New Cameroon Views Blog: Is Janvier Tchouteu a supporter of the separatist Ambazonia cause?

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Is Janvier Tchouteu a supporter of the separatist Ambazonia cause?

No, Janvier Tchouteu (also known as Janvier Chouteu-Chando or similar variations) is not a supporter of the separatist Ambazonia cause.

He is a Cameroonian author, political commentator, and activist who has written extensively on Cameroonian politics, history, and society. His works include books like Cameroon's Unity, Separatism, and the New Cameroon, Africa's Shackled Heart: Cameroon, and others critiquing the Paul Biya regime, French influence (FrancAfrique), and the political system in Cameroon. Cameroon's Unity, Separatism, and the New Cameroon (2018). In that work, he discusses the reunification of Cameroon (French-speaking Cameroun and English-speaking Southern Cameroons), critiques the French-imposed neocolonial system, the Biya regime, and underdevelopment. He advocates for a unified "New Cameroon" as the ideal, rooted in the civic-nationalist vision of reuniting the former German Kamerun territories.

Regarding the Ambazonia cause (the separatist movement seeking independence for the English-speaking regions of Cameroon, also called Southern Cameroons or Ambazonia), Tchouteu does not appear to be a supporter. He views separatists as an obstacle to his unified vision and describes them as people who "never cherished reunification" and risk tearing the country apart, alongside the entrenched political establishment as barriers to progress toward a better, unified Cameroon. Evidence from his public writings and statements points to the opposite:

He promotes a vision of a unified "New Cameroon" (often capitalized as "NEW CAMEROUN" or similar), emphasizing national unity, overcoming division, and reforming the existing country rather than breaking it apart.
In book descriptions and posts, he discusses the Anglophone crisis/Southern Cameroons protests but frames them within a broader critique of the "French-imposed system" while advocating for Cameroonians (including those from the English-speaking regions) to pursue change within a united framework.
He refers to the separatist push as a risk that delays Cameroon's advancement.
In various online posts and contexts (e.g., Facebook comments or related discussions), he engages critically with Ambazonia-related topics, often framing the separatist fight as confused, divisive, or counterproductive, without endorsing it.

One of his works is titled The Southern Cameroons Cause against the Anachronistic French-Imposed System vis-a-vis Kamerunism (Cameroon Union-Nationalism), which contrasts the Southern Cameroons grievances with "Kamerunism" (Cameroonian union-nationalism), suggesting he views the separatist push as conflicting with his preferred pan-Cameroonian nationalist ideal.
In social media comments and reposts attributed to him (e.g., on Facebook), he has referred to "Kamerunists" (union-nationalists) or Cameroonian civic-nationalists and critiqued aspects of the separatist leadership or dynamics without endorsing independence. He has also called for solidarity among all Cameroonians, including in contexts like supporting the national team, which implies opposition to secession.

While his name appears in some Ambazonia-related Facebook threads or discussions (often in comment sections on news about the crisis), these show him commenting or being tagged, but not expressing support for secession. Instead, his overall body of work positions him as a proponent of Cameroonian unity and opposition to both the current regime and separatist fragmentation.
In summary, he is critical of the central government's handling of the Anglophone crisis and acknowledges the legitimate grievances of the English-speaking regions, but he aligns with a pro-unity, reformist stance rather than supporting the Ambazonian independence movement. Evidence from his books, public profiles, and related commentary indicates he opposes the separatist Ambazonia cause in favor of a reformed, unified Cameroon.He seems to advocate for a transformed, inclusive Cameroon instead of separation.