Socio-Political Conflict and Livelihood Vulnerability in Bafut: Implications for Community Resilience in Northwest Region Cameroon

The socio-political crisis that emerged in Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest Regions in 2016 has severely disrupted livelihoods in most conflict-affected communities. Substantial findings reveal that livelihoods in Bafut were severely affected, exposing the community to new difficulties of living and surviving dynamics. These conditions have heightened livelihood vulnerability while simultaneously compelling households to develop adaptive and resilience-oriented strategies to cope with prolonged uncertainty. Against this backdrop, the study examines livelihood vulnerability, adaptation, and community resilience in Bafut Sub-Division. A mixed-methods design was employed, involving 155 questionnaires administered across 10 quarters, complemented by documentary sources. Quantitative data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, tables, and charts, while qualitative data underwent content analysis. Findings indicate major disruptions through declining household incomes (64.8%), displacement (43.8%), restricted access to farmland (42.2%), and disrupted education and healthcare services (45.3%). It is observed that, vulnerability varied spatially according to insecurity, accessibility, displacement, and resource availability. Households adaptive and resilience-oriented strategies including livelihood diversification (25.0%), migration to safer areas (23.4%), petty trading, and informal economic activities were applied. However, these strategies remain constrained by insecurity, limited resources, and weak institutional support. The study therefore recommends integrated interventions combining peacebuilding, security, public-service restoration, agricultural support, livelihood recovery, and sustainable economic opportunities to strengthen long-term community resilience.

Socio-political crisis; livelihood vulnerability; adaptation; community resilience

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