A look in the mirror leaves a scary reminder, a touch on the body feels a mark of violation. when is the right time for her to mature and outgrow it all, is the essence of a girl defined by the memories of a painful past that still plaques her heart, mind and experience? Did they all experience molestation in some way? Without her consent, she was abducted, overpowered and compromised. Blame it on bad governance, blame it on lack of stringent and applicable laws, blame it on insecurity created by political instability, blame it on the existence of terrorist groups, blame it on lack of genuine regard for human rights, blame it on the absence of true parental guidance, even blame it on the lack of protection on the vulnerable girl, blame it on everything but her, most importantly blame it on a generation and a race of people without the fear of God and respect for fellow mankind.
The republic of Cameroon is a country with political instability in the English-speaking regions since November 2016, coming to several years of war and social unrest. There are countless reports and videos circulating on the news and social media, showing rampant, aimless killings, abduction and molestation of vulnerable students and girls, abuse on human rights, suffering internally and externally displaced people, villages and homes of civilians with pregnant men women and children burnt while at sleep by the military and government.
The US State Department Country Report on Cameroon 2022 confirms that the government of Cameroon and the separatist (Amba) fighters are involved in an armed conflict characterised by ‘indiscriminate violence’, and that the situation poses ‘serious and individual threat to a civilian’s life or person’. Amnesty International, Mps of the U,k parliament alongside many other international organizations have condemn the wild spread killings of civilians, abuse of human rights in Cameroon over the past years, also internet bloggers such as Mimi Mefo Info tweet everyday about the ongoing massacre of civilians in the British Southern Cameroon. In the midst of war, the civilians suffer most.
Her life has become a result of the political squabble between the military and the separatist fighters, the urge of an ambitious young girl to be educated and the egality of her parents to ensure that her dreams of becoming a success see the light of day has transformed to scars, dark past, midnight cries, nightmares, daydreaming and hallucination, constant headache, fear of socialising, little or no desire to live, hopelessness, cold feet and hand, disgust for men and very painful memories. Rape, abuse of human rights and molestation left a traumatic experience of pain, misery, grief and her survival lie on a slim chance of faith and trust in God. SCNC U.K stands against the horrific happenings in the Southern Cameroon.
#NOTORAPE
#NOTOSEXUALASSUALT
#STOPTHEWARINSOUTHERNCAMEROON.
The Painful Scars It Left Her.
The background context of more than five years of ongoing and escalating genocide involves brutal killing of the people of Southern Cameroons. Evidence from the war crimes and massacres committed against the people of Southern Cameroons, has revealed the potential and wicked intent of La Republique Du Cameroun (LRC) to destroy a people who are simply standing on their human right to freedom and self-determination. Over the years, Southern Cameroon has called for peace talks on several occasion, but LRC responded with refusal to join the table for peace negotiations.
This intent to maintain Southern Cameroons in a forceful colonial union and subjection has further been materialised through extreme crimes against humanity such as brutal murders and arbitrary exterminations; series of massacres involving pregnant women and children; forceful imprisonment in deteriorating conditions and deprivation of minimum necessities; denial of the right to fair and impartial trial; inhuman torture and brutal treatments; rape and other forms of sexual violence; arbitrary arrests and disappearance of targeted persons; launching of genocidal attacks against school children; burning of entire villages, businesses and hospitals, preventing the already over-burdened population from gaining access to healthcare services; destruction of properties and livelihood; executions with no respect of human rights or prior judgement by a competent court; general military violence towards civilians, including women and children; preventing the population from gaining consistent access to basic necessities including education; electricity, water and the internet; blocking humanitarian aid from reaching distressed population.
The afore mentioned are just but a few of the atrocities and war crimes perpetuated by the Cameroonian military across the North West and South West Regions of Southern Cameroons. The after math of these war crimes is a deteriorating humanitarian crisis that has forced the death, disappearance, and fragmentation of families especially while fleeing and escaping from the war, and the search for refuge and survival. Others are living with deep pain and grieve from the loss of their loved one.
Thousands have been killed and many more are being murdered daily. Tens of thousands internally displaced and thousands seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Villages have been transformed into battle grounds by Cameroon military operations, forcefully leaving the surviving communities with no option but to flee to live in the bushes and forests. The Cameroon military is constantly reinforcing troops and weapons amidst escalating humanitarian crises. this is a cause for the people to live in perpetual fear and uncertainty.
These facts belong to us, the SCNC community, and we must do our best to raise the challenge of easing the sufferings of our people. A devastated and traumatised generation of lost hopes, and dreams should not be left unattended as this also comes with a heavy toll on their mental and psychological health. The growing insecurity, fears and uncertainties surrounding the conflict has been a major hindrance and stumbling block for foreign aid to reach those affected especially in remote areas where the conflict is heightened. There is very little coverage compared to the scope of humanitarian crisis as those involved in humanitarian aid have themselves been victims of Cameroonian military operations.
So far, we have been able to raise funds and support three orphanages with food banks. These orphanages are the only homes and hope for over 500 orphans, most of which have lost either one or both parents to the conflict. Some of them were picked up by drivers who were driving through their villages and saw them stranded and helpless, with no one to identify with. So sad indeed.
With escalating violence and limited access to conflict zones, more people are yet to be reached. While putting in the best of our resources to support humanitarian needs of our people, we are looking forward to having more donors join us to raise the challenge of not only providing food, but also shelter as well as other necessities like education. We’re only at the very beginning of our initiative to give back to our communities. Soon, we hope to be able to empower different categories of vulnerable people like the refugees, prisoners of wars, widows/widowers, orphans, and young girls.
As a community, we are fully aware of the fact that every action of humanitarian support is an enforcement of hope with the potential to make a difference in the lives of those concerned. We can’t afford to neglect or not pay corresponding attention to their needs especially in difficult times such as they are facing as victims of war. We want to journey alongside those afflicted to support and build their hopes for a better and brighter future. The current scale of humanitarian crisis is enormous. If we can be consistent today, then it will prepare us to become more impactful in that which we commit to achieve. We will continue to listen and support them in our own capacity while proposing an international intervention to initiate peace talks and end the war in Southern Cameroons.
The history of Southern Cameroons (aka Ambazonia) took a new turn on the 6th of October 2016, a day that will forever be engraved in the hearts of its people. On this fateful day, what began as a peaceful protest that was initiated by the lawyers and teacher’s trade union (to call for the protection of the common law system in Anglophone Cameroon) degenerated into a genocide which no one saw coming.
Regrettably, instead of dialoguing with the civil society, the response from the Cameroon government was extreme brutality with their military and police raids using violence and torture to suppress unarmed protesters. Outrightly, the regime was being terrified by people expressing and exercising their fundamental human rights. As a nation, Southern Cameroons have been subjected to marginalisation which dates as far back as 1960. The cruel reaction of the Cameroon government over a protest for better living and working conditions awoke the fringe of grievances against the regime.
The deeds of the Cameroon military were eventually exposed as the weeks following the protest were flooded with scenes of police and military atrocities that were captured on social media. Reportedly, thousands of civilians, protesters and activists were arrested, detained, beaten, and tortured. Dozens were shot, several missing or wounded. Couple of months later, the situation emerged as an armed conflict, following the spike of violence and war crimes from the Cameroon military. Southern Cameroonians were now pushed to the point of ‘enough is enough’; as the instinct was to switch to self-defence. Worth mentioning here is the story of a 30-year-old farmer, whose three children and wife were victims of a military crackdown in his village. His house was burned leaving him with just the clothes he had on. With deep anger and bitterness, he picked up his hunting rifle for protection.
In no time, Cameroon militarized the two regions that made up Southern Cameroons, and this erupted into fierce battles with fighters from Southern Cameroons. The indiscriminate killings by the military erased entire households and families, razed to ashes over 300 villages, destroyed vast livelihoods, provoking a precarious humanitarian crisis with hundreds of thousands internally displayed and others living in the bushes. These widespread human right violations and war crimes perpetuated by the Cameroon military provoked retaliations from Southern Cameroonians as the situation became unbearable.
Since the onset of the conflict, the government has been doing everything in their power to cover up its surge, pretending that it doesn’t exist and denying their gruesome acts. A prominent example is the Ngahbuh massacre which took place on the 14th of February 2020. About 40 government forces attacked the village, shotting civilians and burning down homes. Reportedly, 23 people were killed, including children and 7 of which were below the age of 5years. Amongst the victims were 2 pregnant women and two families with five children from the same household. This is just one of several massacres that has been perpetuated by government forces against the people of Southern Cameroons whose only crime was the expression of their right to self-determination. After several national and international investigations proved them guilty, the government of Camerron has still not been held accountable for the Ngahbuh massacre. Instead, they continued with deploring troops to the region to keep up the cycle of human rights violations and war crimes.
Independence versus federation
So far, the end of the conflict is not in sight and the return to stability is far-fetched. The need for a genuine dialogue in the presence of an internationally recognised mediator is crucial and cannot be overemphasized. The leadership of Ambazonia have made it clear that talks will not be possible in the absence of a mediator. It is the only viable solution to end the armed conflict as the military approach from the Cameroon government has so far proven ineffective. In the event of a dialogue, the options that are available to Ambazonia will either be a federal/decentralised union with Cameroon or the restoration/independence of their statehood.
For Ambazonians, independence is the unique opportunity to rewrite history and secure their heritage as a nation. With rising intensity in the battles between the armed forces of Cameroon and the fighters of Ambazonia, a vast majority have voiced out their firm stand for independence or resistance forever.
Will Ambazonians give up on their sovereignty and right to self-determination after paying the bloody price of going through a genocide?With the majority advocating for independence, federalism is being considered as ‘standing on the fence’.
On the flip side, Many Ambazonians do not welcome the discussions for federalism even when it is presented as a step towards achieving independence. The truth remains that a federation is a deadly mix given that it will not address the root cause of the conflict. It can be likened to ‘removing the cobweb but leaving the spider’. The same grievances that provoke the war will still build up with time because Cameroon as a nation has no regard for the fundamental human rights of Ambazonians.
The question that rises here is, will a federation bring sufficient consolation as to erase the profound feelings of historic alienation and the painful experiences of genocide? Returning to a union whether in the form of decentralisation or federation will never resolve the grievances of over 50years of marginalisation, suppression, discrimination, exploitation, and bloodshed.
So far, the Camerron government has been closed and turning down invitations for talks.
The question that remains is what will happen to the state of the conflict if the government continues to dismiss opportunities for dialogue?
However, until the talks hold, it’s agender and outcome cannot be determined in advance. One thing is certain, the concerns of Ambazonia will not be addressed outside the need to restore their statehood.
While waiting for an eventual dialogue, there is urgent need for a ceasefire, and I hereby appeal to the international community to take actions to end the war in Ambazonia. Heightened continuous violence and insecurity has created rising dead toll and a deeply concerning humanitarian crisis. Immediate response is crucial to save thousands of lives that are languishing in orphanages, bushes, prisons, and detention camps as well.
On the 20th of March 2021, the SCNC community of the United Kingdom consented to commence an initiative that will send humanitarian relief to victims of the ongoing genocidal conflict between Southern Cameroons and the Republic of Cameroon. In stepping out to reach victims of the war at the frontline, we had to find ways to defy the odds of insecurity and uncertainty, as well as the fact that all activities that are linked with the SCNC have been banned by the authorities of Cameroon; given that the movement advocates for the unconditional restoration of the independence of Southern Cameroons.
This initiative was regarded as a bold step at a time when the conflict was going through its bloodiest years. This did not go unnoticed as the crisis topped the Norway Refugee Council’s list for 2018 as the most neglected crisis in the world. Subsequently ranking amongst the first three in the following years makes it a call for concern and emergency response. This conflict has brought about so much pain and suffering that it has become so uncomfortable for us to assume the position of spectators. The one way we can contribute to potentially keep the hope of our people alive is to identify with them during these difficult and uncertain times.
From the very first day that the activity was launched, we have actively been seeking ways to be of help with every given opportunity, taking serious cognisance of the plight of our people and doing our best to give back to the vulnerable in our communities. As the conflict escalates, more are becoming victims and the growing humanitarian need is significantly overwhelming. Recent statistics from Human Rights Watch has revealed that over 700,000 have been internally displaced, and at least 2.2 million people need humanitarian aid.
The humanitarian situation is increasingly worrying as brutal and abusive military raids have forced thousands to flee and seek for refuge in bushes with no access to shelter, food, or basic healthcare. Reaching them has proven extremely challenging as the Cameroonian authorities have put in place unrealistic procedures. We have not been able to adequately access their needs as communicating and reaching them is practically impossible given the worsening situation of violence, human right abuses perpetuated by the Cameroonian military and the ban of any activities in connection with SCNC.
It has been recorded that in 2020, the Cameroonian authorities suspended all activities of Doctors Without Borders, accusing them of collaborating and treating separatists. In the same manner, violence and human right abuses have been reportedly committed against humanitarian aid workers who were trying to bring relief to the civilian population.
So far, we have three orphanages that we are currently supporting with food banks. We visit them from time to time with foodstuffs for over 400 children. For safety purposes of our team in Southern Cameroons as well as that of the officials and orphans, we shall not disclose any videos or any form of personal information that will endanger their lives given the current circumstances of the ongoing genocide.
Moreover, we have been able to financially support medical emergencies of individuals who needed urgent specialist treatment and surgical interventions. Also, we provided financial assistance to empower a widow and her four children. She was able to set up an income generating activity for family subsistence.
While waiting for a solution to the crisis, we are calling on the international community to take actions that will facilitate ceasefire and initiate peace talks and dialogue between the Republic of Cameroon and Southern Cameroons, to address the growing humanitarian crisis. Rebuilding hope, one person at a time.
By Dorothy Arrey
Freedom fighter and Humanitarian Lead Follow on twitter for more at Dorothy Arrey
I understand it is not a called meant for all, but we must agree your call shouldn’t be to destroy those who have been called to take that path.
Activism, politicking and even humanitarian activism have been given a negative connotation by those who want to maintain the status quo. I however see it as a tool to fight for democracy.
Proclamation of the Restoration of The Sovereignty and Independence of the Southern Cameroons December 30th, 1999.
At the 4th committee of the 13th session of the United Nations General Assembly of February of 1959, talking on the conspiracy for the annexation of the Southern Cameroons, the then Head of State of La Republique du Cameroun, President AHMADOU AHIDJO said, “we do not wish to bring the weight of our population on the Anglophones. We are not annexationists, in other words, if our brothers of the British zone wish to unite with an independent Cameroon, we are ready to discuss the matter with them, but we will discuss on a footing of equality”.
The Restoration of the Sovereignty and Independence of the Southern Cameroons is IMPERATIVE and NON-NEGOTIABLE.
By 1954, the Southern Cameroons had established an autonomous Parliamentary System of Government.
Some dictionaries define revolution as a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favour of a new system.
From the above mentioned definition, it is but crystal clear that every government or social order that needs to be taken out in a revolution will not take it nicely.
This is same with the Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) revolution. Fellow Ambazonians, our people have in the past till date gone through the worst inhumane treatment from French Cameroon. Our children killed and some locked up in Cameroun prisons for years without trial. Our villages have been burnt down with our parents and grand parents in some of them.
To secure their lives , most young men and women have escaped and become refugees in foreign lands including some of us who had the audacity to speak on self defence. Our beloved former British Southern Cameroons has become a desolate land.
When I ponder on all these things and how we have become strangers in our homeland, I weep bitterly. I pen down this message today so you all fellow citizens of Ambazonia should stand strong in the mist of all these adversities facing us as a people.
We never declared war on anyone yet war was declared on us by the tyrant called Paul Biya in Yaounde. It is then our duty under international law to defend ourselves and free our people from slavery and colonialism.
My fellow citizens of the Southern Cameroons , it is time we support this revolution so we can free our people and enjoy a peaceful and prosperous country.
A special appreciation to all our Self Defence forces all over Ambazonia. As you defend our people, continue to do so with love, observe human rights and all international laws that governe the art of war.
Once more we say thank you to our Self Defence forces, all citizens of Ambazonia, the leaders who in one way or the other are playing their rolls to ensure a free Southern Cameroons.
God bless you all. Short live this war and long live Ambazonia.
The Ngarbuh Massacre is one of many atrocities committed against civilians amidst the ongoing armed conflict in the North and Southwest Regions of Cameroon. It was on the 14th of February 2020 when the military accompanied by some members of the vigilante group (Mbororos) raided the locality of Bui division in the Northwest region while killing at least 20 civilians including children and women.
It is worthy to note that there are a lot of mass killings in the trouble regions, which are not reported nor documented. The conflict which started in 2016, has seen thousands of persons killed and hundreds of thousands forcefully displaced internally and externally. Thus, resulting in a humanitarian crisis, economic insecurity especially on the vulnerable population including children and elderly persons.
The Cameroon government authorities refused to admit that the soldiers committed the atrocious acts. Following widespread condemnation from national and international stakeholders, the government authorities launched investigations and later accepted that the soldiers and armed vigilante groups (Mbororos) were responsible for the act. On 17th December 2020, the accused soldiers were brought before the military tribunal in Yaounde, the political headquarters of Cameroon.
The massacre drew significant international attention to the anglophone crisis. The Cameroon Anglophone Crisis Database of Atrocities hereafter referred to as “The Database” received the first reports of this event on February 14th, 2020, the same day it occurred.
The database team comprising of volunteer researchers at the Edinburgh International justice initiative, Leiden University, University of Toronto with support from the Centre of Human Rights and Democracy in Africa have documented these verified reports of the same major human rights violation in their recent release. They have published at least eight incidents with the aid of videos, pictures, and satellites. Immediate efforts were undertaken to attempt to geolocate the incident, while reports continue to be submitted in the database.
The aim of this initiative is to store atrocities committed against civilians by both warring parties to the conflict and to promote human rights and peace. The recent verified report by the above-mentioned parties pertaining to what transpired in Ngarbuh, Northwest region of Cameroon go a long way to be used for future purposes.
In late May 2020, the military set up a base in Ngarbuh, with the stated aim of cutting off a separatist supply route from Nigeria. Within a week, more than 300 villagers had fled, fearing the presence of soldiers. On May 12th, 2020, around 30-armed vigilante (Mbororos) killed two civilians after accusing separatists of killing seven vigilantes. In October, armed vigilante killed a separatist fighter and were subsequently haunted down by separatists. One of the quarters of Ngarbuh (Ntumbaw) continue to be a battleground between separatist and the armed vigilante. Associated protests are possible in the Northwest region and other anglophone areas over the near term.
World Refugee Day celebrates the courage and bravery of refugees and promotes public understanding of and support for those who have been forced to escape their homes due to conflict or natural disaster. It’s a day assigned by the United Nations to recognise and honor refugees all around the world.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reiterated that “People escaping violence or persecution must be able to cross borders safely. They must not face discrimination at borders or be unfairly denied refugee status or asylum due to their race, religion, gender, or country of origin.
The people of Southern Cameroon were forced to flee their homes sometimes in the midst of darkness to safety in neighboring countries due to the persecution that came their way from the Republic of Cameroon. Southern Cameroonians sought for their basic rights to education, equality, social amenities, infrastructure and respect as a people but were met with military action. What started as a peaceful march by teachers and lawyers escalated to the death of thousands including children and the displacement of much more.
The Southern Cameroonian people have been subject to targeted and mass killings, pilaging and burning of whole villages, mass incarceration and much more. A request for basic freedoms of the people was seen and taken out of proportion by the government and was met with catastrophic reactions which are ongoing till this day which has turned the people into refugees.
Fleeing in every direction, Southern Cameroonians now find themselve scattered across the globe and miles away from their beloved motherland. Kudos to countries such as Nigeria, the United States and other countries for housing and providing a sustainable environment for Southern Cameroonians. Honorary mention to the United Kingdom kept her doors open for Southern Cameroonians as well as made efforts to mediate for a peaceful resolution in the crisis that plagues the blessed Southern Cameroon. The UK has continuously provided shelter as is evident with the presence of the SCNC – Southern Cameroon National Council.
As we celebrate the World Refugee Day, the SCNC UK continues to be gracious to our hosts and continue to look forward to the day our country will be back to her best and hospitable enough for us, once again ensuring and providing institutions and infrastructures to guarantee our rights as a people and uphold our freedoms as citizens.
Years ago, the Nigerian Police were after the renowned Afro-beat musician, Fela Ransom Kuti. Failing to get him, the police took his mother into custody where she met her sudden and suspicious death!
As Nigeria and Cameroun are friends in crime of recent, Cameroun has similarly been taking into custody the mothers of criminal suspects. Some such mothers are in indefinite detention to date!
WHAT IS THE NEXUS BETWEEN MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN’S CRIMINAL CONDUCT?
Hmmm! What do I mean by that? The President, Paul Biya, and his Ministers are snoring away all plans or I should say all the broken promises they have made to the people under their care. They promised to fix all roads, but nothing has happened! In the rainy season, life is difficult for drivers and their helpers called ‘motor boys’, as they struggle when buses or vans and cars come to where it is really bad without tar or road, only mud. The drivers and the motor boys will come and start using physical strength to push the car, van or truck which is stuck in mud.
Power
When these so-called Ministers and all the other people in authority want to get the people’s attention, they use their bleak points like their bad roads, like no good hospitals, no good schools. When it’s close to their election or voting of any kind, they will come and promise the people all the things they think people need. Power! Is that what they are looking for? Power. Power to be in authority over them. Power to make broken promises that will bever be fulfilled. Go to Cameroon in the rainy season and try to take a little tour around, or a little tour in the rural areas. Come back and tell me what your eyes have seen. Broken promises.
Visit schools
Whenever you visit Cameroon or Cameroun, go and visit schools around and most especially schools in the rural area. Some don’t even have benches for children to sit on. A country known for its quality timber production, but its schools don’t have chairs for its pupils to use! What are they doing with all this timber they cut every day? Sell them abroad to pay their debts. The President Paul Biya and his cabinet have shipped all the country’s money to their second homes abroad, they have emptied all monies and resources abroad, and the poor have to carry the cross. Broken promises.
Visit hospitals
Pay a visit to Cameroon’s hospitals. It stinks like an abattoir that has been unattended and it smells like hell. Go to an accident ward! You will not want to sit anywhere just because of the smell. I could go on and on. Maternity wards lack the facilities to care for pregnant women, some of whom die before even giving birth. Sometimes mothers die with their children, sometimes both mother and child will die. What a world! Is this how the world should be? President Paul Biya doesn’t care who dies. I have just mentioned these few departments of the hospital, but it’s good to take a stroll to all the departments and see for yourself. All broken promises.
Water
In a country like Cameroon, with good streams and good rivers, they just need close attention to purify it for people to drink. But Cameroon still suffers from cholera now and again because the government doesn’t mind since they drink the more purified water. Whoever dies doesn’t concern them. Another broken promise.
All these things mentioned are vital to the people’s day-to-day living. How can humans live like animals which live on other animals for food? How can the government not just try and look back and think of how to improve this country?
To round up,I want to let the president of là Republic du Cameroun Paul Biya to know that, what he has planted his children will reap it with blood in their eyes. Because all this innocent lives that has been taken shortly will cry until the world end.
