The Foumban Constitutional Conference of 1961 was not properly coordinated because the Southern Cameroons delegation had no constitutional powers to adequately discuss about relations with a third party. At this time, the Southern Cameroons had a constitution passed by the British Parliament on 1st October 1960 known as ‘Southern Cameroons Order-in-Council’ which was a British Colonial Law. This led to the creation of a Ministerial Government in Southern Cameroons with Capital in Buea and John Ngu Foncha as Prime Minister taking effect on the 1st October 1960 which is a day Southern Cameroons consider as Independence Day. On this day the British also ceased to govern the territory through the British Governor General of Nigeria.
The 1960 ‘Southern Cameroon’s Order in Council’ could not continue to administer Southern Cameroons as it was no longer effective. Hence, powers were given back to the British Government in London who assigned an expatriate Colonial Officer known as Commissioner for Cameroons representing the British government in Buea. The British then governed Southern Cameroons as a Trust Territory until September 1961 when the British Trust mandate over the territory expired.
The Foumban Constitutional Conference of 1961 brought no gains to the people of Southern Cameroons. The conference failed to achieve its objectives which were to establish a unique Federation of two states equal in status on the continent of Africa and secondly to evolve a bicultural society in which the distinct heritage of each of the parties to the union would flourish. The Foumban Conference was therefore the beginning of the untold misery of the People of Southern Cameroons Ambazonia. In fact, instead of containing a unique federation in the two Cameroons, the Southern Cameroons has become a People with numerous problems. The destruction of the Federal system of 1961 in 1972 by the then President Amadou Ahidjo was a gross violation of the 1961 constitution.
The negotiations at the Foumban Conference were false and just for the benefit of one party present since there was no proper preparation for the discussions at the conference to have a positive effect on Southern Cameroons. Secondly British Southern Cameroons engaged in the discussions at the conference without any intention of reaching any agreement. But French Cameroon came in with an already prepared constitution for self-governance.
Perhaps, the British Southern Cameroons since the Foumban conference has been largely silenced by the power of the present Nation-state of Cameroon. As a result, there will always be conflict until Southern Cameroons gets its Independence restored as voted for in UNGA Resolution 1608 (XV) of 21st April 1961. The symbolic restoration of the Independence of Southern Cameroons Ambazonia was announced on 1st October 2017 by our interim President Ayuk Julius Tabe. It’s the duty of the UN to admit Ambazonia as its newest member and call on negotiations to begin between La Republique du Cameroun and Ambazonia for a peaceful separation. Ambazonia must be free.
Vincent Kushine ANUMBOH EVELINE MAFOR
Facing risk of deportation and being sent to Cameroon where they are likely to face persecution from Cameroon authorities because of their continues SCNC activism in the UK and their fight to see that Southern Cameroons regains its statehood.
In view of the current civil war in the Country, we are calling on the UK government to adhere to its international humanitarian obligations by preventing their deportation to imminent death.
The periods between 1st October 1961 to 2nd June 1972 and beyond reflects a clear intent of France and French Cameroon {la Republic du Cameroon} to recolonise and assimilate the people of British Southern Cameroons also known as West Cameroon {Ambazonia}. Through a high level conspiracy between the international community and the United Nations {UNO}, the lives of a people were put in a great deal of uncertainty for the future. Even the history thought in schools does not reflect the true history of the people, little did they know that nothing hides under the sun forever and there will come a generation that will stand firm to rewrite the history of the past and put glory to our forefathers who sort out to tell the world about a failed union but were brutally killed and therefore stretching the elastic limit of the people.
Every union with bad faith will never last. The union between French and West Cameroons cannot last any further for a simple reason of bad faith; if the so called Cameroon government had good faith then West Cameroons {Ambazonia} would not be in a revolution fighting to restore her independence. Simple demands from striking teachers and lawyers were met with armed force brutality on them. University students crying out about unjustified fees levied on them ,were also met with brutality of various forms ,the general population set out for a peaceful protest with peace plants were equally met with untold brutality .How far can you push a people and expect them to stay quiet?. Self-defence is a right and even the laws defend that.
A conniving vicious government like that of French Cameroon {la Republic du Cameroon} cannot be left to govern a gentle peaceful people of Southern Cameroons {Ambazonia}.The youths after 1st of October 2017,realised the only option they have to be free is to fight back and defend their communities. Event that have unfolded after October 1st legitimizes the reasons for the population to defend themselves, villages have been burned to ashes ,families displaced, people living in bushes, targeted killings going on and mass graves spotted in different localities across Southern Cameroons, thousands across the border as refugees in neighbouring Nigeria. What more do we need to tell the world ?. The population has been pushed to its elastic limit leading to young boys and girls to pick up arms to defend themselves. We all encourage the government of la republic to facilitate an unconditional, free and fair dialogue to avoid any further blood shed.
The current crisis is a particularly worrying resurgence of an old problem. Never before has tension around the Anglophone issue been so acute. The mobilisation of lawyers, teachers and students starting in October 2016, ignored then put down by the government, has revived identity-based movements which date back to the 1970s. These movements are demanding a return to the federal model that existed from 1961 to 1972. Trust between Anglophone activists and the government has been undermined by the arrest of the movement’s leading figures and the cutting of the internet, both in January. Since then, the two Anglophone regions have lived through general strikes, school boycotts and sporadic violence. Small groups have emerged since January. They are taking advantage of the situation to educate the population with support from part of the Anglophone diaspora. While the risk of partition of the country is low, the risk of a resurgence of the problem in the form of armed violence is high, as some groups are now advocating that approach.
The government has taken several cosmetic measures since March – creating a National Commission for Bilingualism and Multiculturalism; creating new benches for Common Law at the Supreme Court and new departments at the National School of Administration and Magistracy; recruiting Anglophone magistrates and 1,000 bilingual teachers; and turning the internet back on after a 92-day cut even though the internet was later taken off again. But the leaders of the Anglophone movement have seen these measures as too little too late.
International reaction has been muted, but has nevertheless pushed the government to adopt the measures described above. The regime in Yaoundé seems more sensitive to international than to national pressure. Without firm, persistent and coordinated pressure from its international partners, it is unlikely that the government will seek lasting solutions.
For years past many of the likes of Biya’s francophone dominated regime have denied the existence of the anglophone problem but History have proven them all wrong. The anglophone problem as it is commonly known has dominated the political agenda of Cameroon.
Tensions can be traced as far back as the pre- independence era. Cameroon a German colony was awarded to Britain and France by the treaty of Versailles. Britain and France split Cameroon into two spheres. (British Cameroons and French Cameroons).
On October 1st 1961, both Cameroons unified on the bases of equality as provided by the foumban constitutional conference.(Federal state). Later in may 1972 the federation was abolished, marking the turning point of the anglophone problem. The problem became glaring when Biya replaced unitary republic of Cameroon to LA republque du Cameroun, a name given to former French Cameroons before federation talks.
Since then anglophones have been agitating and boiling until November of 2016 where teachers and lawyers protested the use of French in English subsystem of education and the anglophone Saxon common law respectively. Later in that same year the general anglophone population joined the strike, and there was a shift from a mere protest to a civil disobedience.
Tensions soon heightened in October 1st 2017 when anglophones symbolically proclaimed the declaration of the restoration of their independent state of ambazonia. since then the anglophone
crisis have taken an ugly twist.
The military have carried out crackdowns, raids, curfews which have resulted to mass killings, villages razed such as kembong, kwakwa Bole, extortion, rapes and other atrocities. As a result of this, many anglophones have fled their homes for fear of the unknown and villages have been deserted.
It should be noted that since the crisis erupted anglophone regions have been heavily militarized, with armoured cars spotted everywhere. Also mass graves of civilians have been discovered in bushes as well as lifeless bodies.
How ever Armed separatist groups have emerged who have continued to clash with security forces and have taken hold of some areas like toko, menji , akwaya in the south west region.
Statistically, since the declaration of war by President Paul Biya, more than 1000 thousand people have been massacred ,5000 thousands unlawfully detain, 40000 thousands in refugee camps, and 100 in exile.As I write, Tensions are high in Ndian, meme manyu and labialem were security forces have been gunned down.
The Republic of Ambazonia is the world’s newest nation, but it seems a lot of people around the world have a lot of difficulty understanding the problem between Ambazonia and her Neighbour La Republic du Cameroun which is seeking to annex its territory. This was evident by a tweet from the United Kingdom Foreign Secretary after discussions with the prime minister of La Republic du Cameroun during the Commonwealth summit erroneously referring to our territory as Anglophone regions. Other actors have also called for dialogue with Anglophone leaders despite the fact that this is not synonymous with Ambazonia leaders. This confusion is further visible when western media try to report on the conflict, referring to Ambazonians as secessionist, separatist and various other connotations that are not in conformity with the fight for the recognition of our statehood. Therefore, it is important to have a clear picture of what we are and discard any attempts by anyone to label us otherwise. Our liberation must start from our minds. We must also continue to educate the world about our cause.
We are not in the South of la Republic du Cameroun
Southern Cameroons is on the west of la republic du Cameroun and was actually referred as west Cameroon in its purported union with its Neighbour La republic du Cameroon. The name Southern Cameroons comes from the decision by the British to partition its UN mandate territory into Northern Cameroons and Southern Cameroons. This territory had a distinct status of its own with international boundaries on the west with Nigeria established by the Anglo-German treaty of 1913.On the East it had boundaries with La Republic du Cameroun as agreed by the Simon-Milner agreement which was the dividing line between the British and French troops as they fought to overtake the German colony Kamerun during the first world war. This agreement was also acknowledged as the international boundary by the treaty of Versailles.
Ambazonia with its international boundaries with La Republic du Cameroun and Nigeria
We are Ambazonians not Anglophones or English minority:
It is very disappointing when diplomats and politicians keep referring to the problems in Ambazonia as that of a minority English speaking region or Anglophone problem. This has led to the international community dismissing us as a people fighting over an imperialist language. This cannot be further far from the truth. Our dispute is entirely about a territory illegally annexed by our neighbour. Most people in Ambazonia or La republic du Cameroun are perfectly bilingual, being fluent in English does not make one an Ambazonian. We refuse to be equally belittled as a territory or region in another country.We are a nation with defined international status and boundaries for almost a century. So please call us Ambazonians .
We are not secessionist:
To secede is to withdraw formally from membership of a federal union, an alliance or from an organisation. Since there is no act of union between Ambazonia and la Republic du Cameroun,we cannot be termed as such. More appropriately we are restorationist, as we are trying to restore the statehood and independence of Ambazonia under annexation by our neighbours since 1961.
We are not terrorist :
As a Country trying to restore its place in the committee of nations, we cannot be terrorist and we do not seek to terrorise anyone. Rather we want to use every democratic and peaceful means available to us to achieve our goals. Terrorist will be more appropriate to the government of la republic du Cameroun. As army of occupation continues to burn homes roasting venerable people like women children and elderly inside, they rape our women, loot our properties and kill indiscriminately. They arrest innocent civilians and torture them mercilessly with aim to intimidating our people to subjugation. This regime continues to carry out human right abuses in Ambazonia. After unilaterally declaring war on Ambazonia ,La Republic du Cameroun has flagrantly breeched the Geneva conventions and protocols it is signatory to, while the international community watches but remain silent.
Our problem is not marginalization:
Since we do not consider ourselves as a territory of another nation, marginalization is very inappropriate to use as the source of the problems in Ambazonia. Living under the control of an annexationist, one is bound to feel left out and oppressed. But we are not fighting against marginalization. Marginalization are internal disputes of a country that requires different solutions to that demanded by all Ambazonians. We want to live as free men and be able to determine our own destiny.
We are not seeking for a Federal union with La Republic du Cameroon:
If our forefathers rejected any union with la republic du Cameroun, how can we now decide to enter into another with La Republic du Cameroun after 57 years of being annexed? There was no agreed union between the two countries and La Republic du Cameroun constitution imposed on our people was rejected by then premier of Southern Cameroons J.N Foncha and thus was not signed. Anyone advocating for Ambazonia to be a federal state in another country is living in fantasy. Until we live as free men in a free Ambazonia we will continue to resist.
Anglophone leaders do not represent Ambazonians:
Many countries, diplomats and organizations have been calling for negotiations to resolve the conflict. However what is very wrong and dangerous is the fact that they call on La Republic du Cameroun to negotiate with Anglophone leaders. Since our problem is not that of Language, Anglophone leaders do not represent Ambazonians. In fact, this people who claim to be English speakers are the source of the problem as they have been used by La Republic du Cameroun to hold grip on our territory. To say the government should negotiate with Anglophone leaders is like asking it to negotiate with itself. The only people that represent Ambazonians is the interim government of the Republic of Ambazonia.
Conclusion
It is the duty of every Ambazonia to recognise that we are a nation annexed and denied its right to self-government by an international conspiracy championed by France. Irrespective of the results of the 11 February referendum of 1961 and the failure to negotiate a treaty of Union, Britain should have handed power to the democratically elected government of Southern Cameroons. Rather it directly handed it to another state giving it the prerogative to annex our territory as it did by marching its army and occupying our land.
We therefore have a right protected under international law to seek to govern ourselves. The arguments for statehood should always be confined to international law. We should not confound this with the internal problems of La republic du Cameroun, such as lack of democracy, marginalization ,the language divide or dictatorship. These issues belittle our just cause for freedom, because these are internal issues within a country. Our problems are not an internal dispute but an international one. It is the illegal occupation of our Territory by La republic du Cameroun by crossing its internationally recognised boundaries.
Ambazonia was given an international status as a UN mandate territory in 1922.On 9th of January 1931 the “Cameroons boundaries commission” met in London and under the supervision of the league of nations the international boundary between the two nations was landmarked and concrete pillars were built to demarcate this boundary. The agreement was co-signed by administrators of both territories.
This international status was maintained by the United Nations and in 1961 when there was a failure to agree on any act union of the two countries, Southern Cameroons automatically retained its independent status as a nation.
Thus we will either live in a free Ambazonia or die fighting.
It all started in October 2016 when citizens of the Former British Southern Cameroons decided to join the Lawyers and Teachers to stand up against the continuous marginalisation, oppression and occupation of Southern Cameroons by La Republique du Cameroun. As peaceful protests were being held in the entire Southern Cameroons, La Republiquedu Cameroun’s military responded by brutalising unarmed civilians and fired at closed range leading to the death of 8 protesters. The protesters demanded for a return to the Two States Federation as was the case in 1961. However, this is a minority because a greater majority of Southern Cameroonians including myself are in support of the restoration of the statehood of Southern Cameroons https://twitter.com/vincentkushine/status/958772480709185536.
The peaceful protests of 28th September 2017 actually confirmed that the majority of Southern Cameroonians are for an Independent Southern Cameroons Ambazonia. Hundreds were killed between 28th September and 1st October 2017 when the Interim President of Southern Cameroons Ambazonia declared the restoration of the Independence of Southern Cameroons Ambazonia and made it clear to Mr Paul Biya that he was open for dialogue to negotiate the terms of separation. Mr Paul Biya has since declared war on Southern Cameroons Ambazonia where thousands have so far been killed. The Yaoundé regime of 85 years old Paul Biya who has ruled the country for 36 years, has embarked on mass abductions and illegal arrest of Southern Cameroonians believe to be in support of the separation movement. Over 1000 are in jails in Yaoundé and other Prisons around the country and their only crime is for standing up against the regime. Others are suspected to have been systematically silenced like the case of Woliem Vitalis who was incarcerated at the Kondengui maximum security prison in Yaounde even with his frail health and later died in hospital. Reports also have it that some arrested cases of Southern Cameroonians have simply been executed like the case of Sam Sawyer who was arrested with two others in Belo but later found dead in the Bamenda Regional Hospital mortuary having been slaughtered by the military of La Republique du Cameroun. As a result of these deaths, Belo has been turned into a battle field unlike other areas in Southern Cameroons Ambazonia. There has been heavy casualities on both sides and the population has now deserted the town to seek refuge in the bushes while some courages young men resist the military in self-defence. Several houses continue to be torched by the military on daily basis in most villages in Southern Cameroons.
Southern Cameroonians in the diaspora on their part continue to mount pressure on the Government of La Republique du Cameroun to release or show proof of life of the Leaders of their Interim Government abducted and illegally extradited to Cameroun by the Nigerian Government. Major protests have been held in London and major cities around the world and civil disobedience is promoted back home in the form of ghost towns every Monday and a complete boycott of schools. The diaspora groups have also called on the Cameroun Government to unconditionally release the over 1000 prisoners in their prisons before any form of dialogue can take place. Various foreign Governments have also added their voices to call on Cameroun to dialogue with the People of Southern Cameroons including those in detention. The most recent call was made by the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson after meeting Philomen Yang, Prime Minister of Cameroun during the Commonwealth Heads of Governments’ Summit in London (https://twitter.com/vincentkushine/status/987036101981409281). However, the Foreign Secretary’s support of Decentralisation attracted so much criticism from Southern Cameroonian Activists on Twitter. (https://twitter.com/vincentkushine/status/988833086602383360). Mr Paul Biya reacted by blocking several Activists who raised concerns about his poor management of the crisis in Southern Cameroons Ambazonia and the brutality of the military on civilian population in Southern Cameroons (https://twitter.com/vincentkushine/status/987789184734846976).
We in the diaspora would like to call on the International community to step in now to stop the killings, looting, rape, maiming, burning of homes, destruction of property and the abductions perpetrated on Southern Cameroonians by the military of La Republique du Cameroun (https://twitter.com/vincentkushine/status/985842705354907648 )
As the people of southern cameroons continue to struggle out of the grip of the government of ‘la Republic du cameroun’ our people are still been killed, on a daily basis. Some elderly and vulnerable denizes burnt alive some like the case of mami Epo, an old mother of 96 roasted in her home because she could not escape when the french cameroon military attacked the village and set it on fire. Genocide in southern cameroons as we speak now is real.
How can a government,not protect its own people,but kill,kidnap and abduct them? We want the world at large to see how cruel and wicked a government without human rights can do to it’s own people. Below are the words of an angry protester at the commonwealth heads of states meeting in london (Ngum Vivian)
“The people of southern cameroons cry out loud right to the commonwealth day,so they can see if there’s any reason to keep I’a republic in the commonwealth if they can’t respect the human rights,they kill their citizens like chicken, no dignity,they cease innocent people’s motor bikes, their farm equipments that they use to earn their living and burn, burn down people ‘s houses and leave them homeless,they kill women’s husbands and leave them widows,kill children’s parents and leave them orphans, is this how a government protects it’s citizens? I want the world to see and do something. The struggle continues until we gain our independence.”
The Southern Cameroons crisis that has been playing out for close to two years has gradually spiralled out of control following the existence of many armed groups in the two English-speaking regions of the country. Over the last two months, many innocent civilians have met their death as the government pursues its policy of collective punishment. Many civilians have seen their homes burnt down by government forces which have opted for a “scorch-earth” policy that is hurting many vulnerable people who have nothing to do with the conflict.
A few weeks ago, villages such as Kembong and Kwakwa in the South West region were visited by a brigade of alcohol-inflamed and sex-starved soldiers whose actions defied all modern law enforcement logic. Houses were burnt down, with the old and vulnerable consumed by the flames in a campaign that will never bring peace to the region. What is more disturbing is that, for more than a month now, the government has not ordered any investigation into these barbaric atrocities. It has not even expressed any remorse for such acts of inhumanely committed by people who are supposed to serve and protect the population.
Of course, what caused the government to adopt the obnoxious “law of Hammurabi” was the killing of army soldiers by some unidentified gun men. This act should never be extolled, but the government’s decision to come down to the level of a ragtag army clearly calls for a global condemnation.
The government is an organized structure with institutions whose capacity to investigate crimes has been built over the years. Its actions in retaliation to acts committed by unknown gunmen serves as a testament to its failure to reign in the tough Ambazonian fighters who are determined to take the war to the enemy.
The government clearly understands that in seeking out those who commit such odious crimes against government forces, it must partner with the local population. It knows it must use the local population to gather intelligence that will help it in its efforts to restore peace and security in the region. The government’s violent reaction to crimes committed by a few gunmen speaks volumes to its inability to keep the country safe through meaningful dialogue. For long, it has been giving the impression that it cherishes dialogue, but its actions over the last six months have proven that it has been paying lip service to the whole notion of dialogue.
Kwakwa had been considered as a flash in the pan by many government apologists and many people hoped that this unfortunate drama would not repeat itself. But three weeks ago, Mbim, a small village some 20 kilometres from Kumbo, was the target of these alcohol-inflamed soldiers. During the military onslaught, many houses were razed, food was destroyed, and many civilians were wounded, an act that has been condemned by many Southern Cameroonian activists and opinion leaders.
From every indication, this seems to be the government’s modus operandi and it is determined to use it. The government seems to have sworn that theirs will be the kingdom of tears and homelessness for as long as they continue to challenge its authority. The same destruction has been spreading to other parts of Southern Cameroons.
The government that is supposed to protect civilians has resorted to killing them just because some of them do sympathize with Ambazonian Defense Forces. The civilians have been caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. They have no control over the Ambazonian fighters who consider themselves as freedom fighters and the beleaguered government seems to be at its wit’s end as it faces tough challenges from the determined freedom fighters.
On Tuesday, April 3, 2018, the Cameroonian military attacked and burned several homes in Mungo Ndor, a small village located some 40 km from Nguti in the Koupé-Manengouba Division in the South West region. The senseless arson campaign by government troops has left many people in tears. Ms. Egbe Maria Ndonge, popularly known as “Mami Maria”, was burned to death in her house, while asleep. Many people question the rationale behind such government brutality that will make it hard for both parties to sit and talk.
A correspondent on ground zero, residents of the village confirmed that local churches had been burnt and 6 civilians shot. The sources also added that some civilians had been killed in the senseless government attacks. It should be recalled that killing civilians on purpose and destroying civilian property constitute war crimes. The government has an obligation under international law to investigate all the atrocities being committed by its military. So far, the Yaoundé regime seems to be enjoying as Southern Cameroonians run into the jungle for accommodation the case Petty can’t b over emphasized just 15 years old and was shot in the face now fighting for her life.
According to the correspondent, the village has been besieged by the army, and the villagers are not allowed to move in or out. Hundreds of residents are currently seeking refuge in the forest. Many rights groups, including the one led by Barrister Felix Nkongho Agbor-Balla, are calling on the government to grant journalists and human rights organizations access to these regions.
Since the conflict in Southern Cameroons started in October 2016, more than 1,000 people have been killed, with army soldiers accounting for more than 300 of the deaths. The civilian population has borne the brunt of the government’s attacks on villages and towns in Southern Cameroons.
The Southern Cameroons crisis has resulted in the fleeing of more than 60,000 Southern Cameroonians from their homeland to Nigeria due to the government’s military violence. Many of these people are innocent civilians who have been caught between government army soldiers and Ambazonian Defense forces who are battling for the control of territory in Southern Cameroons; a region rich in minerals, especially oil, gold and diamond.
The tension in the region has been flaring following the arrest of Ambazonian leaders in Nigeria in early January and their illegal extradition to Cameroon where they are being held incommunicado at the Gendarmerie headquarters in Yaounde.
Following the arrest of the Ambazonian president and 46 others, violent clashes erupted in several towns in Southern Cameroons. In Batibo, three army soldiers were killed by unknown gunmen, while the Batibo Senior Divisional Officer was taken by the gunmen to an unknown destination. His whereabouts are still unknown. The Batibo Assistant Mayor, Esther Tebo, for her part, escaped capture by the skin of her teeth, after gunmen showed up at her church and opened fire, wounding several people.
Kembong, a town in Manyu Division which was a hotspot during the violent confrontations in December 2017, was back in the spotlight following an attack by heavily armed gunmen on the temporary military barracks in the town. The attack resulted in the killing of three gendarmes, with many other uniformed officers wounded. The wounded were flown to the Mamfe military hospital for treatment, a measure that helped to stabilize them.
The incident, which is a response to the government’s military action in many parts of Southern Cameroons, came less than 24 hours after the country’s president, Paul Biya, said the North West and South West regions were stabilizing during a speech delivered to the country’s youth on Saturday, February 10, 2018, on the occasion of the country’s youth day.
There have been many cases of violence in the English-speaking regions following Mr. Ayuk Tabe’s arrest. Cameroonian authorities themselves have become more concerned about the political and military conflict in the country as it continues to spill out of the control. Rumors making the rounds for some time now hold that young Francophone fighters are swelling the ranks of Southern Cameroonian fighters in Ndian Division.
This is making things a lot more dangerous, as an issue that started with socio-professional demands by lawyers and teachers may end up becoming a major civil war in a region that has had more than its fair share of civil wars and political chaos.
But the most challenging thing is the silence of the international community. Despite the daily killings taking place in many towns in Southern Cameroons, the international community has sunk into a deafening silence that is worrying to many people across the globe.
Some analysts argue that the international community has entered into a pact with the Cameroon government. The international community has been looking the other way while the Cameroon government is mowing down its own people. Despite calls to the global body by rights groups such as the International Crisis Group and Amnesty International for a direct intervention, the UN has continued to display a form of indifference that is more unsettling than reassuring.
Even the illegal arrest and extradition of Southern Cameroonian leaders did not shock the international community. The United Nations, in particular, seems to be playing ball with the Cameroon government and this is causing many people to hold that most of the military violence taking place in the English-speaking regions of the country has received the blessing of a United Nations that is more interested in keeping the country together than in the methods that are being used to keep the country one and indivisible.
So far, the international community has been turning a blind eye to the death and destruction that army soldiers have been spreading in the two English-speaking regions of the country. Is the international community under the influence of France that has been the greatest beneficiary of the Southern Cameroonian wealth or is it just sick and tired of dealing with conflicts on the continent?
From the behavior so far displayed by the international community, it is clear that Southern Cameroonian lives do not really matter. Many Southern Cameroonians have been sent to an early grave as a result of the government’s ill-advised decision to pursue military instead of a political approach to the conflict. Could the Biya regime have been successful in corrupting the entire international community? Why would a people who simply want the world to know that they are hurting become a target of a government that is supposed to protect them?
The international community might have called for inclusive dialogue at different stages of the conflict, but its passivity and lack of interest in the whole situation speaks to the connivance between it and the Biya region to decimate the indigenous people of Southern Cameroons. If the international community does not come out of the “Omerta” it has imposed on itself, Southern Cameroonians will continue to consider it as an accomplice in the genocide that is currently playing out in their country.
It is time for the international community to get tough on a government that is considered by its own citizens as a crime syndicate. Its corruption has robbed its own people of happiness and prosperity. Today, it is fiercely promoting the principle of political tribalism as a means of sustaining itself in power. The market-dominant minority that has enriched itself through unorthodox means has brought untold hardship to Cameroonians. It has to go and Cameroonians in general hold that the intervention of the international community will be a welcome relief. Turning a blind eye to the problem will not make it go away. The international community must step in to restore peace in a country that is anything but democratic.
There’s need for the international community to stop the genocide and initiate a peaceful dialogue to determine the terms of separation between La Republique du Cameroon and Southern Cameroons Ambazonia.
Catherine Muring Yombo is an active member of the Southern Cameroon National council (SCNC UK). At the moment an asylum seeker in the UK with no home, country, state to return to. I am a prisoner and refugee in my own home land Southern Cameroons, just a matter of time. I will continue to fight and speak out to the world until our independence is granted. La Republic du Cameroun (LR) can claim ownership of our lands and people but one thing is certain that there will always be a one day chance for the true owner over the 99days of a thief. I shall die for my land and nobody or anything will stop me from fighting till the end. Many of our people have been killed, arrested, tortured, abducted etc. by LR government but there is no turning back if not for me for future generation. The fight for total restoration of southern Cameroons (SC) continues for it is our fundamental right by birth.
History Told and will always be Told
SCNC as a pressure group is fighting for the liberation of southern Cameroons which this has continuously suffered attack from the French Cameroon gendarmes. This is carried out through peaceful means while the French Cameroon has turned this into a war fair denying Southern Cameroonians of their basic human rights. Such barbaric motives have resulted to thousands of innocent southern Cameroonians to either lose their freedom or lives. Right now our people are scattered all over in the jungle, those unable to run being molested and under all forms of abuses. Fear hovers all over towns and cities as the streets are flooded with uniform men with weapons ready for the next victim. In addition to all these ruthless acts of barbarism, people’s valuable goods are seized and others burnt or destroyed. All we want now is complete independence and there is no room for any form of union and we also say no to a federal government for this led us from ‘‘cold to frost’’. Our lands remain underdeveloped and crippled meanwhile LR extracts all its natural resources to develop its cities. This can be justified by the following (home-truth practical questions by Shey A.);
1) Why has there never been a southern Cameroonian as Director of SONARA?
2) Why was the West Cameroon Marketing Board closed down?
3) Why was the Cameroon Bank Closed down?
4) Why was the Yoke Electricity power Station closed down?
5) Why was the Santa Coffee Estate Destroyed?
6) Why is money being transported from Bamenda to Bafoussam at the close of every business day?
7) Why is money being transported from Victoria to Douala at the close of every business day?
8) Why does SONARA pay royalties to the Douala city council rather than to the Victoria city council?
9) Why do some employees of some companies in Bamenda have to travel to Bafoussam every month for their pay?
10) Why was the Victoria Deep Sea Port abandoned?
11) Why is revenue from The Southern Cameroons being used to recoup the Douala sea port when there is an excellent deep sea port in Victoria ready for use?
12) Why is there a new sea port being promoted in Kribi and not in Victoria?
13) Why was the Tiko International Airport closed down?
14) Why was the Bali Airport closed down?
15) Why was the Bamenda Airport closed down?
16) Why is there no road linking the Southern Cameroons internally between Buea and Bamenda?
17) Why is there no road linking Mamfe and Kumba?
18) Why did they link Mamfe and Bamenda?
19) Why does the ring road exist only on paper?
20) Who currently owns Ndu Tea, and Why?
21) Who currently owns Tole Tea, and why?
22) What percentage of the revenue of The Cameroons comes from The Southern Cameroons?
23) What percentage of the revenue in #22 is used for the development of Southern Cameroons?
24) Why are all the Reservoirs of Petroleum products in Douala, Yaounde, Bafoussam and in Garoua while there is none on Southern Cameroons Soil, when production is based in Victoria?
25). Why are petroleum products in the Southern Cameroons imported from Douala, while the refinery is in Victoria of Southern Cameroons?
26). Why are petroleum products transported by tankers from Victoria Refinery to Douala for storage?
27 Why was the Southern Cameroons not given the third option in the 1960s of gaining independence without necessarily joining either Nigeria or la Republique du Cameroon?
28). Why did the United Kingdom leave the Southern Cameroons without a Military Force to defend its territory?
29).What happened to the so called Federal Republic of Cameroon?
30). Why was The Southern Cameroons split into North West and South West Provinces?
The final straw on the camel’s back to this struggle has been from 2016 when our judicial system (Common Law) was being tampered with to be replaced by the French legal system (the civil law). Our lawyers were also having the problem of having to handle cases in court being presided over by French judges. To make matters worse, our educational system was also a victim whereby French teachers were posted to English schools. What a gross abuse of human nature. Both teachers and lawyers decided to go on sit down strike which up till now is ongoing with no school resumption. As usually, peaceful demonstrations resulted to lawyers, teachers, pro-independence activists etc being beaten, killed,brutalised and bundled to the deadly Kondengui prison. Not to talk of the numerous youths and university students that were raped and abducted. The struggle has now taken a different turn and no Southern Cameroonian of sound mind is sleeping until that minute when our flag will be flying in Buea.
MURING YOMBO and JACKIE FEARNLEY SCNC UK ACTIVISTS
When enough is enough, the people have no choice but to go out loud for international support or better still to fight for what is theirs. We have suffered enough in the cruel hands of Paul Biya and his government of LR. There is no turning back and we will resist till the end. We have been pushed to the wall for so long and with their own eyes day in and out they see people disappear into thin air,there is bound to be an explosion or eruption. That is what 22nd September 2017 was to Southern Cameroonians headed by women/TAKEMBENG or TAKUMBENG. This same day Mr Paul Biya was presiding over his bag of lies at the UN General Assembly in New York. Southern Cameroons schools have not opened since last year and Mr Biya is that bold to talk when he has deprived us of education which is a basic human right. When women come out in their numbers in a mass protest as ‘Takumbeng” in a traditional way,it means that their “eyes have seen their ears”. This is a traditional way of expressing the severity of an offence. Women go out in numbers half naked or putting on old clothes,bright colours clothes etc. The case of Friday 22nd September 2017,women were dressed either in red,white, old clothes or half naked. Southern Cameroonians have had enough and can no longer accommodate or bare the barbarism of La Republic. Mothers/women can no longer sit and watch their children disappearing. The militarization of our towns and villages,the unlawfully killings, arrests,threats,etc has unleashed the Takumbengs for an out cry for the gods to hear as well as the international community to rescue us and intervene. So many innocent souls have been lost and enough is enough.
Takumbeng or Takembeng are a female social movement in the North West region of Southern Cameroons. It connects with traditional practices where group of women perform ostracizing rituals against individuals in their communities. Glaring examples could be seen as far back as the 1950s and 1960s towards the end of colonial control and in the early years of independent Cameroon. Since the early 1990s especially in the city of Bamenda, Takumbeng protests have taken place which was another horrible period in the history of S C. This was seen more especially during the presidential election of 1992 in which the results were fraudulent in favour of Mr Paul Biya. This resulted to several deaths, arrests, destruction of public structures.
It is nearly 2yrs now since schools have been closed in Southern Cameroons yet Mr Biya says that everything is perfect in his country to the world. The world is now a global village as we say and we can feed our eyes with happenings a thousand or more miles from us. Thanks to social media for being such a necessary evil. Internet in SC fluctuates like the stock exchange market/exchange rates meaning that it is up to the government. It is on/off so that certain happenings are hidden from the world,of course acts of horror and abuse to mankind. Dictator Paul Biya,shame on you and your government,the blood of the innocent Southern Cameroonians killed is in your hands and will haunt you. All the pains and torture inflicted on us,mass arrests,the abduction of our people and all those lavishing in prisons has strengthened this struggle to the next level.
Where is my President,my chairman and other Leaders?
A few months ago we were jubilant, welcomed and celebrated the formation of our interim government headed by HE Sisiku AyukTabe to lead Southern Cameroons. I amongst others did not hesitate in sending out this message to the world “My president,our president is now Sisiku AyukTabe and that is final and indisputable. His mandate is genuine,legal and we (Southern Cameroonians) have chosen him as our leader. We all stand with him and he will take us out of the burning bush. Mr President we thank you for taking this office and with you together we shall succeed. Our independence is inevitable and we will resist till the end. Our struggle to independence is God-ordained and we must take back control…….” for further reading; http://scnc-uk.com/2017/11/07/president-of-southern-cameroons/
The cruel hands of LR at work once more, pure State-Sponsored-Abduction gross human rights violations. Our interim President HE Sisiku AyukTabe Julius,SCNC national chairman Nfor Ngala Nfor, members of the interim government, and many others were abducted in Nigeria. This act of barbarism took place on January 5th 2018 in Nera Hotel in Abuja-Nigeria during a meeting to discuss the situation of thousands of Southern Cameroonians refugees in Nigeria. Our leaders were picked to the land of nowhere like hens off their chicks and up till now they have been denied access from lawyers and even their love-ones. What cruelty,where is the UN, Amnesty etc? In this modern world people are being treated like animals. We say NO, No, No, We shall fight even with our last breath,our leaders must be free and we must be free too. Mr Biya,we shall continue this fight until you set us free,freedom is a fundamental human right. Here are the names of those abducted,just to name a few;
1) Sisiku AyukTabe Julius,
2) Nfor Ngala Nfor
3) DR. Fidelis Nde Che
4)Dr. Henry Kimeng
5) Prof. Awasum
6)Dr. Cornelius Kwanga,
7)Barrister Nalowa Bih
8)Tassang Wilfred,
9)Elias Eyambe,
10) Ojong Okongho
11)Dr. OGORK Ntui and
12) Shufai Blaise Berinyuy.
HE Sisiku Ayuk Tabe Julius presiding over a fundraising event in Premrose Baptist church,London (17/11/17).
HE Sisiku Ayuk Tabe Julius with Catherine Yombo in London November 2017.
The wind of change is blowing over Africa
Mr Paul Biya of La Republic du Cameroon, step down now for time is up and we say no to dictators all over the world. For over 36yrs you have been in power changing and amending the constitution as you deem it to your taste. This year 2018 you still want to stand as a presidentially candidate which we know the winner already before Election Day. People’s power will always prevail and we the Southern Cameroonians have made it clear that enough is enough and we want back our lands. The wrath of the gods is going to be so severe so it is the time of reckoning,repent and be save. That wind of change must reach Cameroon for we are rising to fall no more.
“O my home,blessed with milk and honey,land of peace and joy. The oppressors want to sweep all our God-given treasures;we are killed,abducted,arrested and tortured for no just cause. Paul Biya and his government have come to cripple us and our future generations. Land of abundance and peace where did we go wrong? We have become refugees by no choice classified stateless.
Land of abundance and peace,we are now homeless and wander in the world. Our farm tools seized by the uniform men and we are now called terrorists.We now feed from hand to mouth with no future,resorting to food banks”.
Nfor Ngala Nfor(SCNC National chairman) heading the team at the Refugee camp in Nigeria,November 2017.
“Land of abundance and peace, we have been chased to the bushes by strangers. Lost and found in another’s territory,Nigeria is not my home. Cried the beloved,I must head home for I was never born to live in another’s house. My home,my home to thee I belong and there shall I live to part no more.
Land of abundance and peace, Mr Paul Biya will not take that from us. A blessed nation with everything in abundance,loving and peaceful. Our gods will continue to watch over us and we shall fight for our freedom till the end.
Yesterday was your partner in crime dictator Yahya Jammeh of Gambia,today Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe etc. and tomorrow will be you dictator Paul Biya of LRC. The voice of the voiceless will be heard with no doubt. Land of abundance and peace never to die”.
Plan of Action
I will die for my country, will resist till our independence granted. “When injustice becomes the law, Resistance becomes duty’’, Thomas Jefferson.
