We all know there is no place like home but can there be a home with no security and peace or can there be a home when all our loved ones are gone? Southern Cameroons for the past Years have suffered discrimination marginalisation and degrading treatment from La Republique du Cameroun with many people arrested tortured and even killed because of their political views about the freedom of
Southern Cameroons from the harsh and inhuman treatment of the government of la Republique du Cameroun
The current and ongoing genocide in Southern Cameroons is because Southern Cameroonians have dared to speak out and protest against the sustained political economic explanation marginalisation and oppression which they continue to experience.
The government of la Republique du Cameroun is against anybody advocating for the independence of Southern Cameroons by using its terrorism law passed in 2014 to victimise Southern Cameroonians. This means anyone arrested will be tortured and tried with the penalty of life imprisonment or death.
I am a strong believer that Southern Cameroons will one day be free from the current slavery and bandage of the government of la Republique du Cameroun. As Southern Cameroonians it’s our fundamental responsibility to unite our efforts together with our actions to bring back peace in Southern Cameroons through its independence. Let all continue strongly to advocate and Campaign for the freedom of Southern Cameroons.
From a self-governing entity as a country, the people of southern Cameroon have been brought down to nothing other than mere beggars. A people proud of their culture and colonial heritage were brought down to their knees some sixty years ago after a failed unity.
Southern Cameroon was one of the first democratic countries in Africa in the early fifties with successive changes of power. Dr. Endeley Lefaka from 1954-59, John Ngu Foncha from 1959-64 and Augustine Nkong Jua who forced out of government by the Ahidjo of French Cameroon.
With just the Mobile Wheel Police, the peace, defence, and security of the population was assured. The court with its common law supplemented the stability.
Economically, Southern Cameroon had a strong and solid foundation. We had three airports, a seaport at Victoria and a strong financial institution. From infrastructure perspective, all major towns and cities connected by good, tarred roads. The un-tarred roads were regularly maintained thanks to the existence of the Highway Department, just as we Highway England in the UK. For the airports, we had the Tiko international airport, Mamfe Airport at Bessongabang and the Bali Airport.
We had our natural deep seaport in Victoria where large ships could anchor. Railway lines were constructed to ease transportation of bulky and heavy goods. The palms section of Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) benefited greatly from this operation.
The West Cameroon Marketing Board was one of the aspects that boosted our economy. Under this board co-operatives were organised all over the territories to buy cash products, select best yielding seedlings before accepted by the Board. Meanwhile fertiliser and other agricultural tools were given to farmers via cooperatives including. Productive farmers benefited from loans to expand agriculture and yields.
Our lone financial institution, Cameroon Bank was flourishing providing even long-term loans to businesspeople from across the border in French Cameroon.
We also had the National Lottery agency. The proceeds from this operation were used to construct hospitals and other health facilities.
Yoke power plant in Muyuka supplied us with energy including others like the Malala plant for the rubber factory.
After all the above mentioned and others it took La Republic of Cameroun a very short time to destroy everything. Meanwhile president Amadou Ahidjo was slow and consistent in his destruction for his 25years in office, Paul Biya used less than 10 years to accomplish their mission.
Nevertheless, today as we speak all the institutions like Marketing Board, Cameroon Bank and Highways departments don’t exist anymore. For now, only CDC – Cameroon Development Corporation exists at a limping pace. The traces of all the airports today are French Cameroon military bases. Any good road linking some few towns in southern Cameroon is always sponsored and supervised by foreign organisations, or directly links a to nearby French Cameroon town if sponsored by the French Cameroon government.
Faced with carnage on our institutions and destruction of our once economy sustainability models, our people have been taught nothing but corruption as sole of means of survival. Southern Cameroonians via corruption now hangs their hopes on powerless positions of powers in the Cameroon government administration which itself act as extension of the annexation process of our territory. Southern Cameroonians have become inferior adjectives to describe.
Whilst wise forward-looking nations lure annexed areas or united territories with economy favourism and development, the French Cameroonian government to the contrary uses depravity and destitution to keep us Southern Cameroon to her fake union.
It is for these reasons that we the people of Southern Cameroon continue to call the international community to pressure the Cameroonian authorities to return our autonomy and stop the ongoing killing and incarceration of our people.
People cannot stop weeping as they lose their loved ones on a daily. On May 7, a Journalist sports writer and reporter, Anye Nde Nsoh was shot dead by gunmen at Che Street in Bamenda, in the North West Region of Cameroon.
Nde Nso was a reporter with Dream FM radio Bamenda and a sports contributor to many online platforms. He was also the North West Bureau Chief of The Advocate Newspaper.
Anye was killed for committing no crime, he was shot to death at Che Street Bamenda at a drinking spot called Don Simon. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), called on the government of Cameroon to investigate and hold those who were responsible for the death of Journalist Anye Nde Nsoh to account.
After a thorough investigation, it was confirmed that Anye Nde Nsoh was killed by separatist fighters reason being that they confronted him by a military who frequents the drinking spot.
Journalists are scared as they are no longer safe they find themselves under attack by both the government and separatist fighters. Both sides must respect the rights of journalists to report freely and ensure their safety because they have lost one of them regardless of the reason for his death.
Shameful how innocent people keep dying every day and the government is saying nothing about it.
Delving into history, I understood why our forefathers accepted to form a Union with La Republic du Cameroon in 1961 and formed the Federal Republic of Cameroon with the flag bearing two stars for better future generations as reflected in the anthem “Land of Promise, land of Glory! Thou, of life and joy, our only store!”: one for the British Southern Cameroons (formerly administered by Britain) and the other for French Cameroon (formerly administered by France). Unification failed to deliver the promises of glory, joy, love, and peace… Instead in a bid to control the natural resources of British Southern Cameroons, the chalice of a federation was emptied and refilled with the salty waters of a United Republic and later to the acidic vinegar of a complete Republic of Cameroon with one star, characterised by oppression, exploitation, suppression and marginalisation of the Anglophone minority by the Francophone majority government.
This fostered the emergence and propagation of the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) whose main objective is the redemption of Southern Cameroons from the fangs of the gruesome and cruel political, economic, and social exploitation and marginalisation by the Francophone central government in Yaounde. In other words, the prime objective of the SCNC is to fight for freedom and Complete independence from French Cameroon. This Organisation sparked a dream in me which, like Martin Luther King’s was not only to wish for but to work for the complete liberation and independence of Southern Cameroons. I am in total support of Southern Cameroons advocated for by the forerunners of the SCNC most of whom are either in the diaspora, in prison, or in their graves killed by la Republique soldiers. How was I to exercise freedom of expression in the lion’s den? The SCNC which I cherished to belong to and really wanted to carry on its activities to the fullest, unfortunately, has been banned in Cameroon. Apart from secret meetings held by its members in the background, any of its members who dare mention the organisation, hold its banner in the streets or mention its objectives is either imprisoned or shot dead on the spot, irrespective of gender. Being an SCNC member in the Cameroon territory is synonymous with death.
I found myself confined in a room with inexpressible emotions bubbling but I dared not protest for fear of being killed by La Republique soldiers. Finding myself in the UK I could live my dreams of expressing my mind on the enfranchisement of my Southern Cameroons: where like the Biblical Moses I’m on a mission to liberate my people too, wishing to stop at nothing till I accomplish it. We will push the fight till we get our independence bearing in mind that freedom has never been served to anybody on a platter of gold.
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 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.
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.
More and more women and girls in Southern Cameroons are at risk of sexual violence and abuse because of the ongoing war ignited by the Biya regime of Cameroon since 2016. By 2020, the United Nations recorded over 4,300 cases of sexual and gender-based violence with up to 500 cases recorded during the first quarter of that year. Today, sexual violence against women is increasing in such an alarming rate that there is great fear for the future. The founder for Common Action for Gender Development (COMAGEND) stated that one in three girls have experienced some form of sexual violence. This is heart-breaking!!
Perpetrated by the Cameroon military, they use their guns to either kill or threaten the victims to perpetual silence. In some cases, the victims had to give in to the act for the military to spare their lives. The widespread rate of sexual violence has inflicted unimaginable psychological and physical damages to the lives of women in Southern Cameroons. Many have lost their lives due to different forms of complications resulting from sexual violence and abuse.
The fierce battles and killings have transformed lively communities to deserted wastelands of scattered mass graves. The loss of their husbands and/or parents transformed the hopes of many women and young girls into deep frustrations, leaving them with the sole option to flee and face life without a home, source of livelihood, or safety. The risk is huge and has become a matter of life or death with the alarming rate of rape and sexual violence. Living with deep fright, rising poverty, homelessness, widespread destruction of businesses/sources of livelihood, closure of schools etc have made the women of Southern Cameroons more vulnerable.
Life has become so difficult and stressful. Fending for daily subsistence has become a real challenge as they lost all sources of livelihood to the war. In most cases, sexual abuse has become a tool that the military use to negotiate access to daily basic services like crossing a checkpoint. The desperations that come with the struggles to barely survive has further transformed them to victims for the Cameroon military men who have taken every given opportunity to harass, kidnap and abuse them sexually. At the end of the act, they are either killed, become pregnant with some having to deliver their babies in the bushes where there is no access to medical attention. Some are living with damaged physical and mental health, coupled with the pain of having to raise their children as a single parent not knowing who their father is.
My heart was greatly saddened when I learned of the plight of a 22-year-old widow. Names will not be mentioned for the safety of those concerned. According to her story, her husband came home on the 3rd of September 2021 to get some rest and then return to work that same evening. Suddenly, they heard gunshots, and their home was later raided by armed military men who shot her husband in front of her and her daughter. She was kidnapped, raped, and found out some months later that she was pregnant for twins. Terrified, she fled from her village to town where a friend opened her house for them. However, she couldn’t continue to live with that friend because life became very difficult for both. She had lost both parents when she was just three years old and had nowhere else to go. She ended up on the streets with her daughter where she was found by a pastor who rented a room for them. It was while in that room that she was supported by people of good will to deliver her twin boys. She’s got no money to care for herself and her three children. She is in deep sorrow and sometimes finds herself nursing negative thoughts. The pain is unbearable, she is emotionally traumatised and needs help desperately. In another instance, even the old are not spared. Such is the case of a 70-year-old woman, who was raped at her own house.
There is no doubt that women and girls constitute a greater proportion of the displaced population, given that many of them have lost their husbands and parents to the war. Recent statistics have revealed that the ongoing anglophone conflict have claimed over 6,000 lives and displaced over half a million. The killings are continuing. The threat that women receive from the military is far from over. With the end of the war not in sight, what fate for the vulnerable women and girls in Southern Cameroons? When will the perpetrators of sexual abuse be held accountable?
This is a call for justice and to draw global attention to the end that declaring ceasefire and restoring peace in Southern Cameroons will go a long way to preserving the lives of women and girls given the fact that violence is skyrocketing with the recent denial of the Biya’s regime to commit to peace negotiations.
Author: Dorothy Arrey Freedom fighter and Humanitarian Lead Follow on twitter for more at Dorothy Arrey
On the 23rd of January 2023, news broke out of the denial of the Cameroon government to engage in peace talks over the Anglophone crisis with leaders of Southern Cameroon aka Ambazonia. Formally approving and engaging the Canadian government to mediate the peace process that will resolve the ongoing Anglophone conflict and later rejecting their involvement strongly attests to the fact that the Biya regime is deceptive, with questionable integrity. Rather than follow peace, the 40years old government prefers to continue with the unlawful killing of Ambazonians since 2016 and ongoing.
Following the announcement of their denial, the ongoing conflict between the Cameroon military and separatists’ groups has now taken a worsening turn that is continually claiming lives, forcing many to flee to the bushes and neighbouring countries for refuge, others internally displaced while thousands are unlawfully thrown into prisons and detention centres of Cameroon. Failure in diplomatic efforts has led to escalating violence by the Camerron military. Attacks, raids/invasions on civilians and arbitrary arrests are skyrocketing, reportedly having been utilized by the Cameroon military as weapons of war. Many have ended up unjustly in overcrowded prisons and detention centres. The deplorable conditions of prisons/detention camps have overtime transformed them into deadly epicentres with inmates being exposed to disheartening treatment, some disappearing, while others lost their lives in custody without being convicted.
Sleeping Arrangements for Prisoners
Through our humanitarian relief efforts, SCNC-UK has been actively providing support in the form of medical/healthcare assistance, financial assistance, food and other basic necessities to inmates in prisons and detention centres. To that effect, we currently launched a fund-raising drive to keep up with our support for those in detention because despite all, they deserve better. Reports from our recent undercover visits to prisons and detention centres have revealed that some inmates are being detained with bullets in their legs. This is horrible, inhuman, and unacceptable as they are living with excruciating pain and have been abandoned to die. This is why we will not stop denouncing the atrocities and human right violations perpetrated by the Biya regime against harmless civilians as well as call on the international community to bring the regime to accountability. From our past outreaches, we have noticed that the more we reach out to those in prison, the more overwhelming humanitarian needs we discover.
Candidly speaking, prisons and detention centres of Cameroon are dungeons of heart-breaking stories, extreme sufferings, frustrations, hopelessness, depression, bitter tears, and deep despair. These are the feelings expressed by the prisoner we met, whose only crime has been to express their right to self-determination. They tell of how they have been subjected to all forms of brutal and degrading treatment even though such treatment has been prohibited by Human Rights. Their experiences are that of indescribable cruelty and pain daily from being subjected to all forms of abuse; emotional, physical, and you can name the rest.
Detained incommunicado is immensely torturing mentally as contact with family, friends, loved ones and sympathisers is limited and restricted. While our representative was conversing with some of them, they could hardly express their emotional trauma especially pertaining to the killings and forced disappearances of their fellow inmates. They also expressed deep desperations relating to pending trials that are being intentionally subjected to unfair administrative delays by the government of Cameroon. Due to prolonged detention, many have died waiting.
Untreated Injuries in Prison
Our representative spoke particularly of an elderly prisoner, who told his story of being treated less than animals, living in camps with no facilities to cater for their wellbeing. From being exposed to deadly hygienic conditions that are breeding grounds to outbreaks like covid-19 and cholera, many have lost their precious lives prematurely. I can justly say here that this community of vulnerable people, are living numerous invisible and visible bruises, scars, wounds, and other forms of evidence depicting torture on their bodies and their spirits as well. This is again prohibited under the Human Rights Law.
Through this, I hope to draw the attention of the international community on what our people are going through. This serves also as a call on sympathisers of the Anglophone conflict and people of good will to join us as we raise funds that will deliver live-saving support to dying inmates in need. Donations can be made to the SCNC-UK Account with details as follows:
Account Name: SCNC UK
Account Number: 43931706
Sort code: 20 90 74
Reference: Humanitarian Aid
Thank you so much for your donations. This will help reach out to those in prisons.
Author: Dorothy Arrey Freedom fighter and Humanitarian Lead Follow on twitter for more at Dorothy Arrey
