Alarming Number of Children Growing Up in Anglophone Cameroon Without Just Knowing Their Fathers | The Colbert Factor

In the war-torn regions of Anglophone Cameroon, a silent crisis is unfolding as an increasing number of children are being born into a world filled with conflict and uncertainty. These innocent souls, often referred to as "Children Born of War," face the heartbreaking reality of growing up without ever knowing their fathers. With each passing day, their numbers rise, casting a poignant light on the devastating consequences of armed conflict on families and communities.

This reflection is influenced by the theme of this year's International Mother's Day, celebrated on May 14, 2023, which was titled "Every Mother Knows." The chosen theme emphasizes the crucial understanding that every mother should possess regarding the paternity of her child. While Psalms 128:2 reinforces this concept, stating, "You will eat of the fruits of your labor," it is disheartening to witness the weariness of mothers in the restive Anglophone regions of Cameroon, who bear children amidst the turmoil of war. They carry the heavy burden of knowing that their children are destined for an uncertain future.

It is important to acknowledge that most women and girls in the two English-speaking regions who have given birth in the past seven years due to rape because of the conflict face significant challenges in determining the paternity of their children.

Furthermore, as we approach International Father's Day on June 17, 2023, it serves as a reminder for policymakers and influencers involved in the ongoing conflict in the British former Southern Cameroons. It is imperative that they exert their utmost efforts to compel both state and non-state actors to recognize that targeting women's bodies as a battleground not only constitutes a punishable crime under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) but also represents a profound violation of a people's cultural heritage. Women, being the custodians of any culture, deserve to be respected and protected.

Some cultures and traditions, particularly the matrilineal Koms and Aghems (in the Northwest regions of Cameroon), are definitive of the fact that only the woman knows the paternity or father of the child.

The younger brother, who succeeded my father, was quite an intriguing character. He held the belief that only the mother could truly determine a child's biological father, despite the renowned fidelity of traditional Kom women. As a polygamous husband, he would often cause discomfort and disown any child who seemed to challenge his paternity claim. He would assert that the mother had conceived the child with another man in the community, rather than with him.

Surprisingly, if the same child managed to impress him, he would completely change his stance. He would shower the child with praises and proudly declare to anyone who cared to listen that this child was his "only biologically begotten son," unlike the other children he had acquired through succession and socialization. However, these contradictory behaviors left the children with a lingering sense of uncertainty about their true paternity. This uncertainty was heightened by occasions when the accused men in the community bore a resemblance to these children, adding to the ambiguity surrounding their real fathers.

If children who have grown up in a family, knowing a certain man to be their biological father, who is traditionally wedded to their mother, sometimes experience a feeling of dejection as mentioned in the previous case about my father, one can only imagine the emotional turmoil faced by children born of war.

The statistics surrounding this issue are not only heartbreaking but also disturbing. According to GLOWA (Global Welfare Association), an NGO based in Bamenda that conducts research and documents cases of Children Born of War (CBOW) in the conflict zones of the Northwest and Southwest regions, more than 500 children have been born to women and girls under the age of 20 because of rape committed

• Gwain Colbert | The Colbert Factor