HUMANITARIAN APPEAL FOR PRISONERS. “They deserve better”.

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

Re-awakening the consciences of the United Kingdom (UK) and power that be regarding the plight of Southern Cameroons-Ambazonia.

Undoubtedly, is it fair to say that the United Kingdom has failed the people of Southern Cameroons amid the ongoing genocidal war and also complicit with the current misery of the people in Southern Cameroons perpetrated by the La Republic du Cameroon Government?

If you must know, Southern Cameroons was once under British rule and when it was time for her to gain independence, she was denied her rights to self-determination. Southern Cameroons option for independence tabled by United Kingdom was either to join Nigeria or French Cameroon known as La Republic du Cameroun.

For more information visit:

Wikipedia

In late 2016, lawyers and teachers took to the streets in a peaceful protest to express their grievances against the Francophonisation of the legal and educational systems which are different from the French. They Cameroun government ordered the military to beat them like common criminals and live ammunition was used on them. Many were injured and also arrested and detained. It is worth noting that the French lawyers and magistrates study civil law while the Anglophone’s study common law.

Since the escalation of the crises in 2017, the authoritarian government of Cameroun led by Mr Paul Biya declared war on the Southern Cameroons and has since then carried genocidal acts, indiscriminate killings and human rights abuses on its people. Over35,000 people have been killed, over 500 villages have been burnt down to ashes, over a million children have been deprived education, more than half a million people have become refugees, with more than 1.5 million people internally displaced.

Despite the gross human right violations by the Cameroun Government on the people of Southern Cameroons, no pressure has been given to the government to put an end to this war. The truth about the ongoing genocide is hidden by the government and also the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. Credit be given to the United States government where the conflict has been tabled in the house of representative and senate. Resolution 358, July 2019 by the house of representative and senate resolution 684 January 2021 called for an end to the war and return to peace through broad based dialogue. The US has not yet taken any significant action.

It is has been very interesting to see how the world have come together to support Ukraine from Russia’s attack. Almost all media houses are reporting on the war on a daily basis. The Ukrainian government is receiving support from most governments including the UK.

The question here is why is the same attention not being paid to Southern Cameroonians?

Is it because, the UK government signed an offshore natural gas trade deal with Cameroun government in June 2018 or a UK –Cameroun Economic Partnership Agreement in April 2022. Has the UK put her economic interest and friendship with Cameroun Government over the lives of innocent Southern Cameroonians?

Is the African Union (AU) quiet because Cameroun is a member of its Peace and Security Council?

Why has the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) not looked into the genocidal war in Southern Cameroons?

Are Southern Cameroonians less of humans or their lives do not matter?

Southern Cameroonians have a right to self-determination and that right was denied by the UK who has a moral duty to put to an end the suffering of these people.

There is an outcry appeal to the UK, US AU and UNSC to bring this war to an end by addressing the root causes.

Pauline Ngomaso Achondi

Systematic Denial of the Right to Live and the Right to Exist as Humans

Southern Cameroons (SC) by 1960 had a functioning government which was ready to drive the state into a bright future. When she asked for independence, the colonial power Britain refused to grant her the right to independence and self-governance instead gave her two terrible choices to either join the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the Republic of Cameroon (RC).

The SC took the perceived better option at the time which was to join Republic of Cameroon and be given a referendum after 30years to decide the fate of the ‘union’.

Joining Republic of Cameroon was not a union to form a single entity as it seems to exist today but to form a Federal state with each half almost autonomous. Hence the referendum after 30years to decide their fate.

Since joining RC, the SC have seen their infrastructures, political and physical eroded and destroyed gradually and progressively.

A union was forged and the country was renamed the RC from the Federal Republic of Cameroon as was on the 1st October 1961 when both Cameroons came together. In a bid to rectify this fraudulent union, in 1993 there was an All Anglophone Conference one (AAC1) held in Buea and a declaration was made called the ‘Buea declaration’ in which the SC elites called on the government to restore and implement the 1961 constitution agreement which allows the SC to operate as an autonomous state. However, the government did not respond and a second All Anglophone Conference two (AAC2) was convened in Bamenda congress hall in 1994 where the anglophone elites agreed and made a declaration known as ‘Bamenda declaration’ that if the government does not restore the federal state of SC within a reasonable time, SC would declare its independence. After the AAC2, many movements such as Southern Cameroon Peoples Conference (SCPC) which was later changed to Southern Cameroons People Organisation (SCAPO) and Cameroon Anglophone Movement (CAM), Southern Cameroon Youth League (SCYL) were formed. In1995 SCNC was borne and was tasked with reporting the situation of SC to the necessary parties involved such as the UN, UK, AU.

SCNC delegation led by John Ngu Foncha in 1995 went to UN and presented a petition to the UN for them to intervene and resolve the crisis between SC and RC so that another Somalian crisis would not emerge. In 1999, SCNC members took over the radio Buea station and declared their independence read by late Justice Ebong Frederick Alobwede. SCNC has reported the plight of the SC to all the necessary parties that were involved in the union in 1961 which include the UK and the UN. So far little has been done to rectify this union hence reason why there is genocide in the Southern Cameroon today.

The fight for secession as a result of systemic destruction and marginalisation has been ongoing. This escalated in late 2016 following protest of lawyers as a result of the abolition of common Law in the SC legal system. The protest was met with torture, arrest and imprisonment of the lawyers e.g. Barrister Agbor Balla, Dr Fontem Niba and others who spent over eight months in prison.

The educational system which has also been greatly affected with primarily French speaking instructors to head and teach in primarily English-speaking schools thereby leaving many SC teachers unemployed. The teachers also took to the streets to protest against this and were met with a similar fate as the lawyers.

The general public of SC decided that it was enough and took to the streets with peace plants in their hands. Their protests were met with brute force from the RC armed forces. They fired live bullets at protesters leaving many of them dead, many were tortured, raped, arrested and taken to unknown prison destinations within the country.

Early 2018 leaders of the interim government were arrested in Nigeria and were extradited to Cameroon where they have been imprisoned by the RC government and are languishing there. The killings are not limited to civilians but also extended to men of God such as Ghanaian pastor, catholic priest and a seminarian.

Villages were burnt down with current number of over 180 and in some cases, people were burnt inside especially the sick and elderly who could not escape example is the case of an 86year old woman burnt alive in her house in Kwa-Kwa (Mami Api). Most of the inhabitants who managed to escape the inferno ended up in the forest with the very lucky ones fleeing to neighbouring Nigeria where they are currently seeking refuge. This onslaught has continued until this day under the watchful eyes of the entire African countries, AU, UN, the entire world including the colonial power (UK) that pushed the SC to this tragedy and none has bothered to intervene and stop the genocide.

Despite the plea from those who are fortunate to escape the killings in SC, the international community has turned a blind eye to their plight. Also, many SC who have escaped with their lives to the colonial power that pushed them into the unfortunate situation in the first place, and cried for help are being forced back to face the slaughter, with their death to justify their claim

UK the colonial authority to SC is a strong advocate of human rights laws. The 2002 protocol 13 article 1 abolishes death penalty in all circumstances including crimes committed during a war or when the threat of war is imminent. UK is against the abuse of Article 2 (right to life) and Article 3 (prohibiting torture, inhumane or degrading treatment/ punishment) of the Human right acts of 1998.

Question

1) How many people have to be displaced, killed, refused basic rights of life and living before they are listened to?

2) How can a proof that your life is in danger be your death itself?

3) Are the displaced persons, innocent civilians killed and burnt in their homes on a daily basis high political profile?

4) Does the situation on ground in SC with heavy blood spill and mass graves everywhere not a call for concern and a need for protection of the people of SC?

5) Do you need to be of high political profile for your life to be worthy of state protection in the UK considering the situation on ground in SC?

Systematic Denial of the Right to Live and the Right to Exist as Humans

Southern Cameroons (SC) by 1960 had a functioning government which was ready to drive the state into a bright future. When she asked for independence, the colonial power Britain refused to grant her the right to independence and self-governance instead gave her two terrible choices to either join the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the Republic of Cameroon (RC).

The SC took the perceived better option at the time which was to join Republic of Cameroon and be given a referendum after 30years to decide the fate of the ‘union’.

Joining Republic of Cameroon was not a union to form a single entity as it seems to exist today but to form a Federal state with each half almost autonomous. Hence the referendum after 30years to decide their fate.

Since joining RC, the SC have seen their infrastructures, political and physical eroded and destroyed gradually and progressively.

A union was forged and the country was renamed the RC from the Federal Republic of Cameroon as was on the 1st October 1961 when both Cameroons came together. In a bid to rectify this fraudulent union, in 1993 there was an All Anglophone Conference one (AAC1) held in Buea and a declaration was made called the ‘Buea declaration’ in which the SC elites called on the government to restore and implement the 1961 constitution agreement which allows the SC to operate as an autonomous state. However, the government did not respond and a second All Anglophone Conference two (AAC2) was convened in Bamenda congress hall in 1994 where the anglophone elites agreed and made a declaration known as ‘Bamenda declaration’ that if the government does not restore the federal state of SC within a reasonable time, SC would declare its independence. After the AAC2, many movements such as Southern Cameroon Peoples Conference (SCPC) which was later changed to Southern Cameroons People Organisation (SCAPO) and Cameroon Anglophone Movement (CAM), Southern Cameroon Youth League (SCYL) were formed. In1995 SCNC was borne and was tasked with reporting the situation of SC to the necessary parties involved such as the UN, UK, AU.

SCNC delegation led by John Ngu Foncha in 1995 went to UN and presented a petition to the UN for them to intervene and resolve the crisis between SC and RC so that another Somalian crisis would not emerge. In 1999, SCNC members took over the radio Buea station and declared their independence read by late Justice Ebong Frederick Alobwede. SCNC has reported the plight of the SC to all the necessary parties that were involved in the union in 1961 which include the UK and the UN. So far little has been done to rectify this union hence reason why there is genocide in the Southern Cameroon today.

The fight for secession as a result of systemic destruction and marginalisation has been ongoing. This escalated in late 2016 following protest of lawyers as a result of the abolition of common Law in the SC legal system. The protest was met with torture, arrest and imprisonment of the lawyers e.g. Barrister Agbor Balla, Dr Fontem Niba and others who spent over eight months in prison.

The educational system which has also been greatly affected with primarily French speaking instructors to head and teach in primarily English-speaking schools thereby leaving many SC teachers unemployed. The teachers also took to the streets to protest against this and were met with a similar fate as the lawyers.

The general public of SC decided that it was enough and took to the streets with peace plants in their hands. Their protests were met with brute force from the RC armed forces. They fired live bullets at protesters leaving many of them dead, many were tortured, raped, arrested and taken to unknown prison destinations within the country.

Early 2018 leaders of the interim government were arrested in Nigeria and were extradited to Cameroon where they have been imprisoned by the RC government and are languishing there. The killings are not limited to civilians but also extended to men of God such as Ghanaian pastor, catholic priest and a seminarian.

Villages were burnt down with current number of over 180 and in some cases, people were burnt inside especially the sick and elderly who could not escape example is the case of an 86year old woman burnt alive in her house in Kwa-Kwa (Mami Api). Most of the inhabitants who managed to escape the inferno ended up in the forest with the very lucky ones fleeing to neighbouring Nigeria where they are currently seeking refuge. This onslaught has continued until this day under the watchful eyes of the entire African countries, AU, UN, the entire world including the colonial power (UK) that pushed the SC to this tragedy and none has bothered to intervene and stop the genocide.

Despite the plea from those who are fortunate to escape the killings in SC, the international community has turned a blind eye to their plight. Also, many SC who have escaped with their lives to the colonial power that pushed them into the unfortunate situation in the first place, and cried for help are being forced back to face the slaughter, with their death to justify their claim

UK the colonial authority to SC is a strong advocate of human rights laws. The 2002 protocol 13 article 1 abolishes death penalty in all circumstances including crimes committed during a war or when the threat of war is imminent. UK is against the abuse of Article 2 (right to life) and Article 3 (prohibiting torture, inhumane or degrading treatment/ punishment) of the Human right acts of 1998.

Question

1) How many people have to be displaced, killed, refused basic rights of life and living before they are listened to?

2) How can a proof that your life is in danger be your death itself?

3) Are the displaced persons, innocent civilians killed and burnt in their homes on a daily basis high political profile?

4) Does the situation on ground in SC with heavy blood spill and mass graves everywhere not a call for concern and a need for protection of the people of SC?

5) Do you need to be of high political profile for your life to be worthy of state protection in the UK considering the situation on ground in SC?

NEW CHAPTER OR DEADLY MIX?

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.

#notoimpunity

#endanglophonecrisis

Follow me on twitter for more updates.

Dorothy Arrey

Africa must seek a path different from their predecessors

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.

The Revolution

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.

Yours Truly,
Jude A

The Ngarbuh Massacre

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.

By Florence Besumbu Luma.

THE CRIMINAL NEXUS

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?

THE UMBILICAL CHORD?
Electa Shalo
SCNC UK

Broken promises

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.

Long live southern Cameroons.

By Vivian Ngum Fomukong

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