatants in Buea, the capital of Cameroon’s southwest region, where he spent 18 months contemplating his past. Like many ex-combatants, Tajoah has faced a long and lonely road, with widespread stigma shaping his path to reintegration into society.

While the rehabilitation center promised skills training, the country’s demobilization program has faced widespread criticism for its slow implementation and lack of resources.

Togo has seen the spread of drugs, reportedly brought in by the same officials charged with directing former combatants. There were fears that some fighters would be coerced into military operations after surrendering. The government did not respond to a request for comment.

Many former combatants have returned to armed groups, citing frustration with the rehabilitation program. In 2021, former combatants blocked the streets in Buea to protest, accusing the government of not keeping its promise of support.

A lack of oversight and transparency exacerbates the issues, according to Syndie Rhianne Makeutte, a peace researcher at the United Nations. “Without these measures, the program risks losing credibility and pushing more former combatants into violence,” she said.

Despite the challenges, Tajoah has carved a new path. He received his master’s degree in philosophy in July.

He said teaching is more than just a job. “It’s a way to confront my past and inspire others to avoid my mistakes.”

His presence in the classroom initially raised some concerns. “Many assumed the former fighters were uneducated and dangerous,” he said.

With dedication and openness about his past, Toko has earned the trust of his students, their parents and the wider community.

His decision to teach logic and philosophy stems from a long-standing interest in critical thinking and human behavior.

“I was fascinated by these topics before I became a fighter,” he said. Today, he uses them to challenge students to think differently and guide them toward a more constructive path.

Outside the classroom, Tajoah has become an outspoken advocate for peace. It uses a social media strategy to educate people about the dangers of insurgency, sharing photos of fallen fighters to highlight the realities of armed conflict.

He also risks his life traveling to villages, urging young men to put down their weapons. Some residents said his outreach was instrumental in promoting peace, leading to the surrender of some fighters.

While some are skeptical of Tocco’s work, others see him as a beacon of change. “More people now understand that he is here to bring peace and encourage others to put down their weapons,” said Ajewong Columbus Fortula, a traditional chief of Atola village, where Tueh grew up.

Some fighters laid down their weapons, and the local primary school reopened for studies, Fortula said.

However, Tajoah’s activism has come at a personal cost. His mother has been kidnapped twice by separatists, and he has received numerous death threats from separatists seeking to silence his efforts.

Another ex-Okha Naseri Clovis, the Okha Naseri Clovis, shares Tajoah’s design. Now studying logistics in Cameroon’s capital, Claudie, Clovis has been frank about his experiences, often criticizing separatist leaders. He addresses former combatants in rehabilitation centres, urging them to embrace reintegration and peace, and travels to remote villages to counter the separatists’ narrative.

Cameroonian officials welcomed community efforts supporting the rehabilitation program but were accused by critics of not addressing the root causes of the crisis.

Meanwhile, the conflict shows no signs of resolution. Peace talks with international mediators stalled, with both sides accusing each other of bad faith.

“There is a difference between an Anglophone crisis and Amazon terrorism,” Tujoah said. “Anglophones have been marginalized, but weapons and kidnapping will not solve them. Dialogue and action are the only way forward.”

He hopes his students embrace this message.

“I fought to close schools, but now I teach to open minds,” he said. “Scars will always be there, but they don’t have to define you.”

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The Associated Press receives financial support for coverage of global health and development in Africa from the Gates Foundation. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s criteria for working with philanthropy, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.ORG.

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2025-01-26 05:26:00


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