CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Unemployment and national security are major issues in the world today. Around the world, unemployment affects 67.6 million young people while the global youth unemployment rate currently stands at 13.6%, (Mercy corps,2020) the number varies by region.

The united nation security council resolution 2250 adopted in December 2015 expresses concern that among civilians, youths accounts for many of those diversely affect by armed conflict which disrupts youths’ access to education and opportunities, has a drastically impact on peace and security. In Northern Africa, youth unemployment is higher at a rate of 30% which is more than twice the global rate, even in sub-Saharan Africa and North America.

This has a greater impact on the international security. International security was limited to war and peace or military action and diplomatic agreement now, it covers climate change, migrational poverty health privatization, organized crimes and international terrorism and unemployment are all Study threats to the international community which needs to be tackled.

In Africa, youth unemployment age ranges from 15-24. This covers about 20 percent of the total population of Africa. According to population research Bureau, Africa has the fasters growing youthful population over 40% of its population are under 15. This is due to high birthrate. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), 3 out of 5 unemployed people in Africa are youth. This is a central political issue in Africa which has resulted to insecurity in Africa.

In Cameroon, it is estimated that from 1999 to 2020, youth unemployment rate was at 5.84% (youth unemployment rate in Cameroon, plecher,2020) and Cameroon has a relatively youthful growing population with 40% percent of its population being below 15years old and 2\3 being under 30 years but in 2019, youth unemployment rate decreased from 6.84% to 3.30%.

The impact of youth unemployment is greatly affected by the national security of Cameroon.in recent decades, the number of young people ages from 15 to 35 years have increased significantly in Cameroon. According to the World Bank report of 2009, Cameroon has an unemployment rate of 30 percent with 48 percent of the total population living below poverty line.

The situation has a severe effect on development, particularly in areas of education, health and professional training. In urban areas, youth unemployment rate stands at over 20 percent, compared to just 5 percent in rural areas .this unemployment rate particularly in cities is as a result of rural exodus and the decline in the number of jobs available in modern sector. (David, 2003) explained city growth in Africa to be most often attributed to the process of mass rural exodus indulged mostly by youths. This youths leave rural areas for cities and towns in search of employment opportunities which are most often not sufficient.

In addition, inadequacies exist in current socioeconomic integration system for youths which does not have appropriate and comprehensive mechanisms for promoting self-employment among this population group. (Munive, 2008) explained that most policy makers in Africa perceive young people as being economically inactive since a bulk of them lack unemployment in the formal sector thus they are often labeled by statistical survey as unemployed.

Youths face difficulties getting decent jobs indeed, unemployment of youths have attained a high proportion. Results from employment and informal sector survey (EISS, 2011) reveals that about 23.8 percent of youths as from 15 to 29 years are unemployed especially in urban areas.

From the south West Region of Cameroon, most youth find here are unemployed following the Anglophone crisis which disrupted most of their businesses, some youths are unemployed in the south West Region because of the poor integration scheme. However, the south West Region is a region in Cameroon. Its capital is Buea, as of 2015, its population was 1553,320.  Buea is located at the foot of mount Fako and mount Fako is the tallest peak in the whole central Africa. Buea is headed by a D.O and it the capital of the formal German Cameroon.

Statement of problem

Buea (SWR) has a good system of education from the nursery to the secondary, universities and professional institutes with competent and qualified teachers and lecturers who prepare students at the end of their degree program for the job market. Youths have needs and aspirations as they grave for good jobs as well as a good standard of living.

After their degree programs, a vast population of youths in the SWR find themselves poor as a result of unemployed and unemployment is a key factor of national security of the South West Region. However, a poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP) report published in 2003 by the Cameroon government identified youth unemployment to be the major problem in Cameroon.

The Poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP, 20003), report expressed the concern of the lack of attention recorded to this problem by the government which has however resulted to youth frustration. This frustration has result to youths get involved in to stealing kidnaping, gambling, child and drug trafficking, and even prostitution just to make a living. In late 2016, most unemployed youths in this region join the separatist fighters while others and armed robbers as a result of frustration and aggression. This is a threat to the security of the South West Region as thousands of youths, children and adult have been killed and the government has used its own means to curb this crisis which has been a failure.

There is therefore a need for the Cameroon government to curb the rate of youth unemployment in Cameroon if not, the national security of Cameroon will keep on being threaten as youth unemployment is a threat to security. Hence, reducing the rate of youth unemployment will result to less security threats.

Research questions

1. What are the causes of youth unemployment in the South West Region
2. The effect of youth unemployment on the security of the Southwest region.
3. What are the ways to tackle the unemployment of youth in the South West Region as a means to improve on security?

Check Out: Public Administration Project Topics with Materials