Resilience through Mobility: Urban Residents’ Adaptation Strategies in Conflict-Affected Bamenda, Cameroon

Abstract

The global phenomenon of human population displacement during environmental stressors and socio-political crises has far-reaching impacts. In urban areas, residents' mobility is often driven by various factors. This study investigates urban residents' mobility as a resilience strategy in response to the Anglophone socio-political crisis in Bamenda, Cameroon. Employing a case study design and purposive sampling, the research selected five neighborhoods based on the extent of residential changes as a result of the ongoing socio-political crisis in the region. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 105 respondents and focus group discussions to explore residential mobility as a resilience mechanism. The findings revealed that five specific population groups were affected by the socio-political crisis, prompting them to relocate within Bamenda. Among those displaced, 60% were households led by individuals aged 26-32. Key reasons for displacement included ongoing violence, loss of life, family disconnection, property destruction, disrupted economic activities, halted education, and increased internally displaced persons in the region. The study also found that residents with higher financial status could relocate to safer areas, while vulnerable individuals often fled or temporarily sought refuge in forests. The prolonged crisis, over seven years now, has severely impacted Bamenda residents, escalating forced displacement rates. Consequently, the study recommends that the government implement targeted urban planning policies to enhance resilience strategies, focusing on affordable social housing, resettlement structures, and improved access to basic services for displaced residents, while fostering peace and stability in Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions.