President Biya called for a “national dialogue,” which broke down due to inadequate assurances to protect the integrity of the process. Many of the separatist and Anglophone leaders were imprisoned and unable to participate.
President Biya granted “special status” to Anglophone-majority regions North West and South West. The Cameroonian Government established regional assemblies for each region, which were given nominally more power than existing regional councils. Anglophone leaders and separatists did not welcome the announcement, and clashes continued.
