American Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This paper examines threats to peace and national unity posed by the challenges of cultural diversity and linguistic conflicts in Cameroon. Given the linguistic and cultural diversity of the country with its more than 250 ethnic groups and a colonial legacy of English and French cultures and languages, plus remnants of a German sub-stratum, the paper reaffirms that there are many potentials ingredients for conflicts in Cameroon. In view of persistence of internal conflicts, the absence of peace and security and the potential for the eruption of large-scale violent internal conflicts, there is urgent need for appropriate policies for managing cultural and linguistic conflicts in Cameroon. Our findings reveal that, to promote fruitful diversity of cultures and avoid linguistic conflicts, the Government of Cameroon must promote indigenous peoples’ cultures, formulate coherent language policies, safeguard endangered languages, preserve cultural heritage, encourage cultural production and linguistic research, and mobilize political will in applying the benefits of peace, science and technology to sustainable educational development. Using essentially the qualitativeapproach and consulting both primary and secondary sources, the study concludes that, the government of Cameroon must put in place structures and measures to mitigate the challenges posed by cultural diversity and linguistic conflicts in a bid to enhance social cohesion, peace and national unity in Cameroon.