Cameroon’s separatists celebrate ‘Ambazonian independence’

The arrest of English-speaking separatist leader Lucas Ayaba Cho in Norway on 25 September has changed nothing for the armed groups active in Cameroon’s anglophone regions, who remain determined to make their voices heard.

Between their so-called “ghost town” civil disobedience operations, under which local businesses are forced to shut down, clandestine marches and hostage-taking, they carried out their customary celebration of 1 October. This date marks the independence of the former Southern Cameroon and, since 2017, the anniversary of a symbolic proclamation of “independence” by Ambazonia – the name given to the political entity proclaimed by these anglophone separatists who are seeking independence from Cameroon.

In the main English-speaking towns, such as Bamenda, Buea and Limbe, fears of clashes between separatist groups and the defence forces kept the locals indoors, although authorities had encouraged them to go about their business as usual. The streets were also deserted in Kumba, where the prefect, Chamberlain Ntou Ndong, decided to seal off the shops that remained closed, punishing business owners who had complied with ghost town orders.

In rural areas, several clandestine parades were organised by separatist militias. Videos showing flag-raising ceremonies featuring the blue and white flag of Ambazonia were posted online. In several of these videos, local people accompany the fighters, some of whom wear military uniforms taken from the Cameroonian army – as seen in the department of Bui, in the northwest region, where a self-styled general named Talk and Do made a markedly hostile speech aimed at Yaoundé.

More dramatically, in the department of Ndian, in the southwest region, local sub-prefect Ewane Roland and an employee of the town hall, Etongo Ismaël, were kidnapped by unidentified armed men, who then headed for Nigeria by boat. Cameroonian authorities immediately contacted their Nigerian counterparts to help them track down the kidnappers, but they have so far been unsuccessful.

The self-proclaimed leader of Ambazonia, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, once again expressed his support for the partition of the country in a post on social media. “Ambazonia will emerge. From the darkness of imprisonment to the light of liberation, our people will prevail,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Meanwhile, activist Abdul Karim Ali, who has reported on human rights violations perpetrated by the Cameroonian military against civilians and formerly ran the Peace Research Centre, posted: “Our freedom lies within us. No police, no prison, no court and no system can take away our freedom.”

In recent weeks, tensions have risen sharply in the English-speaking regions, particularly around the ghost town orders issued by separatist groups in various localities. The first of these was announced at the beginning of September, coinciding with the new school year in protest at an education system they disapprove of. In the wake of this, Cameroonian authorities increased police presence and checks were stepped up.

In several towns, this security crackdown led to the exchange of fire between, such as in Bui and Tubah (northwest) on 18 September, and in Muea-Buea (southwest) the following day. Also on 19 September, an improvised explosive device killed one person and injured six others at the Nkwen market in Bamenda.

The first lockdown officially ended on 20 September. But a few days later, separatist groups announced another, this time on the symbolic date of 1 October. “We don’t want anyone out on that date. Anyone who opens a shop, drives a car, or is simply caught walking around will be killed,” proclaimed one video. On 27 September, the prefect of Mezam, the northwest department which includes the regional capital Bamenda, banned all undeclared gatherings until further notice. In the southwest, Governor Okalia Bilaï did the same. Eight years after the first demonstrations in the so-called Anglophone crisis, the population is still being held hostage.