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 14^th 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 17^th 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 12^th, 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.

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

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

If you are a Southern  Cameroonian you  will suffer 

1) Discrimination 

2) Marginalisation 

3)Unemployment 

4)Torture

5)Lack of Social  Cohesion 

6)Negative  behaviour  such as Violence, Criminality,loss of Rights 

7)You will be seen as a secessionist  and as a Rebel.

9) You will be called degrading names like dogs ,anglofools , biafra, enemy in the house,two cubes of sugar .

This  explains why those in the government like the Prime Minister Dion Ngutte, and Atanga Nji Paul can only survive by singing praises to the “Head of State”.

That is why Atanga  Nji Paul  once said in one of his speeches as, and I quote ‘ Paul Biya is appointed by God ‘ and as such unopposed.

The Biya regime does not see us as humans. Which explains why pregnant women, children, babies and even disabled persons are being murdered in cold blood. Pictures of women and children murdered in cold blood.

By Electa shalo

(A tribute to Southern Cameroon, envisaging the daily demise of those living and witnessing the

agony of French suppression and genocide, but with a mind of victory at the end.)

Cry my beloved country!

Raped, abused, tortured, killed, adducted, amidst violence, unrest, brutality, arrested development, no progress, hate, All because I asked.

Asked to be recognised, asked to live, asked to be accepted in my own home.

I am bartered and tortured. My children hiding in the bushes, some missing, how many are dead?

The pain is excruciating, I never dreamt of walking this path, I never dreamt of this dread, doesn’t it say tomorrow will be better?

But gloom has been lurking around.

What do you hear from the other end?

Noises, gunshots, screaming, agony, torture, another soul just departed, in an undignified manner,

What do you see? Houses going ablaze, flying bullets

Human carcases lying around like life doesn’t matter any longer.

The pain I nested yesterday, waiting for release has created a hallow in my heart, as the situation becomes worst.  Has it come to stay?

These questions keep going on in the mind.  Panic and fear of yesterday has turned into heroic bravery and disillusion. I am torn between two thoughts, and it keeps me in a spiral.

I feel the rage and urge to do something, but I feel disillusioned as my vision becomes so blurred, because my own words have come my very own victim.

 I am so scared, and my mouth is shut. I am the silenced victim

 No way to express, only the mind can process until it becomes disillusioned

Then life begins to appear in the shades of agony. Pain and sorrow has become the norm of the day.

Agony and disillusion has become a life style. The story from the next door neighbour is the same.

The next phone call is received with panic… did you hear what happened to…?

The next message is opened after a silent prayers, can this be another news

Laughter on the lips but the heart is sunk in deep sorrow.

I no longer know who walks besides me, I am suspicious of the other, what if I express my mind?

Will I be like him lamenting behind the big bars, will I end up being more afflicted and silenced

So I keep it all in my head, until I am almost losing my mind

I am losing my identity! Should I join them, to them it is either I am like them or extinct … assimilation?

I am torn from within. I cannot lose myself, that is who I am. This thoughts have been buzzling my head. My identity is my reality.

Until life is losing its very  meaning. Everyday is another cry for survival.

The sweet memories of the yesteryears are what I try to hold on to, but the pictures are becoming blur.

There is need for a tomorrow picture, but what do I see?  

A youthful population, exploited and extinct, fear and panic everywhere. I try to rise,  but I no longer know what tomorrow holds

Exchange of gunshots; but there is a contradiction to this

How can big machinery guns compare to local riffles?

My eyes are seeing the impossible

I am becoming accustomed to the despicable

The noise that made me run away in frenzy yesterday is what I wait to hear the next minute.

This noise has been likened to one of my favourite snacks “popcorn”.

I even laugh at the sound as it has become like a video game in my eyes and to my ears.

Pondering on the genesis of all these,  how I found myself in this union.

Thinking to myself;

I thought we were in agreement when we came together, I thought we had mutual respect for each other, I had given you all my confidence and support, but didn’t know you had an agenda.

How naïve I was to believe you. Now I am silenced and cheated. Downtrodden and exploited

My voice can be heard only within my own thoughts because I now fear you.

But this is over, we have come to a breaking point.

The spill must be out

The hallow must be sorted

The wounds must be healed.

I am no different from you. My name is my identity

I must be free from your dirty hands, stained with blood, hate and deceit.

My disillusion has turn to bravery.

The wells are boiling up and must spill over.

I am up to your challenge

I refuse to be silenced.

No more a victim but a victor

I have a voice

And with my voice I cry out!!!

My God is my helper and will come for me!

You must let go!!!!!

Freedom!!!!

Written by Emilia Efeti Agey

They forgot they said this. But I haven’t forgotten:
“The form of state is non-negotiable”
“Cameroon is one and indivisible” 
“When the lawyers are hungry, they will come back to court” LAURENT ESSO (October 2016)
– “Anglophones are an insignificant minority” ISSA TCHIROMA BAKARY (Nov 2016)
– “When the consortium collapses, they will ask us” LAURENT ESSO (January 2017)
– “The common law has no place in Cameroon” ATANGA NJI (January 2017)
– “English speakers have no problem”
– “We never asked people to join us, it was your choice to join us” AMADOU ALI
– “Anglophones will never govern Cameroon” AMADOU ALI.
– “What are you going to do? English speakers are 2 sugar cubes in a basin of water” FAME NDONGO
– “force will  be use to  enforce the law!” ISSA TCHIROMA
– “stop your dogs because if they go out we will kill them all” OKALIA BILAYI governor of SOUTH-WEST
– “We do not dialogue with the terrorists ISSA TCHIROMA
– “They are not English speakers but Pigin speakers.” MATHIAS ERIC OWONA NGUINI
– “There is no English speaking problem in Cameroon there is rather a Cameroonian problem MEON.  That explains why the conflict in the Anglophone regions has never been deliberated  upon in the Parliament 
– “the army must ratify these two English-speaking areas” JEAN JACQUE ZE
– “If a Cameroonian television channel gives the floor to secessionists, we will shut it down.” ISSA TCHIROMA
– “I asked my colonel son in the English-speaking areas to kill at least 30 English-speakers I have the means to defend him in the military court” SAMUEL OBAM ASSAM
“The Head of State has the right to kill all English speakers”
” a Bamileke will never be president in Cameroon ”
“They think they are more English speaking than who? LAURENT ESSO
“Paul biya has the right to kill everyone to preserve national integrity” BANDA KANI
“The government will use force  to enforce  law and order ” ATANGA NJI
“Any Civil Servant who does not go to work on  ghost town days declared by the restoration forces as civil disobedience will be considered a terrorist and will be condemned to death”.
“It’s not the English speakers, who are   fighting  as Ambazonians  it’s an external force coming from Nigeria” VISION 4
“A thousand deaths is nothing. Even God razed Sodom and Gomhorre ”Engelbert Essomba.
Remember that all these people are still in government and have never been worried. how can arsonists claim to stop a crisis  they started 

Written by Electa Shalo  Manyimuchua

 Asst Sec Gen SCNC UK .

A. Introduction: Lots of air, ink and ideas have already been wasted in trying to make sense out of the signing and timing of the military cooperation PACT between the Republic of Cameroun and Russia. This article shows you how the Biya regime betrayed its longstanding Western allies and outlines the stated and implied reasons for the timing and signing of the Russo-Cameroun military PACT. Bearing in mind that for every military action undertaken by one super power, there is always an equal or immediate reaction from the other super powers, this article makes a critical analysis of SEVEN possible consequences of Cameroun’s betrayal of her Western allies. The article concludes with an explanation of how Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) stands to gain more from the negative publicity French Cameroun has caused itself.     In a nutshell, the question therefore, this article seeks to answer is whether or not the timing of Cameroon’s decision to sign a military cooperation agreement with Russia amidst war in Ukraine and Ambazonia is a costly bluff or a betrayal? 
B. HOW THE BIYA REGIME BETRAYED AMERICA, FRANCE, THE UK AND UNO

1. On March 22nd 2022, the Biya regime abstained when the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the Russian invasion of UKRAINE; 2. On April 7th 2022, the Biya regime again abstained when the United Nations General Assembly voted to suspend Russia from the United Nations Human Rights Council following her aggression against Ukraine.  3. On April 22, Cameroun signed a military cooperation agreement with Russia;
C. STATED AND IMPLIED REASONS FOR RUSSO-CAMEROUN MILITARY PACT;
1. Cameroun needs Russia training and equipment.2. To reinforce military ties between the two countries. 3. Cameroun intends to effectively combat terrorism (Boko Haram).4. Cameroun secretly intends to use newly acquired equipment and training for combat with Ambazonia freedom fighters.5. Cameroun has lost support from the US and France in its genocidal war in Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia).6. Russia is doing this for geostrategic reasons to win new allies around the Gulf of Guinea.7. To protect Russian 37.5% equity interest in Etinde gas project offshore Victoria located in Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia). 
D. SEVEN CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RUSSO-CAMEROUN MILITARY PACT;1. The Russo-Cameroun military pact signed on April 12, 2022 can be rightly described as a “costly bluff” to Cameroun. Cameroun claims that as a sovereign nation, it has a choice to discuss and to do business with any nation of its choosing. While this claim is not without any merit, it is equally important to mention here that this is more of a betrayal of old friends, hence a costly bluff on the part of Cameroun. During times of war or crisis, friends and foes choose their sides and the Biya regime has clearly chosen Russia over America, France and UK. It is often said that the hypocrisy of bad friends has no hiding place. The hypocrisy of the Biya regime towards America and her Western allies has been clearly and finally exposed by Cameroun’s neutrality votes in the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization when the question of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine was put on the floor for vote and finally, through the signing of a military pact with Russia when Russia is being isolated by the rest of the world.
2. The Russo-Cameroun military pact could rightly be perceived by America and her Western allies as a betrayal and a slap on their faces by the Biya regime they have been blindly supporting. In America and the West, we grew up learning that, real friendship is shown in a time of crisis. But the Biya regime did the exact opposite by siding a military pact with Russia. It is inconsistent and inconceivable for Mr. Paul Biya to ask Russia and Ukraine to meet and talk over their differences on one day and then turn around the next day only to sign a military cooperation agreement with the same Russia. If this does not amount to granting a moral and psychological victory to Russia over Ukraine and the West, then what is it? If this is not betrayal, then what other name can any rational person use to qualify Cameroun’s decision to sign this agreement at this particular moment of pain and grief in Ukraine, Ambazonia and the world?
3. The decision to sign a military cooperation agreement with Russia and its timing, regardless of the argument that Cameroun is a sovereign nation doesn’t sit down well with any rational person or nation, let alone the United States of America, France and Britain that have been using “caution” as a diplomatic weapon to respond to Paul Biya’s bloody war in a supposed independent country – Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia). That is why the West see the Russo-Cameroun military pact as a betrayal of monumental proportions. America and the West rightly perceive Biya’s military agreement with Russia at this particular point in time as encouraging Russia, fanning the war in Ukraine and a calculated attempt to prolong the genocidal war in Ambazonia. 4. Russia can afford to mess with America, but Cameroun should not. That is why Russia and America are referred to as “super powers” of which Cameroun isn’t one. Therefore, anyone who advised the Yaoundé regime to sign this military agreement with Russia at this particular time hates the Biya regime and doesn’t deserve their employment anymore. Just like the West encouraged Ukraine’s standoff against Russia only to abandon Ukraine to face Russia alone during the invasion, the same fate could befall Cameroun. If America, France and Britain decide today to destroy Cameroun in retaliation and divide the country into two along their recognized international boundaries as obtained at independence on January 1st  1960 (for French Cameroon) and October 1st 1961 (for Southern Cameroons), there is absolutely nothing Russia can do about it. 
5. Following the magnitude of the damage Ukraine is undergoing in the hands of Russia, given the increase in the cost of living in Europe due to the ongoing war, mindful of the uncertainty about the future world order caused by the war in Ukraine, the West may never forgive the Biya regime for what it considers as a blatant betrayal. While America and Russia are fighting their cold war on one end, Cameroun stands the risk of catching the cold on the other end. 
6. The Biya regime can kill people in Southern Cameroons as they like and get away with gross human rights violations and genocide but they can’t get away with picking an irresponsible and ill-timed geopolitical and geostrategic war against France, Britain and the United States of America. It is easy to forgive the mistake from others but it’s hard to rebuild the trust a friend has destroyed. America may never trust Cameroun again. By choosing to sign a military cooperation agreement with Russia at a time that Russian military invasion and aggression against Ukraine is being condemned worldwide, the Biya regime just lost three vital allies in its bloody genocidal war and attempt to forcefully and illegally continue to retain the independent territory of Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) as an integral part of French Cameroon territory that never was. 
7. Geopolitics is driven by military and economic interests. Only 11% of proven oil reserves in the Cameroons is located within French Cameroun territory, 89% is located within the territory of Southern Cameroons. What is even more, 100% of proven gas reserve is all located offshore Victoria. That is why French Cameroun could be rightly perceived by the West as a burden and no longer a benefit to either Europe or America. No wonder Ambassador Tibor Nagy upon learning about the signing by Cameroun of the April 12 Military pact with Russia saw this as Cameroun signing its own death warrant. In his twit regarding this “military cooperation Agreement” he loudly stated; “Can’t believe Cameroon government incredibly bad timing of signing military deal with Russia – at height of aggression in Ukraine. This is poke in the eye of US and France, two countries Cameroon may need help from in future. But good for Ambazonians.” 
E. Who stands to benefit from Cameroun’s blunder and betrayal of her Western allies?
Paradoxically, these Western powers have been shielding the Biya regime from being referred to the Security Council of the UN or the international criminal court to respond to alleged egregious crimes committed against humanity and genocide in Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia). It is certain therefore, that if America and the West come to the conclusion that; the Biya regime is aiding Russia, they no longer have control over the Biya regime and the territory of East Cameroon has been lost to Russia and China, America can change its policy towards Cameroon by recognizing Ambazonia as an independent State which will enable America to counter Russia via Ambazonia like they have done previously.  
America and her Western allies supported South Korea over North Korea, America and her Western allies Supported South Vietnam over North Vietnam and recently they also supported the creation of South Sudan from mainland Sudan, all because they were trying to counter either Russian or Chinese economic or military influence. Nothing can stop America, France and Britain from supporting Ambazonia to counter Russia and China, whose economic and military influence in French Cameroun is fast becoming a problem to the economic and military interests of American and Western allies in Gulf of Guinea. 
F. CONCLUSION: -The Russo-Cameroun military pact is a storm in a tea cup because people who leave in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Cameroon has so many visible faults (genocidal war, gross violation of human rights, huge embezzlement files, and illegal occupation of Ambazonia) which America and her allies are fully knowledgeable about and have been ignoring that could be opened up in retaliation to this ill-timed and ill-advised military agreement. 
-The Russo-Cameroun military pact is a violation of one of the cardinal laws of power which states that; “never step on the toe of your master.” Cameroun has clearly stepped on the toes of America, France and Britain. These three super powers have been shielding Cameroun’s illegal occupation of Ambazonia and have since been looking the other way while Cameroun commits unacceptable gross violations of human rights and genocide against the people of Sothern Cameroons.  Thanks to these three super powers, crimes that Gadhafi’s regime in Libya, Saddam Hussain’s regime in Iraq and Assad’s regime in Syria could not get away with, the Biya regime has been getting away with, surprisingly. 
Is this going to be the moment and the time Cameroon’s shift towards Russia will force America, France and Britain to open up Cameroun’s dirty files? No matter the answer to this critical question, in my personal opinion, Russia should not help French Cameroon against the interest of Southern Cameroons but should rather try to mediate between the two sides. Any war between Russia and America over the two Cameroons will not benefit the people, it will benefit only arms traffickers and those who thrive under chaotic conditions while the masses suffer. This is a storm in a tea cup that could have been avoided.   

Written  by Electa Shalo 

Ass Sec SCNC UK