The Anglophone crisis as we all know has been existing for seven years now and counting and there has been no solution to the issue to date. This has led to the loss of many lives as people are dying every day.
On Sunday, July 16 gunmen killed 10 people and injured two others at a busy junction in the city of Bamenda called Nancho Junction.
A witness said the attackers arrived in vehicles late on Sunday, ordered people onto the floor with accusations of failing to back local separatists, and opened fire as some obeyed while others ran.
The Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF), the main separatist group in the English-speaking region which has been fighting since 2017 in protest of alleged marginalization by the majority French-speaking government, denied responsibility for this act which is where everyone is confused as the Military also deny responsibility of this act.
The witness further said the gunmen were in military uniforms when they arrived in two vehicles to storm Nancho Junction where restaurants, bars and shops are located, at around 7:30 pm (18:30 GMT).
They shot at people indiscriminately living everyone confuse still because the gunmen wore military uniforms. The witness said, “Before taking off that, there is a possibility that it could be revenge killing, considering what had happened in the same Nacho the previous day where six young boys were killed by the military, who were said to be separatist fighters”.
Civilians and people especially families who have lost loved ones plead with the Government of the country to look for a solution because they are tired of losing their loved ones to death every day.
The Anglophone crisis is a political and social conflict that has been ongoing in Cameroon since 2016. The conflict is centred on the country’s English-speaking regions, which are located primarily in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon. The crisis has been marked by protests, violence, and government crackdowns, and has had a significant impact on the country’s social and economic stability.
The roots of the Anglophone crisis can be traced back to Cameroon’s colonial history. Cameroon was originally colonized by Germany in the late 19th century, but after World War I, the country was divided between France and Britain. The French-speaking regions of Cameroon gained independence in 1960, while the English-speaking regions joined Nigeria.
Since then, the English-speaking regions of Cameroon have experienced a gradual erosion of their language and culture, as the government has promoted French as the sole official language and neglected the development of English-speaking regions. In recent years, this has led to a growing sense of marginalization and frustration among the Anglophone population, as they feel that their rights and interests are not being adequately represented by the government.
The crisis began in 2016 with protests by lawyers and teachers in the English-speaking regions, who were demanding better representation and the use of English in courts and schools. The government responded with a heavy-handed crackdown, which only fueled the unrest. In 2017, separatist groups emerged, calling for the creation of an independent state called Ambazonia with their fighters locally known as the “Amba boys”.
The government has responded with a military crackdown, which has been criticized for its brutality and indiscriminate targeting of civilians. Thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have been displaced by the conflict. The crisis has also had a significant impact on the country’s economy, particularly in the English-speaking regions (northwest and southwest region) where businesses have been disrupted and tourism has been severely affected.
Efforts to resolve the crisis have been ongoing, but progress has been slow. In 2019, a national dialogue was held, which made some recommendations for addressing the concerns of the Anglophone population, but these have yet to be fully implemented. The government has also initiated a process of decentralization, which aims to give more power to local authorities in the English-speaking regions. However, separatist groups have rejected these efforts, insisting on the creation of an independent state.
The Anglophone crisis remains a major challenge for Cameroon, and its resolution will require a concerted effort by all stakeholders, including the government, and separatist groups. This is because despite all efforts put people die every day.
The ongoing crisis in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon has unleashed a wave of suffering and torment upon the people of Buea and its environs. As the heart of the English-speaking community in Cameroon, Buea has borne the brunt of government brutality and oppression, leaving its residents traumatised and scarred by relentless violence and intimidation.
For years, the Anglophone minority in Cameroon has been marginalised and discriminated against by the predominantly Francophone government. The crisis escalated in 2016 when peaceful protests against the imposition of the French language and legal system in Anglophone regions were met with harsh repression from government forces. Since then, the situation has deteriorated into a full-blown conflict marked by human rights abuses and atrocities committed by both government troops and separatist groups.
In Buea, the capital of the Southwest region and a symbolic centre of Anglophone identity, the government’s response to dissent has been particularly brutal. Military crackdowns, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings have become commonplace, instilling fear and despair in the local population. Civilians, including women and children, have been caught in the crossfire, facing indiscriminate violence and displacement.
Cases of military brutality in Buea are numerous and harrowing. Innocent civilians have been subjected to arbitrary detention, torture, and execution by government forces operating with impunity. The streets of Buea are often patrolled by heavily armed soldiers who employ excessive force against anyone suspected of supporting the separatist cause or voicing dissent against the government.
One of the most notorious incidents of government brutality in Buea occurred in February 2019 when security forces opened fire on unarmed civilians participating in a peaceful protest. The massacre, known as the Buea Massacre, resulted in the deaths of several demonstrators and left many others injured. Despite international condemnation, the perpetrators have yet to be held accountable for their actions, further underscoring the culture of impunity that prevails in Cameroon.
The impact of government torment on the people of Buea extends beyond physical violence. The psychological toll of living under constant fear and insecurity is immeasurable. Families are torn apart, livelihoods are destroyed, and dreams of a peaceful future are shattered. The once vibrant city of Buea has been transformed into a ghost town, its streets deserted as residents flee for safety or languish in fear within their homes.
Amidst the chaos and suffering, calls for dialogue and reconciliation have fallen on deaf ears as both sides remain entrenched in their positions. The government’s heavy-handed approach has only served to fuel resentment and deepen the divide between Anglophone and Francophone Cameroonians. Without a genuine commitment to addressing the root causes of the crisis and upholding human rights, the cycle of violence and oppression in Buea and the wider Anglophone regions is destined to continue unabated.
As the world looks on, it is imperative that the international community holds the government of Cameroon accountable for its actions and demands justice for the victims of government brutality in Buea and beyond. The people of Buea deserve to live in peace and dignity, free from the torment of violence and oppression inflicted upon them by those entrusted with their protection and well-being.
The 1993 All Anglophone Conference that took place in Buea the administrative Capital of the former British Southern Cameroons saw a huge sense of euphoria amongst Southern Cameroonians from all ages, all works of life etc converged in Buea on this historic day to tell the entire world that the time has now come for the inevitable, irrevocable and irreversible discussion on the perennial Southern Cameroons struggle to be heard.
Great minds in our struggle
Great minds within Southern Cameroons particularly those who have for over the years champion the Southern Cameroons struggle in the likes of Solomon Tadeng Muna, George Ekongtang Elad, Ngeka Luma, Chief Ayamba Etta Etun, Dr Frederick Alodwede, Pa Nfor Ngala, Pa Njoh Litumbe just to name a few spoke very passionately about the systematic and endemic marginalisation, severe enslavement and the subjugation of the people of Southern Cameroons not forgetting the persecution they have endured over the years from the French Cameroon military.
The above Conference was a harbinger and a great opportunity for inspiring brilliant minds from Southern Cameroons to talk with focus and gregariousness about the injustices the peaceful people of Southern Cameroons have been facing since the botched plebiscite of 1961 which was the genesis of the occupation, colonisation and the annexation of Southern Cameroons by French Cameroon under the whims and caprices of the then President Amadou Ahidjo.
At the above Conference there was a unified voice intertwined with patriotism from leaders about the urgent need for the Anglophone problem to be immediately resolved by the government of Cameroon. The decision from this Conference was unanimous and efficacious through which they called on the Cameroon government to without prejudice engaged with the people of Southern Cameroons in a meaningful dialogue thereby urging the two States to go back to the Federal system that was in place that gave autonomy to each side to manage its affairs and remain two nations of equal status. But sadly as usual the government of Cameroon choose to ignore the demands of the people of Southern Cameroons and ever engaged in any form of dialogue with them rather they continue to treat them as slaves and second class citizens.
Sufferings of the Anglophones
Confronted and bewildered in frustration and living in limbo, our leaders again in 1994 organised another All Anglophone Conference this time in Bamenda and at this Conference they again echoed the demands they had tabled in front of the government of Cameroon which was the burning issue of the suffering people of Southern Cameroons who have been living as slaves in their country since 1961. The discussions were very frank, focused and entered on one thing and one thing only the long standing Anglophone problem.
The people of Southern Cameroons through their leaders wrote to the government of French in a memorandum detailing the genuine grievances of the people of Southern Cameroons and that it was imperative for the Cameroon to act accordingly by yielding to the demands of the people of Southern Cameroons.
Their demand was a return to the federal system that was unanimously agreed by the two parties during the unification process of 1961 and insisted that the federal Constitution should never be tempered with or changed according to article 47 which clearly stipulated that at no stage or in any manner should the above constitution be changed.
At this very historic Conference of 1994 that was held in Bamenda, our leaders gave the Cameroon government an ultimatum that should they choose to again ignore the demands of the people of Southern Cameroons, they will have no choice but resort to an all-out restoration of the independence of our homeland the Southern Cameroons. In the same characteristic style of the Cameroon government they again wilfully ignored the demand and the wishes of the people of Southern Cameroons.
SCNC way of operation
It was at this point in time that our leaders had no other window of discussion with the government of Cameroon bearing in mind they have ignored them twice and in 1995 our Leaders formed the Southern Cameroon National Council (SCNC) with its Motto “THE FORCE OF ARGUMENT, NOT THE ARGUMENT OF FORCE” which became a non-political peaceful liberation movement meant to fight for the restoration of the independence of our Country the Southern Cameroons.
The creation of SCNC became a thorn in the flesh of the Cameroon government for according to the Cameroon authorities the SCNC is a terrorist organisation that has come to destabilised the peace in Cameroon and divide the Country. The Cameroon government declared the SCNC the number one enemy of the State and from this point they unleashed venom on the SCNC and those who are members. Here we can clearly see the genesis of the brutalisation of the SCNC and its members by the state of Cameroon.
The Cameroon government declared war on SCNC and President Paul Biya who has been in power for more than 38 years ordered the systemic annihilation of SCNC and those affiliated with it. Cameroon became no safe havens for SCNC members who were routinely and arbitrary arrested, detained, tortured, imprisoned and other simply eliminated from the surface of the earth.
The SCNC has been banned in Cameroon by the State and declared a terrorist organisation and with impunity they began the tragic persecution of SCNC members in Cameroon and abroad. True to this is the horrific and horrendous persecution SCNC Chairmen and members began to face from the state of Cameroon who consider them as enemy of the state.
Such was what happened to some of the Chairmen that led SCNC in the likes of M Luma Ngeka who was tortured on many occasions by the military of French Cameroon and this led to his tragic death. So too is the case of Dr Frederick Alodwede who after storming the Radio House in Buea in 1999 and announced the restoration of the independence of Southern Cameroons, immediately went on exile via Nigeria where he lived on exile for over 20 years and finally died in the US as the Cameroon government went hunting for him and burnt his House in Buea.
I cannot easily forget the inferno faced by one of our eldest Chairman Chief Ayamba Etta Ottun who was a true hero of our revolution. He too endured a lot of persecution from the Cameroon government and later died in 2015 as a result of the brutalisation he got from the military of French Cameroon.
Genocide in Southern Cameroon
Since the inception of the genocide on the people of Southern Cameroon in 2016 and counting the brutalisation of SCNC members has quadruple and testimony of this is the systemic persecution our current SCNC National Chairman and other SCNC members have been enduring from the brutal French Cameroon military.
The dictatorial and vindictive nature of the Cameroon government was again confirmed on the 5th of January 2018 when the government of Cameroon conspire with that of Nigeria, and brutally arrested a cross section of SCNC top members including our National SCNC Chairman Mr Nfor Ngalla Nfor were abducted and transferred to Cameroon in defiant of international laws.
This shows and affirms to what length this junta government is prepared to go just to eliminate the SCNC and its members. Our Leaders thought they were safe in Nigeria but they were naïve and as i put pen to paper our National Chairman Mr Nfor Ngala Nfor among other leaders have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the French Cameroon military Tribunal of Yaoundé. They are now locked up in a highly secured prison for political detainees in Yaoundé called Kondengue.
The SCNC was again banned in January 2017 by the state of Cameroon and the brutalisation of SCNC members is even very severe and so dreadful coupled with some SCNC members that have been locked up in dungeons all over Cameroon. Cameroon is therefore no safe havens and no go area for SCNC as the brutalisation of the SCNC and its members has been intensified with orders from President Paul Biya who has given clear instructions for those affiliated to SCNC to be hunted down and killed as he accuses them for masterminding and starting the war in Cameroon through their calls for secession.
The Anglophone crisis which has been ongoing for the past seven years has now spiralled into an unimaginable death-trap for the people of Southern Cameroons. Despite the skyrocketing violence, the ruling government is not showing any willingness to either come to the negotiation table nor initiate other approaches to bring an end to the bloody conflict. On the contrary, victimizing civilians has become a war strategy for the regime in their attempt to force the people to give up on their rights to self determination. On countless occasions, government forces have been guilty of war crimes, indiscriminate shooting of civilians, arbitrarily arrests, inhumane detention and torture.
With no end of the war in sight, what fate for the people of Southern Cameroons who after being subjected to over 50years of profound historical alienation, marginalization, and discrimination are now being subjugated to the gruesome experience of genocide; one of the worst of our times.
At this point, the ordeal of Mandong Henry, a Southern Cameroonian who lives in Yaounde comes to mind. His predicament began on June the 6th, 2023, when he was arbitrarily arrested by elements of the national gendarme forces from his residence at Biyem-Assi neighbourhood. In narrating the incident, Human Rights Lawyer Barrister Tamfu Richard stated that he was taken to the gendarme headquarters in Yaounde, handcuffed. On arrival, they stripped him off his clothes and tied him to a mango tree with the handcuffs on for two days. He spent the entire two days tied onto the tree with no food nor water. As if that was not enough, he was then tortured by gendarmes. Turn by turn, they brutally beat him on the back mercilessly with machetes, sticks, iron rods, and electric cables. Although the torturing left his back completely covered with wounds, he was not taken to the hospital; but instead thrown into detention at SED (State Defence Secretariat). in the cause of torturing him, his left eye was almost damaged.
Mandong Henry was allegedly accused of being involved in a plot to transport an explosive in a bag from Bamenda to Yaounde. At the time of his accusation, he worked as a loader for an inter-urban bus agency that transported passengers from Bamenda to Yaounde. No investigation was carried out before his arrest. Neither was he convicted of the alleged accusations. Again, another southern Cameroonian had to innocently suffer from unlawful arrest, torture and detention.
Since the beginning of the anglophone crisis, the rate at which the human rights of Southern Cameroonians are being violated by the forces of the Cameroonian government is particularly concerning. I can say it portrays a deeply rooted deadly hatred and that is why the cause of the Anglophone Crisis needs to be addressed from it’s roots. That hatred can be felt and seen from the atrocities that are being committed against the people of Southern Cameroons because of the ongoing conflict.
We, as a people and a nation deserve the right to a safe and secure future. War crimes are surging at an exponential rate, as the regime continues to deploy military forces on a daily basis to the North West and South west Regions Of Southern Cameroons. Instead of protecting the population, they kill, abduct, force disappearances, raid and set villages ablaze.
Thousands have been displaced for lack of food, shelter and adequate medical care. Several thousands are suffering in the bushes. Reportedly, soldiers are killing civilians fleeing and searching for safety. On the 17th of June 2023, 12 civilians were killed while they were fleeing from military raid at Big Babanki, in the North West Region of Southern Cameroons.
The Big Babanki Massacre.
This again attests to the fact that there is no safe place for Southern Cameroonians in Cameroon. This conflict has caused untold hardship and sufferings to our people and according to a United Nations report, over 4.7million people are in dying need of humanitarian assistance.
Human rights are the cornerstone of the United Nations and we call for the international Community to initiate peace talks and compel Cameroon to come to the negotiation table. This is to raise the awareness that there is an ongoing genocide in Southern Cameroons, and to urge the initiation of peace talks to end the conflict.
#endanglophonecrisis
Justice for Mandong Henry
Our human rights matter.
Author: Dorothy Arrey
Freedom fighter and Humanitarian Lead
Follow on twitter for more at Dorothy Arrey
In a world marred by conflicts and strife, the pursuit of peace is not merely an idealistic aspiration but a pragmatic necessity. Peace plays a pivotal role in the resolution of conflicts, fostering understanding, reconciliation, and sustainable development. This article delves into the significance of peace as a fundamental component of effective conflict resolution in the Anglophone crisis plaguing British Southern Cameroon.
Promoting Dialogue and Understanding
At the heart of conflict resolution lies the crucial element of dialogue. Peace provides a conducive environment for parties involved in a conflict to come together, engage in constructive discussions, and find common ground. By encouraging open communication and active listening, peace enables conflicting parties to empathize with one another’s perspectives, fostering understanding and paving the way for reconciliation. SCNC UK calls for peace and a stop to the killings by La Republique du Cameroun.
Reducing Violence and Human Suffering
Conflict often begets violence and leads to immense human suffering. Millions have been displaced and thousands killed in Ambazonia. By contrast, peace acts as a powerful antidote, curbing the cycle of violence and protecting vulnerable populations. It promotes nonviolent means of resolving disputes, such as mediation, negotiation, and diplomacy. The SCNC will continue to air on the side of a diplomatic solution to handle the crisis. We urge the United Kingdom and related parties to look into the crisis before it escalates any further.
Rebuilding Trust and Reconciliation
Conflicts in Ambazonia have left deep scars, eroding trust and creating deep divisions within communities. Peace plays a vital role in healing these wounds, facilitating the process of reconciliation. It provides opportunities for truth-telling, accountability, and justice, helping affected communities move forward while acknowledging the past. By promoting forgiveness and understanding, peace contributes to the restoration of social cohesion and paves the way for a more inclusive and equitable society.
Conclusion
Peace is an essential ingredient in conflict resolution, offering hope and an alternative to violence, destruction, and suffering. Its importance cannot be overstated, as it provides a platform for dialogue, reduces violence, fosters sustainable development, rebuilds trust, and empowers communities. By prioritizing peace, humanitarian organisations like the SCNC UK and individuals alike can contribute to building a world where conflicts are resolved through understanding, empathy, and cooperation, ultimately paving the way for a more just and harmonious society. Together, we can create a future where peace prevails and conflicts are resolved through the transformative power of dialogue and compassion.
Over the years, the Anglophone crisis has seen a steady increase in government forces cracking down on journalists to eventually suppress, silent and restrict their freedom of expression with regards to reporting on the crisis.
The government tag journalists who attempt to report on the Anglophone Crisis as tarnishing the image of the country. To the regime, such reporting is being critical on the government. The government will rather influence the reports of journalists or brand them as tarnishing territorial integrity. In other instances, they label journalists as terrorists without any justifications.
Consequently, many journalists now find themselves trapped between the tight choice of their professional functionality and the heavy penalty of harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest/detention and even death without committing any crime known to law.
The role of the media in shaping the outcome of an armed conflict cannot be overemphasized.
Eventually, with armed conflicts come the devastating loss of civil lives and livelihoods, the use of violence/torture, the violations of human rights, the killing of prisoners of war and other forms of war crimes. While it remains true that armed conflicts attract media attention, the coverage and release of information is primordial to impacting public opinions and decision-making with regards to the conflict.
What then becomes the fate of the Anglophone Crisis under these circumstances of insufficient and biased media coverage. Tragically, aside limiting access for international media, the regime of Paul Biya is killing journalists to prevent the realities surrounding the brutal and systemic genocide perpetuating in Southern Cameroons from being exposed.
For several years now, the conflict has been ranked amongst the most neglected ones by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). Particularly, the conflict was top on the NRC list for 2 consecutive years, that is, in 2019 and 2020. So far, global response and media coverage on the Anglophone Crisis has been very poor. The plight of Southern Cameroonians following the genocide inflicted on them by the Biya regime of Cameroon rarely makes it to international headlines. Thus, depriving the suffering people of the necessary assistance and diplomatic interventions that will bring the conflict to an end.
Since the onset of the Anglophone Crisis, many journalists have had to face unlawful arrests and a lot of traumatising situations. In 2022, Amnesty International and other civil society organisations demanded that the government of Cameroon should free journalists that had been arrested and detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression. Among them included Tsi Conrad, Mancho Bibixy, Thomas Awah, Kingsley Formunyuy Njoka and many more.
The story of Samuel Ajiekah Abume, a journalist popularly known as Samuel Wazizi is particularly chilling. He worked for a local broadcaster based in the Southwest Region of Southern Cameroons. Wazizi, who hosted the “Halla ya Matta” (Shout out your Problem), a weekday pidgin show on Chillen Muzik TV, was arrested by police in Buea on August 2, 2019.
His employer explained that at the time of his arrest, the armed police officers who arrested him claimed he was being invited by their boss to gather information in relation to a certain pidgin news. After being arrested, he was detained incommunicado at the national gendarme (a military police force), without any contact with his family or access to legal advice. Subsequently, he died in detention on the 17th of August 2019, just 15 days after his arrest. A journalist in good health suddenly dies in detention.
Throughout the period of detention, Wazizi’s state of health and exact location was unknown despite efforts being made to get in touch with him. The official military statement of his death was made on June the 05th, 2020, 10 months after he died. No explanations were put forth why the government concealed his death for 10months and why his remains were never handed to his family till date.
His death was reported over several local television channels and newspapers. Specifically, according to Equinox TV, Samuel Wazizi died from wounds and injuries sustained after his arrest which suggested that he was tortured.
The government accused him of speaking critically on the air about government authorities and their handling of the anglophone Crisis. Other versions reported that he exposed military atrocities committed against Southern Cameroonians in his reports and did not take sides with the government. The military further accused him of communicating with separatist fighters, charges his family and colleagues denied vehemently. The government presented no proves of it’s accusations till date.
His death was described on several media pages as the worst crime ever committed against a journalist. His remains were never seen nor handed over to his family. No explanations were brought forth by the government over the circumstances surrounding his death. Although a commission of inquiry arose requesting explanations from the government, they were silent. The government claimed he died from sepsis but never provided any prove to support their claims. Despite the press for investigation from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) over the exact circumstances that led to the death of Wazizi, the government remained silent till date.
Justice for Wazizi is justice for all journalists in Southern Cameroons.
Tomorrow, it could be another if corresponding action is not taken.
Author: Dorothy Arrey
Freedom fighter and Humanitarian Lead
Follow on twitter for more at Dorothy Arrey
The conflict in British Southern Cameroon, also known as the Anglophone Crisis, is an issue of great concern that demands global attention. The region’s history and the current situation paint a complex picture of grievances, violence, and a desperate need for resolution. Below, some light is thrown on the ongoing conflict in British Southern Cameroon, highlighting its root causes, its impact on the population, and the importance of finding a peaceful and inclusive solution.
Historical Context
The conflict in British Southern Cameroon traces back to the decolonization era when the region was divided into French and British-administered territories. The subsequent reunification of these territories with French Cameroon in 1961 was marked by challenges and unaddressed grievances from the Anglophone minority. Over the years, the lack of recognition and respect for the Anglophone culture, language, and legal system has fueled discontent, leading to the current crisis.
Grievances and Conflict Dynamics
The Anglophone Crisis is rooted in deep-seated grievances related to political representation, marginalization, economic disparities, and cultural erosion. The perception of the Anglophone population as second-class citizens has fueled demands for greater autonomy or even secession. However, the government’s response, characterized by heavy-handed measures and repression, has further escalated tensions, resulting in violence, displacement, and human rights violations.
Humanitarian Impact
The conflict has had a devastating impact on the population of British Southern Cameroon. Civilians, including women and children, have borne the brunt of the violence, facing arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement. Communities have been uprooted from their homes, schools and healthcare facilities have been disrupted, and livelihoods have been shattered. The humanitarian needs are immense, requiring urgent attention and support from the international community. SCNC UK has continuously played a support role in providing foundation resources to the needy on the ground and will continue to do so.
The Importance of Dialogue and Inclusivity
Resolving the conflict in British Southern Cameroon necessitates a holistic approach centered on dialogue and inclusivity. All parties involved must engage in genuine and inclusive negotiations, addressing the root causes of the conflict, ensuring respect for human rights, and fostering trust-building mechanisms. Inclusive dialogue should involve representatives from diverse backgrounds, including civil society organizations, women, and marginalized groups, to ensure that all perspectives are considered.
International Engagement and Support
Addressing the Anglophone Crisis requires a concerted effort from the international community. Humanitarian organizations, diplomatic entities, and regional bodies should provide support for peacebuilding initiatives, humanitarian aid, and efforts to promote reconciliation and accountability. Additionally, international actors can play a crucial role in advocating for human rights, raising awareness about the crisis, and exerting pressure on all parties to engage in meaningful dialogue.
Conclusion
The ongoing conflict in British Southern Cameroon is a pressing humanitarian issue that demands immediate attention and action. By understanding the historical context, acknowledging the grievances, and embracing dialogue and inclusivity, we can work toward a peaceful and sustainable resolution. It is crucial for the international community, including humanitarian organizations, to support efforts that prioritize the protection of human rights, promote peacebuilding, and address the urgent humanitarian needs of the affected population. Together, we can foster hope, healing, and a brighter future for the people of British Southern Cameroon.
Since the onset of the Anglophone crisis in 2016, arbitrary arrest of unarmed civilians by the Cameroon military has become a daily phenomenon. The regime has completely fallen short of its international obligation to protect the basic human rights of Southern Cameroonians by systematically targeting, arresting, and detaining unarmed civilians with absolutely no charge or conviction.
Another military raid recently took place on the 2nd of March 2023 in the city of Kumba, and according to the report from a witness, the Cameroon military stormed the city at about 2:00am and forcefully took over 80 young men from their homes, abruptly separating them from their families and loved ones at such an hour of the day, and then subjecting them to deadly torture with no charge. They were made to sit half naked on the road, beaten severely, maltreated, and forcefully deprived of their basic human rights.
Looking closely at the rate at which men from Southern Cameroons are being arrested and subsequently detained under deadly conditions, one can conclude that the Cameroon military is intentionally using this approach to kill them. Again, this has been going on for 7years now and is unacceptable. These young men are innocent and do not deserve to lose their lives in such a manner. Their lives are precious, their families need them and so they should be released immediately and unconditionally.
The rampant arbitrarily arrests, detention, summary executions and disappearance of young men from Southern Cameroons is being fuelled by the unlawful military occupation of the Cameroonian armed forces whose presence has been continuously intensified and reinforced. We therefore call for a ceasefire and demilitarization of Southern Cameroons. The Biya regime declared war against Southern Cameroons to squeeze out civic life and eradicate our statehood although we have already gone through a lot from decades of marginalisation and discrimination.
There is an ongoing systematic genocide in Southern Cameroons, and I am speaking out for the international community to take a strong stand that will furnish efforts needed for a peaceful resolution of the Anglophone conflict. The Cameroon government has taken advantage of the conflict to express their deadly hatred and willingness to keep the People of Southern Cameroons under suppression. The regime cannot account for the whereabouts of many in detention. They have committed horrendous and gross violations of human rights and should be brought to book.
So far, the conflict has sustained very weak attention and response from the international community mainly because the regime has been successful in cleaning their traces and covering the realities of the war. In spite of the war escalating with rising dead tolls, the regime has continued prioritising economic interests and trade deals with Western governments instead of seeking a lasting solution to the long standing crisis that has claimed over 6,000lives, displaced more than a million with over 70,000 refugees registered in neighbouring Nigeria, more than 300 villages razed and over 2 million are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.
With over 40 years of autocratic and centralised rule, the Biya’s regime should end the use of military violence and instead pursue dialogue to resolve the conflict. It is inappropriate to use military oppression against a people’s right to self-determination. History holds it that the autonomy of Southern Cameroons was illegally dissolved in favour of an annexed union which was characterised by persistent repression that was geared at eroding our identity.
This an appeal for the international community to act now and save the lives of many Southern Cameroonians in detention.
Author: Dorothy Arrey
Freedom fighter and Humanitarian Lead
Follow on twitter for more at Dorothy Arrey
This is a call to free Abdul Karim Ali who is in detention without charge. Abdul Karim Ali is a Muslim scholar and peace activist who stands for the restoration of the independence and sovereignty of Southern Cameroons. He denounced the ills of the repressive and genocidal regime of Cameroon, condemning the gross killings, burning of civilians, properties, summary disappearances/executions, use of torture, arbitrary arrest, and detention of unarmed civilians and so much more. He is respected for his advocation for freedom and justice.
He demonstrated braveness and compassion by visiting communities that were recked by the violent killings orchestrated by the Cameroon military and stood by those who had lost their loved ones. He attended funerals, encouraging the bereaved and mourning with distressed families. A very courageous freedom fighter who decided to stay back home and fight for peace and justice. Today, he is languishing in jail for speaking out and denouncing the Human Rights violations committed by the Biya regime in the ongoing armed conflict against the people of Southern Cameroons.
On the 25th of September 2019, Abdul Karim Ali was arrested in front of the Swiss Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon. At the time of his arrest, the only charge that was laid against him was that he participated in meetings that were meant to facilitate the Swiss negotiation process between the Cameroon government and leaders from Southern Cameroons. On that fateful day, he had stopped by the Swiss embassy to brief the Ambassador of his recent trip to Switzerland. This follows the announcement of the Swiss government’s engagement earlier on around June 2019 to mediate the peace process between the Cameroon government and the leaders of Southern Cameroons. An initiative that will potentially put an end to the ongoing conflict in Southern Cameroons.
While in detention, it was recorded that he suffered different forms of abuse from the Cameroon government. He was prevented from performing his prayer sessions as a devote Muslim, made to eat food that did not respect his Islamic standards, deprived access to a doctor and a lawyer and was subjected to restrictions as to contacts with his family and loved ones. Concerns rose over his health as he was subjected to starvation. There were also reports circulating that he was beaten and tortured.
Just like Abdul Karim, more than 4,000 Southern Cameroonians have been picked up in similar manner and are being held unlawfully in jails, prisons, and detention camps across Cameroon. The arbitrary arrests and detention without charge of Southern Cameroonians by the Biya regime is a violation of Human Rights and is unacceptable.
The arrest of Abdul Karim was reported across national and international media and the Swiss embassy in Yaoundé, as well as notable religious leaders called for his immediate and unconditional release. Thank goodness he was finally released on November 1st, 2019.
With the Cameroon government, the negative side of history always repeats itself and once again, Abdul Karim was abducted on the 11th of August 2022 in Bamenda, and taken to the local police station. He was later transferred to the State Defence Secretariat in Yaoundé, which is very renowned for the widespread use of torture. The next day, his family was denied access to bring him food and necessities. He was questioned in the absence of a lawyer and charged with the possession of videos that exposed the Human Right abuses perpetuated by Cameroon military.
The question here is, how is that a crime? His phone is a private property and according to Human Rights, one is free to hold his own opinion that is different from that of their government. Expressing your right to self-determination is neither a crime nor terrorism. These are basic Human Rights. Just like Abdul Karim, the Biya regime has charged all those arrested during the ongoing Anglophone crisis to be terrorists and many (including the Nera 10, leaders of Southern Cameroons) are serving life sentences in jail. This common charge the regime has been imposing on Southern Cameroonians to justify their brutality and gross violations of human rights.
In January 2023, images of Abdul Karim emerged on social media revealing a frail, depressed and unhealthy person. On the 3rd of February 2013, he was transferred to the central prison at Kondengui in Yaoundé. This continuous detention in inhuman and deplorable conditions is a call for concern as it will potentially cause his physical and mental health to deteriorate further. Worth mentioning here is the case of Samuel Wazizi, a journalist who was tortured to death in detention. There exists a potential likelihood of reoccurrence. The illegal and unlawful arrest and detention of Abdul Karim is not an isolated case as thousands of Southern Cameroonians have been arbitrarily arrested, detained, and tortured to death since the onset of the crisis in 2016.
The judicial system of Cameroon has not put forward any justification for his abduction and continuous detention. This is unacceptable, given that his detention is based solely on him exercising his rights to freedom of expression.
Many Southern Cameroonian groups, communities and individuals have repeatedly called for his unconditional release to no avail. This is a crime against humanity and we the people of Southern Cameroons, look up to the international community to put pressure on the Biya’s regime to release Abdul Karim Ali and all those detained unlawfully in their dungeons. The regime has violated basic human rights and there is so much uncertainty with regards to the current welfare of all those in detention, given that the regime is responsible for several deaths and disappearances in detention.
