DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjahss.2026.v14i07.003

Pages: 269-280

The birth of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) in Bamenda, North West Province on May 26, 1990, did not leave many Cameroonians indifferent. Many were anxious to know the founder, objectives, ideology and prospects of the party. In fact, the SDF incarnated hope amongst the people but unfortunately the almost three decades of the party's existence could be described as "wasted years" because the SDF failed to conquer power and implement its social democracy. The objective of this study is to identify violence as the main source of SDF predicaments. The methodology used is descriptive and the analysis of the data collected from secondary sources and interviews reveals that although the party was confronted with many challenges, it lost popularity mainly because the leaders and their opponents used or misused mass protests, civil disobedience, political assassinations at the detriment of the SDF. The SDF is therefore merely a shadow of itself today and may eventually disappear from the political scene if care is not taken.