WHAT IS THE DUTY OF THE MILITARY?

WHAT IS THE DUTY OF THE MILITARY?

According to Google, military duties are to plan, organise, and lead troops in military operations, and to help and preserve peace and democracy.

The military of la Republic du Cameroun does not know this!. They are there not to preserve peace, but to kill anything or anyone who gets in their way. The Camerouns army is trained to kill their fellow countrymen. There is No peace, No freedom, no voice for the people of Southern Cameroons(Ambazionian).

PEACE
My understanding is that peace means freedom from disturbance, it means tranquillity. At this moment, the definition of peace is been erased by the military of without mercy. For example, in the space of three months, young girls and boys have been killed recklessly by the military. The people of Southern Cameroons will not give up until our independence is secure. Mr Biya will dissolve in the way he planned for the Ambazonians. We will then be given independence.

HOPE FOR TOMORROW
We, the people of British Southern Cameroons, are calling on the US, UK, UN, GERMANY and the whole of Europe to intervene and bring our homeland to life again. The military has taken away so many lives, especially those of innocent children who do not know what is happening!… They have taken away their hope for tomorrow.

SO
Indendence is the way forward. Long live southern Cameroon’s, short lift our struggle.

By Vivian Ngum fomukong.

CORRUPTION IN CAMEROON UNDER PRESIDENT PAUL BIYA

CORRUPTION IN CAMEROON UNDER PRESIDENT PAUL BIYA

There has been a crucial lack of political will to fight against corruption in Cameroon under Biya’s administration. Political will can be defined as “the demonstrated credible intent of political leaders (elected or appointed leaders, civil society watchdogs, stakeholder groups, etc.) to attack the perceived causes of effects of corruption at a systemic level”.Political will is crucial in the fight against corruption as it sets the tone, creates the mood and exudes the degree of seriousness that is needed to engage everyone. Political will is equally important in order to punish corruption committed by top government officials who are from the ruling party and it will equally promote a good way of preaching by example. In addition, the fight against corruption is not affected by the availability of economic resources or lack thereof (Avitus A., 2019; pp. 70-71). Therefore, it is safe to say that the lack of political will demonstrated by Biya’s regime is not due to a lack of funds. President Biya himself, after about 4 decades in power has never fulfilled article 66 of the constitution of 1996 by declaring all his property and sources of income. This article 66 demands all government officials to declare their assets and sources of income before assuming a position in government so that it will be possible to measure what they have gained (or lost) during their tenancy. This is a credible means to fight against embezzlement, but Paul Biya has never declared any of his assets, under the helpless gaze of Cameroonians.

President Biya created the CONAC (National Anti-Corruption Commission) in 2006 in order to actively fight corruption (mainly embezzlement). Indeed, the CONAC has done multiple arrests of top government officials in cases of the embezzlement of astronomical amounts of money. The notable ones being Marafa Hamidou Yaya [fr], former Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, arrested and convicted for having embezzled US$ 29 million in the case named “presidential jet” by local media, and more recently (March 2019), Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o, former Minister of Defence[permanent dead link] arrested on corruption charges with 3 billion FCFA (approx. US$5 million) recovered in cash at his residence, local media reported. These arrests and many others may all seem innocent and driven by Biya‘s goodwill to fight corruption, but Cameroon political analysts and academics see nothing but deception.

Opération Épervier [fr] (Operation Sparrowhawk – name given by local media for the seasonal arrests of high government officials convicted for corruption) is merely a way used by President Biya to eliminate his political opponents or officials from his own political party that he thinks have grown to accumulate too much power throughout their career and are starting to become a threat to him. Taking a closer look, Marafa Hamidou and Edgar Alain Mebe have both been very close to President Biya and have both worked as secretary general to the presidency of Cameroon – a post that keeps you very close to the president. Both of them have held important positions in the government, positions that allow them to forge strategic networks and relations (both national and international) should they decide to run for presidency. President Biya’s strategy is to allow those close to him to embezzle and later on use it against them when he feels they become a threat. This further reinforces the idea that there is no real/genuine will to combat corruption. In addition, it is an opportunity for Biya’s regime to create an illusion of democracy and transparency as it has done in the past, more recently with the blatant use of sham Transparency International observers during the presidential elections of October 2018. During this election no voting took place in the Southern and Northern Regions of the country ,but it was declared he won the elections there .

David Wallechinsky ranked President of Cameroon Paul Biya with three others (Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe of blessed memory Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, and King Mswati of Swaziland) as the most corrupt dictators in the world. He describes Cameroon’s electoral process in these terms: “Every few years, Biya stages an election to justify his continuing reign, but these elections have no credibility.

Written By: Emilia Efeti Agey

ANTI-TERRORISM LAW AND ITS USE

ANTI-TERRORISM  LAW AND ITS USE (Case Study   Cameroon
By
Electa Shalo Manyimuchua
In Cameroon  the Oppressive  regime of President Paul  Biya   uses this law  to silence  political  activists  and forced the people into submission .
Under the leadership of president Paul Biya,  of Cameroon continued to use the anti-terrorism law enacted in 2014 to suppress political critics and freedom of expression by arresting journalists and activists in connection with the ongoing crisis in the Anglophone regions.The separatist Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) which is demanding an independent Southern Cameroons made up of Cameroon’s North West and Southwest regions has been targeted under the new law.This law is use to   forbid public meetings, streetprotests or any action that the government deem to be disturbing peace. The law also prescribes death penalty for persons who are suspected of involving in any activity which may trigger political dissent, especially the North West and South West regions.
The Anti-Terrorism law has triggered a wave of criticism from the media and the international community. Many believe that the law is not only intended to silence freedom of the press  or speech, as its hidden intent is to target Southern Cameroonian groups such as Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC), Ambazonian Defence Forces(ADF), Movement for the Restoration of Southern Cameroons (MRSC), Southern Cameroons Governing Council (SCGC), Ambazonian Governing Council (AGovC) andthe Southern Cameroon Public Affairs Committee (SCAPAC) etc.Specifically, the law is  against fundamental liberties and Human Right of the Cameroonians, especially Southern Cameroonian political activists who are clamouringfor the independence of Southern Cameroon alais Ambazonia. The case ofSCNC National chairman Dr Nfor Ngala Nfor, Sissiku Ayuk Tabe, Barrister Agbor, Dr.Fontem Neba, Bibixy Mancho, Ngalim Felix and many other Anglophone activists is an illustration of how the law has been twisted since it was enacted
. This law  twisted  law shows itsnegative impact on Human Rights and Freedom vis-a-vis the exercise of Cameroon military court’s jurisdiction over civilian cases in Cameroon.In October 2019, the government released 333 low-level detainees arrested forsuspicion of being Anglophone separatists and facing misdemeanor charges. This was a charade to taie off some pressure  from the international  communities. However,hundreds of others remain in detention.
 The government continued to arrest ordinary armless civilians and charged them for terriosm especially those from the Southern and Northern regions of the country . In  August 2019, sentenced separatist leader Julius Ayuk Tabe and the Nera 10 to life imprisonment. Other activists such as Bibixy Mancho and Pen Terence are serving a15 years term. You also have the likes of Tsi Conrad  a journalist  who was arrested  in Bamenda  reporting on anti government  protest on the 06/12/016l He  has been incarcerated  in the kondengui  maximum  prison under deplorable  condition , He was  sentenced  for anti state charges (terrorism, secession, rebellion  against the state ,propagation  of false news )
As we speak  thousands of Southern  Cameroonians  activists   of   the   SCNC   and   other groups are incarcerated all over French Cameroon based on the 2014 Anti-Terrorismlaw. Many of them have been sentenced to 13-17 years.
In effect, the  2014  Anti-Terrorism   law  has  significant  deficiencies.  For  instance,   the  offences  that   constitute   “act   of   terrorism”   are   not   clearly   defined  by  the  same  law.“Peaceful protesters have been arrested under terrorism laws and have been labelled terrorists   while   only   exercising   their   unalienable   human   rights.
   Anti-terrorism efforts have been too broad in scope at times, and as a result, the negative effects of terrorism efforts have been felt far too often by civilians.
  One common theme is clear. Terrorism offenses   should   be   narrowly   defined   and   clearly   limited   to   actual   behaviour   that  is related to terrorism. Peaceful protests should be a positive reflection of the democratic values of a country and not wrongly condemned as terrorist acts”.Cameroon has since seen the acts of armed secessionist groups as acts of terrorism and launched several military crackdowns which has resulted to the death of hundreds of civilians.“
Anti-terrorism laws which are ambiguous and lack clarity can negatively impact the enjoyment of human rights. The government of Cameroon’s Law No. 2014/028 of 23rdDecember   2014   on   the   suppression   of   acts   of   terrorism   in   Cameroon   has   raised concerns from policy makers, activists and governments alike. Its potential infringement on important Human Rights and freedoms protected under the Cameroon Constitution and   international   human   rights   law   was   immediately   signalled   by   the   barrage of criticisms   that   followed   its   promulgation.   Contra   Nocendi   International   and   ContraNocendi Cameroon have raised such concerns in the past, especially with respect to the freedom of expression and of assembly. We have equally raised concerns about thepossibility of abuse of the law to silence political opponents leading to disproportionate punishment for the exercise of civil rights and liberties. Persons actually  earns death penalty   for   the   sole   reason   of   exercising   their   freedoms   of   speech,   opinion   and association..Like the four Southern  Cameroonians who were recently condemned  to  death by firing squad in the Buea military  Tribunal.This is so Barbaric   ,inhumane  and degrading.

FATHERS OF THE AMBAZONIA INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE

 

By Hatem Johnson

 

 

The injustices suffered by the people of Southern Cameroons as British Colony was officially extended on the eve of October 1961 which was UN mandated date for Southern Cameroons to attain independence. Instead of declaring the Southern Cameroonians independent with a sovereign authority, the Britain handed Southern Cameroons to French Cameroun without due regard to the full implementation of the Resolution UN 1608(XV) on the independence of Southern Cameroons.

 

French Cameroon upon assuming authority over Southern Cameroons, wasted no time in establishing authoritarian rule, abolishing the post of Prime Minister that was assumed by Dr Endeley as the first Prime Minister of Southern Cameroons between 1954-1958 and John Foncha. In 1958-1965, Southern Cameroons became the first country in Africa to have democratic elections that saw the peaceful transfer of power from KNC party of Dr Endeley to KNDP party of John N. Foncha. Apart from abolishing the post of Prime Minister, they equally shutdown the lower and the upper houses of Parliament, dismantling the police force and replacing all Southern Cameroons administrators.

 

French Cameroun under Amadou Ahidjo and Paul Biya – led regimes have since treated Southern Cameroons as if it had been conquered. Faced with these injustices, many Southern Cameroons human rights fighters and independence advocates immediately gained courage from the words of Thomas Jefferson (When injustices become law, resistance becomes duty) and have for decades fought for the independence of Southern Cameroons.

 

The brave Fon Gorji Dinka, founder of the Republic of Ambazonia-1984 and writer of the Ambazonia’s Athem. Albert Mukong consider as Prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International for speaking out about the right to self-determination of the people of Southern Cameroons, Dr Kevin Ngwang Gumne leader of SCAPO in 2006, formally declared the Republic of Ambazonia. Late Mola Njoh Litumbe dreamt of seeing an independent Ambazonia state in his lifetime. In 1995, the SCNC rose to political prominence with a host of efforts to push for independence of Southern Cameroons under leadership Ambassador Henry Fossung, Dr Martin Luma, Dr Chief Ayamba, Frederick Ebong, and Dr Nfor Ngala Nfor, who is sentenced life imprisonment in Yaounde Central Prison since August 2019. Between 1993 and 1994, the charismatic Architects of the All Anglophones Conference (AAC) Dr. Simon Munzu, Barrister Elad Ekongtang and Pr. Carison Anyangwe called for the restoration of the Sovereign State of Southern. This resulted in several arrests and incarceration by French Cameroun’s Biya-led regime.

 

Under President Biya – led regime the French Cameroun enacted in 2014 the Anti-Terrorism law.

The law was intended to target, silence and supress Southern Cameroons defence movements advocating for independence such as the Southern Cameroons  National Council (SCNC) Movement for the Restoration of Southern Cameroons (MRSC), Southern Cameroons Governing Council (SCGC). Ambazonia Governing Council (AGovC) and the Southern Cameroons People Affairs Committee (SCAPAC) etc, that are clamouring for the independence of Southern Cameroons also known as Ambazonia.

 

 

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LEST WE FORGET!!!

Ambazonia is bleeding beyond mass killings.

The Anglophone crisis which debuted in 2016, has escalated over the years with government forces of the Biya regime committing genocidal massacres on an extensive scale. This has significantly contributed to immense and lasting trauma for the people of Southern Cameroons (aka Ambazonia). The Cameroon military are the perpetrators of extrajudicial and targeted killings, summary executions and uncountable massacres in Southern Cameroons. The rate at which the government forces are slaughtering Southern Cameroonians daily has become a potential existential threat. The conflict has seen some of the worst atrocities and crimes against humanity ever spoken of in our times.  

The anglophone conflict is gross futility because for decades, the people had called on the Cameroon government to address their grievances through negotiation and genuine dialogue. Turning down all calls for dialogue and negotiation, the government has now turn around to killing the same people who appealed for talks.  It is a shocking and brutal reality that the government has resorted to systematic genocide as a strategy to silence the voice of self-determination.  

The conflict began in 2016 as a peaceful protest by teachers and lawyers who were calling on the government to amend their working conditions which have been suppressed and marginalised by the dominant civic law system of French Cameroon. These grievances which had accumulated for over 50years of economic, political, and social marginalisation/discrimination attained new heights when the government instead of dialoguing with the civil society resorted to brutal killings of unarmed civilians.

This article attempts to summarize some of the massacres perpetrated by the government forces of Cameroon against the people of Southern Cameroons. It is however, our sole responsible to remember these genocidal massacres that violated international laws and fundamental human rights and continually ask for justice according to international standards. Holding the Cameroon government accountable for genocide is a crucial part of delivering justice to the people of southern Cameroon whose fundamental human rights have been abused and undermined by the over 40 years regime of Paul Biya. Left alone to the defective court proceedings of Cameroon, justice will never be delivered to the victims.

The Ngah-buh massacre

This gruesome killing of at least 21 civilians, 13 of which were children, and a pregnant woman took place on the 14th of February 2020, at Ngah-buh. Ngah-buh is a remote village located in the Donga Mantung division of Southern Cameroons. During the incident, many homes were razed to ashes and some of the bodies were found burned inside their homes. evidence from several national and international reports revealed that government forces stormed the village and started firing down civilians. This was also confirmed by several local eyewitnesses.

Of particular attention is the story of a 32-year-old man who witnessed the dead of his wife and all four children as well. He narrated how his wife was first shot, and one by one the bodies of his four children fell on that of their mother as they were being shot before the home was set ablaze. What a bitter and horrific experience for him

The government directed the blames of the incident to fightings with Ambazonian fighters that led to the explosion of a fuel container. Eyewitness and investigations amongst which include reports from Human Right Watch confirmed the killings were deliberate as there was no fighting between government forces and the fighters of Ambazonia, neither was there explosions of any sort. Difficult to Imagine that after the art, the military warned the villagers of a worser outcome if they continue to shelter fighters from Ambazonia. They accused the villagers of housing Ambazonian fighters but found none during their raids. How inhumane and cruel for the regime to use a genocidal massacre as punishment for unarmed villagers following unfounded accusations of them supporting Ambazonia fighters.

The Kumba massacre

The 24th of October 2020 was a deadly day for school children in Kumba. Government forces attacked the Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy situated at Fiango Kumba, and gunned down 7 children, 6 of which were girls and a boy. The victims were aged between 10 and 15years.

The military stormed the school in broad daylight and opened fire on children undertaking a class lesson. Obviously, the shooting frightened the rest of the school and in the cause of escape, about 13 other children were injured. The firing blew off the heads of some of the victims.  Brain tissue and blood was filmed scattered all over the classroom. Some of the victims laid lifeless in their own pool of blood. Devastating to have learned that for the family of Victory, the only boy amongst the victims, he was the only child.

Worth mentioning here that attacks on education facilities are a gross violation of children’s rights. The act was condemned at the national and international level as it violates children’s right to life and education. Again, the government of Camerron as usual denied the responsibility to its endless cycle of extreme violence towards Ambazonians. The attack significantly derailed efforts for school children to resume education due to the conflict.

The Mbonge massacre

 This took place on the 26th of March 2021. Mbonge is a small village situated on the outskirts of the town of Kumba. According to eyewitnesses, the government forces came to the village under the pretext that Ambazonian fighters were hiding in the village. They raided the village, arrested civilians including the aged, women and children. They led them to the execution ground, where they commanded them to sit on the bare ground and executed them all in cold blood.

Summary execution of unarmed civilians without trial by the government forces of Cameroon is a war crime. There is no justification for the forces of the Biya regime to use such tactics against innocent civilian. It was reported that some of the civilians picked by the military, were just returning from the farm. About 5 children were among the more than 40 civilians that were massacred at close range by the Cameroonian forces.

Government forces led civilians to the execution going. Take note of the aged, woman and children among the victims.

Mortal remains of the Mbonge massacre.

The above massacres are horrific reminders of ongoing genocide in Ambazonia. Time will fail us to talk about the Mautu, Pinyin, Muyuka, Ekiliwindi and several other massacres. Massacres are a pattern that has continually been employed by the government forces since the onset of the conflict in 2016. Although the massacres are executed with military precision from Cameroon military men and weaponry, the government continues to deny responsibility. They tend to accuse the fighters from Ambazonia until the testimony of local eyewitnesses/residents, as well as both local and foreign investigations prove otherwise.

While the Biya’s regime should be held accountable for genocide in Ambazonia, the urgent need for ceasefire cannot be overemphasized. The regime is responsible for innumerable violations of human rights and war crimes and should be held accountable.

It is our responsibility to remember the horrific dead toll that the crisis has on the poeple of Ambazonia and keep appealing for those responsible to be held accountable for justice to prevail. Impunity empowers abuse. The regime should be accountable for extreme violations of human rights.

Massacre is a war crime. By shedding light on horrific incidents of gross human right violations, massacres remain vivid proves that the regime has failed in its responsibility to protect Ambazonians in times of armed unrest. They do all on the front stage to present a safe and peaceful nation while perpetuating genocide on the backstage. It is time for the international community to intervene and stop the genocide in Ambazonia.

#notoimpunity

#stopthegenoideinambazonia

Emilia Efeti Agey

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kumba Massacre

THE KUMBA MASSACRE;7 CHILDREN KILLED AND 13 WOUNDED.

A lot of atrocities have bee have been committed in Southern Cameroons by la République du  Cameroun military forces since the President  Biya unilaterally declared war on Southern Cameroons in 2017. But none is as outrageous as the Kumba massacre of October 24,2020 where 7 children were massacred and 13 more severely wounded.

The 2 English-speaking regions of the Cameroon have been without peace for close to 5 years . The conflict started in 2016 when lawyers and teachers from southern Cameroonians made some demands from the government including  lesser use of French in the courts and classrooms in Southern Cameroons given that the educational and legal system in Southern Cameroons has been historically English. However, the Cameroun government refused to heed to these demands and went ahead to arrest  the leaders of lawyers and Teachers trade union. These lead to further strikes  by the people in Southern Cameroons with hundreds of activists detained or killed.

This has lead to a wider determination of Southern Cameroonians to achieve their independence leading to armed resistance since 2017. The government of Mr Biya unilaterally declared war on Southern Cameroons  forcing unarmed civilians to defend themselves. The Cameroun military has committed several war crimes including killing innocent children,  raping women and  touching over 200  villages. There has been no response from the international community, which is why the Norwegian refugee agency considers the conflict as the most neglected on earth.

October 24,2020 is a date forever inscribed in the hearts of the southern Cameroonians. Children were murdered in cold blood while in their classroom. This incident happened at Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy in Kumba,Fiango neighbourhood. At 11am,about 9 military men at the school premise. They got into the 2nd floor of the school building and opened fire on the children. A few who could escape jumped from the staircase, thereby wounding themselves. After the shoot out, blood and dead bodies of children could be seen in all the nook and cranny of the classroom.

Press-Release-Condemn-School-Killing-Oct-24-2020

These children were between the ages of  12 to 14.The  military were on a mission to inflict even more pain on innocent school  children. All international human right organizations including the United Nations have condemned this act,yet the perpetrators have not been brought to justice. Instead, the Biya government claims that the separatists are to blame. This attack follows several similar attacks by the Cameroun military  including one on February 14, 2020 in the Northwest region where government forces massacred 21 people, including 13 children.

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By CYRIL AYUK                     SCNC UK

 

 

 

 

THE SOUTHERN CAMEROONS DECOLONISATION STRUGGLE

THE SOUTHERN CAMEROONS DECOLONISATION STRUGGLE.

(KNOW YOUR HISTORY)

 

1st January 1960 – The Republic of Cameroon gained its independence.
The direct implication of this was that those within its geographical boundary immediately acquired Cameroonian nationality. No one out of that geographical space under international law can be called a Cameroonian or acquire Cameroonian nationality until specific treaties were negotiated, the terms agreed on and signed.
On the 1st of October, 1960 The Federal Republic of Nigeria also obtained its independence.
It is worthy to note that Southern Cameroons the United Nations Trust Territory was not given independence.

What went wrong? Why is Southern Cameroon still colonized?

THE PLEBISCITE

1959-1961. The United Kingdom ensured that Southern Cameroon did not have its independence.
In February 1961 Southern Cameroons was forced to achieve independence by joining either Nigeria or French Cameroon in a plebiscite. The plebiscite question was phrased to achieve two things:
1. Independence in keeping with the United Nations Regulations 1514
2. Joining.
The unjust plebiscite took place and southern Cameroonians voted to have independence by joining French Cameroon on the 11th of February, 1961.
The United Nations on April 21 1961 voted on the issue of Southern Cameroons independence
64 voted yes and 23 voted No and 10 Abstained.

Based on the majority of the Yes votes (66%), the United Nations sets October 1, 1961, as the Independence Day of the Southern Cameroons.
But the process of joining does not take place. French Cameroon had secretly planned to recolonize Southern Cameroons. No real negotiations for Unity took place. There was no engagement or UNION TREATY signed. Thus Legally, joining did not happen.
The period between April and September was the time that was allocated for the joining terms to be negotiated between both countries.

THE FOUMBAN CONSTITUTIONAL TALKS.
The motive of the conference in 1961 was to establish a unique Federation on the continent of Africa and to evolve a bicultural society in which the distinct heritage of each of the parties to the Cameroon Union would flourish. These talks took place from the 17th to the 21st of July 1961.
We believe that such a lofty goal could be achieved. But we were deceived with fake independence.
The UNION JACK was lowered and the British left the Southern Cameroons after having prepared grounds for our recolonization. Instruments of power were illegally handed over to Ahmadou Ahidjo of French Cameroon on the eve of the 1st of October 1961.

On eve of the joining on September 30th, 1961, the Cameroon military got into the Southern Cameroons and officially became a reoccupied and recolonized people.
Southern Cameroons could not celebrate independence but was terrorized by an occupier.

THE PEOPLE’S INDEPENDENCE WAS STOLEN.

Over the period the French Cameroon government ensured.
1. The Southern Cameroons government was dissolved without the voice of the people.
2. The Southern Cameroons Parliament was dissolved.
3. The Southern Cameroons House of chiefs was dissolved.
4. Almost all of Southern Cameroons cooperate headquarters were moved to French Cameroon.
5. Southern Cameroon biggest corporations were forced to pay local taxes to French Cameroon municipalities.
All this happened under the banner of a fake federation.
As if this was not enough, the form of illegal union was banished completely. French Cameroon Unilaterally decided to change the federal nature of the state to a unitary state in violation of Section 47 of its constitution.
They changed the countries name from the United Republic of Cameroon. All these were done by the former head of state, the late Ahmadou Ahidjo.
On the 4th of February, 1984. Mr. Paul Biya, unilaterally changed the name of the country made up of two countries with two distinctive cultural backgrounds to the Republic of Cameroon. The name la République du Cameroun had at independence.
Southern Cameroons disappears, even the flag changed. We were effectively assimilated and erased from the map of Africa? The people were betrayed and subjugated.

Paul Biya, the President of Cameroon said it in his interview in France in 2019 to Mo Ibrahim, an African entrepreneur who supports good governance, “we have been trying to assimilate the Anglophone culture into ours but that has been difficult “

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE DECOLONISATION PROCESS 1984-1990.

The Southern Cameroons nationalist leaders stood up for independence. They were arrested, brutalized, jailed, tried in military tribunals and so many killed.
THE 1990’s The Southern Cameroon elites got together to advise the French Cameroon government to immediately return to the Federal nature of the state or risk seeing Southern Cameroons Unilaterally declare independence.
1993. The people of Southern Cameroon petitioned the United Nations.

ORGANISATION OF THE ALL ANGLOPHONE CONFERENCES

Two major conferences took place, organized by Southern Cameroon Elite.

April 2nd and 3rd 1993. AAC.1.

All Anglophone conferences took place at Mount Mary in Buea. This was a historic conference. The purpose was to adopt a common Anglophone stand on constitutional reform and to several matters related to their welfare and posterity, their territory, and country. This was published in a pamphlet for the information of the general public.
The Resolutions that were adopted and the Declaration that was issued from the AAC 1 was known as “The Buea Declaration”
of 1994.

April, 29th to the 1st of May. AAC 2 (All Anglophone Conference 2)
The Bamenda proclamation. This conference was held to consider the implications for Anglophone Cameroon of the BIYA Government arbitrary suspension for nearly one year of the constitutional reform process initiated in November 1992 to evaluate the execution by the Anglophone standing Committee of the mandate it received from the All Anglophone Conference at Buea in April 1993 and to examine other issues concerning the people and the Territory of Southern Cameroons. Regarding the implications for Anglophone Cameroon of the lack of progress in the constitutional reform process which the BIYA Government had abandoned since June 1993. The All Anglophone Conference noted with deep regret that one year since the Anglophone constitutional proposals were officially submitted nothing was done by the BIYA Government, so the council was dissolved and replaced by an Anglophone council. This conference recalled the following;
1. That it held its first session at Buea in April 1993 for the proposed inter-alia, of preparing Anglophone participation in the National Debate on Constitutional Reforms which the BIYA Government had undertaken to organize in May 1993.
2. That accordingly, it formally declared the preparedness of Anglophones to participate in constitutional talks.
3. That, to this end, it ( i )created a committee for the final drafting of the All Anglophone constitutional proposals in accordance with the general guidelines which it adopted at Buea.
( ii ) It directed that the Anglophone Delegation at the constitutional talks should conduct negotiations in close observance of the terms of the Anglophone Draft Constitution tabled at the talks and should, in any case, be bound by the return of Cameroon to the federal form of government.
The All Anglophone conference further recalled that since its first session at Buea in April 1993.
1. Its standing Committee officially submitted Anglophone Constitutional proposals in the form of a Draft Federal Constitution to the Government in May 1993 and released the said Draft for general public discussion in July 1993
2. Its standing Committee published an official French translation of the Draft Federal Constitution in July 1993 to make the Anglophone proposals accessible and more easily comprehensible to Francophone government officials and the Francophones generally.

3. Its officials have striven to educate, in French, Francophone government officials and Francophone public in general on the content, spirit, and purpose of Anglophone Constitutional Proposals, notably through the appearance of its spokesman on the television program “Actualite Hebdo” in May 1993.
4. It addressed several memoranda and resolutions to the government on the subject of Constitutional reform and in December 1993 a formal request for the audience with the President to obtain the Government’s official reaction to the Anglophone constitutional proposal.
5. It has, knowing the influence that the French Government appears to have on BIYA Government to engage in dialogue with All Anglophone Conference concerning reform.

They came up with the Bamenda proclamation. Which states as follows:
1. That one year since the Anglophone Constitutional proposals were officially submitted, the All Anglophone Conference in 1993 is hereby dissolved and replaced by an Anglophone Council.
2. The Anglophone Council shall take over and perform all tasks, responsibilities, and their duties and exercise all powers previously assigned to the defunct Standing Committee by the First All Anglophone Conference.
3. Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraphs (2) of this Proclamation the Anglophone Council shall seek and secure Constitutional talks between Anglophone Cameroon and Francophone Cameroon and the basis of the Draft Federal Constitution which was submitted by the Anglophone Standing Committee in May 1993, as subsequently amended by the Standing Committee.
4. In its negotiations with Francophone Cameroon and the Anglophone delegation at the constitutional talks shall not accept any arrangement which does not envisage the restoration of an Anglophone Federated state within the Federal Republic of Cameroon in the recognition of the bicultural nature of Cameroon and under which citizens shall be protected as envisaged in the Draft Federal Constitution against such violations and abuse as cataloged in the Buea Declaration.
5. The All Anglophone Conference hereby reiterates the resolution taken at its first session in April 1993 that:
(a) There shall be a single and indivisible Anglophone Delegation at any future constitutional talks.
(b) That the members of the Anglophone Delegation to the Constitutional talks shall be those who at the opportune moments, and in the spirit of the conference shall have been mandated as such by the Standing Committee (now the Anglophone Council) appointed at the conference.
(c) That Anglophone Cameroon shall not be bound by any undertakings given or commitments made at the constitutional talks by any Anglophone not mandated to attend the talks as a member of the Anglophone Delegation.
6. Should the Government either persist in its refusal to engage in meaningful Constitutional talks or fail to engage in such talks within a reasonable time, the Anglophone Council shall so inform the Anglophone people by all suitable means. It shall thereupon, proclaim the revival of the Independence Sovereignty of the Anglophone Territory.
7. Following the Proclamation of the Revival of Independence and Sovereignty of Southern Cameroons as provided above, the Anglophone Council shall, without having to convene another session of the All Anglophone Conference, transform itself into Southern Cameroon Constituent Assembly for the purpose of drafting and adopting a Constitution for the Independent and Sovereign State of Southern Cameroons.
8. For the purposes of paragraph (7) above, the Anglophone Council shall enlarge itself to such organs or individuals as shall appear expedient, beneficial, or necessary and in the interests of Southern Cameroon.
9 In the event of the situation contemplated in paragraph (7) above, the independent and sovereign Southern Cameroons and the Sovereign Republic of Cameroon shall negotiate their peaceful separation on the basis of the Buea Peace Initiative and on such other terms as shall be mutually beneficial.
The Chairman of these conferences was Sam EKONTANG ELAD.
God bless Anglophone Cameroon.
THE BIRTH OF SOUTHERN CAMEROON-NATIONAL COUNCIL (SCNC).
The Cameroon government gave no regards to the Bamenda Proclamation, so the SCNC was born to continue the fight against our assimilation by French Cameroon through the Force of Argument and not the Argument of force with the ideology of Separation to maintain our identity as a people and to create this awareness to other Southern Cameroonians who didn’t know the trend of events.
In 2002, The Nigerian High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to place the self-determination case of the Southern Cameroon people before the United Nations General Assembly.
In 2003, the people of Southern Cameroons petitioned the African Commission on Human and people’s rights. Note ACHR verdict in 2009
I remember being an SCNC member on the eve of 1st of October we will go to all government institutions in Mamfe at midnight and hoist the SCNC flags so that before the police are sent out in the morning of the 1st we had done our job. It was an accomplished mission. To us, it was our way of celebrating our denied independence and raising awareness. At that time most of the Southern Cameroons were looking at us as trouble makers because they were denied these truths by deliberately not teaching our history in our schools. I am happy today because the SCNC has succeeded with its ideas. I am proud to be part of this wind of change.

WHERE THINGS WENT WRONG.

During October – November 2016 – Common law Lawyers of Anglophone Cameroons and teachers went on strike. They had written a letter to the government over the use of French in courtrooms and in classrooms to protect the English culture. Enough with the assimilation. Give us a Federation or we will declare our Independence.
The Lawyers and the Teachers formed what was known as the Consortium. This was not only a problem of lawyers and teachers but all Southern Cameroons who had been living like slaves in a land they call their own. The Consortium had the support of the people. Honorable WIRBA made it clear in the National Assembly Session, “Mr. President Something is brewing out there”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAMEROON government branded these leaders as terrorist and ban the consortium and the Southern Cameroon National Council and other Trade Unions.

In January, 16th – 19th of 2017, key leaders were arrested. PEN TERENCE KHAN. BARISTER AGBOR BALLA, DR FONTEM NEBA, MANCHO BIBIXY (popularly known as the leader of the coffin revolution).

So many of our people were arrested, several leaders escaped the country about 240 Southern Cameroon National Council (SCNC) known activists escaped into exile of which I Electa Shalo Manyimuchua was amongst.

With French Cameroon out rightly refusing to dialogue with the people to address the root causes of our recolonisation quest, the people of Southern Cameroons prepare the restoration of their independence.

On September 22nd people went out with peace plants to demonstrate their zeal for their freedom, they were ruthlessly killed in their numbers

 

On the 1st of October, 2017 .HE Sisiku Ayuk Tabe with the mass of our people declared the restoration of independence of the Southern Cameroons and rename the Country the Federal Republic of AMBAZONIA.

Then the Diaspora follow suit for a call to free Southern Cameroons.

Then BIYA declared war on us in on the 4th of December 2017. Ever since then our people are been massacred on a daily basis with the most recent, the Mbonge massacre. Women and pregnant women murdered in cold blood.

 

The Southern Cameroons have known nothing during the 32 years of been together with French Cameroon than subjugation, terror, torture, maiming, injustices and above all the ongoing genocide to erase us as a people .The Southern Cameroon problem is clearly that of incomplete decolonization process and not that of cessation as the French Cameroon government has made the world to believe.

My concern is that the International community know this truth but we have been neglected.

Ambazonians know your history, know who you are as a people and stand up as one man one people and fight.

Fight for your freedom Say No to NEO COLONIALISM.

Article written by

 

 

 

Electa Shalo Manyimuchua. Assistant Secretary, SCNC UK

 

 

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THE MILE 90-NGONGWA MASACRE OF APRIL 18, 2021

THE MILE 90-NGONGWA MASACRE OF APRIL 18, 2021: ANOTHER HORRIFIC SHOW OF FORCE BY THE CAMEROON’S MILITARY.

By Cyprian M. Achuo

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Cameroon’s genocidal military by the Paul Biya-led regime committed another massacre of at least six (6) and 10 injured Southern Cameroons /Ambazonian civilians in a snack Bar at Mile 90 Nsongwa-Bamenda (Mezam County)

 

This is yet another atrocious act committed by la Republique du Cameroun’s military. Paul Biya’s regime attempt to manipulate the local population using media by incriminating the Ambazonian Restoration Forces (ARF) of being responsible for the horrendous atrocity is extremely unacceptable and condemnable. According to eyewitness accounts, they were la Republique du Cameroun’s military forces during the massacre, there were seen gulping looted beer from the snack bar before exiting the scene of the crime.

 

This atrocious act in Mile 90 Ngongwa, Bamenda, follows many other massacres that have been perpetrated by Biya’s – led genocidal regime of la Republique du Cameroun.

 

 

https://twitter.com/MNdagha/status/1384124452904980485?s=20

 

Once more, Southern Cameroons National Council SCNC and other groups continued to urge the United Nations and other international organizations for an immediate intervention to help end the over four (4) years’ war that keep worsening as time persists. We very much believe that the inability to act against these genocidaires by holding them accountable for previous massacres has emboldened them to continue to carry on other acts such as this.

 

In effect, from 2017 till now, it has been the deadliest period in the Southern Cameroonians (Ambazonia) history and la Republique du Cameroun continues to massacre our people with impunity through the ongoing genocide.

 

Separatist have been fighting since 2017 to form an English-speaking state within the majority French-speaking country. Consequently, the response of the government forces has always been brutal and deadly. The Mile 90 Ngongwa, Bamenda incident is just one of the many incidents whereby government forces have massacred unarmed civilians in the names of fight the separatists.

 

Cameroon government forces have persistently violated the Rights and freedom of the people of Ambazonia. The military is known to have been raping women, including those with disabilities, and arbitrarily arresting and beating young men. However, many of these violations have been underreported partly for fear of reprisal from the military.

 

 

CAMEROON’S ANTI-TERRORISM LAW: HOW THE GOVERNMENT USES IT TO SILENCE POLITICAL CRITICS AND SCNC ACTIVISTS

CAMEROON’S ANTI-TERRORISM LAW: HOW THE GOVERNMENT USES IT TOSILENCE POLITICAL CRITICS AND SCNC ACTIVISTS

By Cyprian M. Achuo

 

 

 

Under the leadership of president Paul Biya, the Republic of Cameroon continued touse the anti-terrorism law enacted in 2014 to suppress political critics and freedom ofexpression by arresting journalists and activists in connection with the ongoing crisis inthe Anglophone regions.The separatist Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) which is demanding anindependent Southern Cameroons made up of Cameroon’s North West and South Westregions has been targeted under the new law, which forbids public meetings, streetprotests or any action that the government deem to be disturbing peace. The law alsoprescribes death penalty for persons who are suspected of involving in any activitywhich may trigger political dissent, especially the North West and South West regions.The Anti-Terrorism law has triggered a wave of criticism from the media and theinternational community. Many believe that the law is not only intended to silencefreedom of the press as its hidden intent is to target Sothern Cameroonian groups suchas Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC), Amberzonian Defence Forces(ADF), Movement for the Restoration of Southern Cameroons (MRSC), SouthernCameroons Governing Council (SCGC), Ambazonian Governing Council (AGovC) andthe Southern Cameroon Public Affairs Committee (SCAPAC) etc.Specifically, the law is also against fundamental liberties and Human Right of theCameroonians, especially Southern Cameroonian political activists who are clamouringfor the independence of Southern Cameroon also known as Ambazonia. The case ofSCNC National chairman Dr Nfor Ngala Nfor, Sissiku Ayuk Tabe, Barrister Agbor, Dr.Fontem Neba, Bibixy Mancho, Ngalim Felix and many other Anglophone activists is anillustration of how the law has been applied since it was enacted. Equally, it shows itsnegative impact on Human Rights and Freedom vis-a-vis the exercise of Cameroonmilitary court’s jurisdiction over civilian cases in Cameroon.In October 2019, the government released 333 low-level detainees arrested forsuspicion of being Anglophone separatists and facing misdemeanor charges. However,hundreds of others remain in detention. The government continued to characterizepeople espousing separatism for the Northwest and Southwest Regions as terroristsand, in August 2019, sentenced separatist leader Julius Ayuk Tabe and the Nera 10 tolife imprisonment. Other activists such as Bibixy Mancho and Pen Terence are serving a15 years term.Currently,   more   than   one   thousand   Anglophones   activists   of   the   SCNC   and   othergroups are incarcerated all over French Cameroon based on the 2014 Anti-Terrorismlaw. Many of them have been sentenced to 13-17 years.In effect, the  2014  Anti-Terrorism   law  has  significant  deficiencies.  For  instance,   theoffences  that   constitute   “act   of   terrorism”   are   not   clearly   defined  by  the  same  law.“Peaceful protesters have been arrested under terrorism laws and have been labelledterrorists   while   only   exercising   their   unalienable   human   rights.   Anti-terrorism   effortshave been too broad in scope at times, and as a result, the negative effects of terrorismefforts have been felt far too often by civilians.  One common theme is clear. Terrorismoffenses   should   be   narrowly   defined   and   clearly   limited   to   actual   behaviour   that   isrelated to terrorism. Peaceful protests should be a positive reflection of the democraticvalues of a country and not wrongly condemned as terrorist acts”.Cameroon has since seen the acts of armed secessionist groups as acts of terrorismand launched several military crackdowns which has resulted to the death of hundredsof civilians.“Anti-terrorism laws which are ambiguous and lack clarity can negatively impact theenjoyment of human rights. The government of Cameroon’s Law No. 2014/028 of 23rdDecember   2014   on   the   suppression   of   acts   of   terrorism   in   Cameroon   has   raisedconcerns from policy makers, activists and governments alike. Its potential infringementon important Human Rights and freedoms protected under the Cameroon Constitutionand   international   human   rights   law   was   immediately   signalled   by   the   barrage   ofcriticisms   that   followed   its   promulgation.   Contra   Nocendi   International   and   ContraNocendi Cameroon have raised such concerns in the past, especially with respect tothe freedom of expression and of assembly. We have equally raised concerns about thepossibility of abuse of the law to silence political opponents leading to disproportionatepunishment for the exercise of civil rights and liberties. Persons could incur the deathpenalty   for   the   sole   reason   of   exercising   their   freedoms   of   speech,   opinion   and association.

 

Cyprian M. Achuo

Demo Picture

Mautu massacre

 

              

 

 

 

Cameroon has been faced with a war with the self declared “Southern Cameroons” secessionist state Ambazonia for the last 5 years. It began in 2016 when government security forces used lethal force against peaceful demonstrators  from students and Lawyers in the Minority country’s English speaking regions. This lead to president Paul Biya of Cameroon declaring war on Ambazonia. The  war between the two sides has lead to  several war crimes committed by the Cameroon forces.

In August 2018,the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa published a list of 106 villages raided or burnt by government forces since 2016

 

 

 
The war has escalated with increased attacks on schools and the use of explosive devices .Norwagian refugee agency declared Cameroon as the most neglected conflict in the world with more than 800,000 civilians  displaced in 2019. Civilian death toll is said to be around 4,000 but these figures are disputed with activists claiming it could be  more than 40,000.

The United Nations estimates that 3 million Southern Cameroonians have been affected. Since January 2021,27  military attacks have been made across 13 towns in Southern Cameroons.

Whenever there is an attack on the military, they usually respond with burning of villages and killing of civilians . This  was what lead to the Mautu massacre that killed 9 civilians included a 6 year old child on January  10th 2021 according to the Human Rights watch.

This massacre like manner others has left many Southern Cameroonians mourning with the international community condemning the violence including from the French government that has traditionally supported the regime.

 

 

 

Witnesses say the soldiers killed and wounded civilians  and also  looted several houses in the area. Thousands fled to the bushes to sought refuge. Videos and  photographs circulating on social media identify the Cameroon military  as the perpetrators’..

Just like in Mautu,7 children were also killed and 13 others severely wounded in Kumba in October 2020.There have been several similar massacres including  Ngarbuh,Pinyin and Muyuka.

 

Since the attack , the Cameroon government claims it is investigating the incident, but it is unlikely anything will be done as the military has committed several crimes against civilians throughout this conflict without any consequences whatsoever.

 

These barbaric crimes committed by the Cameroon military must be brought to an international tribunal. Those who have perpetuated such acts including the politicians must face justice. It is not enough for the international community to only condemn these acts , repeating same words every time there is another massacre. Severe sanctions must be imposed on the government of Cameroon. Also, active steps must be taken to end the conflict which must include the people of Southern Cameroons deciding their own destiny via a UN agreed process.

 

By,

 

Cyril Ayuk

 

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