[7] Ongoing violence has led to widely reported human rights abuses by both sides, including indiscriminate killing of civilians, torture, rape and gender-based crimes, and unjustified detentions and kidnappings. Some speculate that this is the result of a partnership, announced in April, between one of the major Cameroonian secessionist groups, the Ambazonia Governing Council, and the Indigenous People of . Though, the Federal Republic of Ambazonia is not recognized by most states, there has been a proposed constitution for the territory. Ambazonia, officially the Federal Republic of Ambazonia is a secessionist state of Cameroon, self-proclamed in its English-speaking regions. The Federal Republic of Ambazonia (Southern Cameroons) is an unrecognised and disputed region located in the armpit of Africa, a crossroad between west and central africa, on the Gulf of Guinea. The first permanent European settlement on the mainland in the region was founded in 1858 by British Baptist Missionary Alfred Saker as a haven for freed slaves. [17] In 1953, the Southern Cameroons representatives in the Eastern Nigerian Legislature demanded a separate regional government for the Southern Cameroons with seat in Buea. In Nigeria, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a secessionist group that advocates for the creation of the independent country of Biafra. It is located between Nigeria to the west and north, and Cameroun to the east; it is wedged between West Africa and the former French Equatorial Africa. Blue stands for the sky, liberty. Further east towards Cameroon a series of volcanoes like the Manengouba or Kupe can be found. Beyond the vast opportunity manifest in African markets, we highlight people who make a difference; leaders turning the tide, youth driving change, and an indefatigable business community. The English speaking region was then given two options by the UN; either to join Nigeria or Cameroon as a federation. Yellow/Gold stands for the prosperity. (Various separatist leaders deny that financial support has waned; however, fighters and aid workers on the ground confirm that extortion of war taxes and kidnap-for-ransom schemes are now the main income source to support ongoing fighting.) s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; Mountains stands for the Two peaks of mount Fako (Mount Cameroon), determination and leadership. Midterm Elections). This was a violation of the 1961 constitution which stated that the form of the state should never be discussed, Henry Baaboh added. The only other country is Eritrea that beat Ethiopia to the game. The Sun stands for Prosperity and Justice (Kumba school massacre). Black fist stands for power and justice). A referendum in 1961 sealed the future of British Cameroon: The northern region. [47] A massive military deployment accompanied by curfews and forced evacuations of entire villages. In 2018, Nigerian security forces located, arrested, and extradited 10 Cameroonian separatist leaders residing in the country. fbq('track', 'ViewContent'); Military Excesses Its Friday December 14, 2018, and the Mile 17 bus station in Buea, capital of the South West Region, is busy like a beehive. However, in the 1880s, the Scramble for Africa reached full swing with European powers rushing to gain diplomatic or military control over Africa to secure colonial claims. Ambazonia enjoys good relations with members of the West African Union, and other Anglophone African nations. In April 2014, the kidnapping of nearly 200 Chibok girls from their school gained international attention. The armed insurgency has turned into a guerrilla war, killing thousands of people, displacing nearly . The 13 counties are governed by county-ministers; these individuals are chosen by political parties as candidates to govern the area and are voted into office during State elections (which occur every two years, similar to the U.S. Cameroon's anglophone minority has long complained of discrimination at the hands of the French-speaking majority. Official results claimed 98.2% turnout and 99.99% of votes in favor of the new constitution. By Fax: 1-240-556-0535. Fulani fighters, including some who have crossed the border from Nigeria to Cameroon, have been implicated in some of the conflicts deadliest incidents. In a shocking video widely circulated on social media, three suspected separatist fighters in Muyuka, South-West region, beat and drag a 35-year-old woman, identified as Confort Tumassang by the. Britain established Ambas Bay Protectorate in 1884 with Victoria as its capital. green stands for the fertility of the land, prosperity and growth. 2 global climate envoy, joined FP editor in chiefRavi Agrawal to discuss Washingtons climate policy, and how it is being seen around the world. The golden sun stands for a new era, hope, wealth and prosperity. List of countries in Africa. The successful joining of the two increasingly violent groups is likely to trigger a heightened response from both Cameroonian and Nigerian armed forces, which already work together to counter a Boko Haram insurgency in the northern regions of both countries. Ambazonia is characterized by two main landscapes. Black stands for the People and Culture. Flag of the Cameroon 19611975 with two stars representing the two federated states, Federal Republic of Cameroon and 1972 Constitution (19611972), Unitary state and growing Anglophone discontent (19722015), Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999), African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation, Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Consortium United Front, Cameroon: Confusion as detained Ambazonia leader impeached by peers, "Cameroon: Regions, Major Cities & Towns Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information", Cameroons Anglophone separatists have created their own cryptocurrency, "Who are Cameroon's self-named Ambazonia secessionists?". Many of the problems from the initial draft have been solved. Last month, leaders from both movements announced a formal alliance, which could ignite violence and instability in the two countries and across the West and Central African regions where violent extremist organizations affiliated with the Islamic State and al Qaeda are establishing a strong foothold. Across the country, Fulani have been accused of killing thousands of Nigerians amounting to crimes against humanity and genocidal massacres against Christians, according to Gregory Stanton of Genocide Watch. The two also discussed climate cooperation with China, the road to COP28, and much else. In Cameroon, Anglophone separatists have stepped up attacks against government security forces, using improvised explosive devices to target military convoys in at least 30 different attacks in 2021, according to reports from the U.N., the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project (ACLED), and a spokesperson from the Cameroonian military. Symbolism (Blue stands for the Ndian River, Akpa Yafe River, the Ocean and Liberty. Blue stands for the Sky, the Ocean and Liberty. Cameroonian President Paul Biya does not want anything. Delivered Thursday. Cameroon is a lower-middle-income country with a population of over 25 million ( 2019 ). The lesson I take from this is that domestic grievances, when allowed to fester, can ultimately convulse into broader conflicts and brother crises and armed conflicts, which could have devastating consequences on a transnational basis, said Christopher Fomunyoh of the U.S.-based National Democratic Institute. Two of its border regions with Nigeria (northwest and southwest) are Anglophone, while the rest of the country . White stands for Providence from God, hope and peace. The President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia (former British Southern Cameroons), Dr. Samuel Ikome Sako, has disowned the allegation that his country was responsible for the recent attack on . I think it is that third option which is disturbing Southern Cameroonians up to this day. Ever since the two territories became one, Anglophone Cameroonians have complained they arepolitically and economically marginalized. Blue stands for Liberty and perseverance). The previous year, Nigerian security forces arrested more than 30 other Anglophone activists. Green stands Fertility of the land. Symbolism (Green stands for the Fertility of the land, Growth and prosperity. Click + to receive email alerts when new stories are published on. [8], The term "Ambazonia" is derived from the word Ambozes, the local name for the bay at the mouth of the Wouri river, known in English as Ambas Bay. (Former British Southern Cameroons) STATE HOUSE BUEA OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 6218 Georgia Avenue NW Suite 1-459 | Washington DC 20011-5125 Phone Number (318)243-6715 Fax: (318)274-3202 Email: ambafirst2018@gmail.com Saturday 31 December 2022 Ref. Star stands for Leadership and prosperity. The quest for independence for Southern Cameroons began in October 2016 as lawyers and teachers took to the streets to decry perceived economic injustice as well ascultural and linguistic discrimination. n.loaded = !0; There is currently only a single permanent embassy, with Nigeria. By 1914, the Germans had established control either directly or through local leaders well into the hinterlands of the territory now claimed by Ambazonia, conquering communities such as Nkambe and establishing a garrison fort at Bamenda in 1912. May 20, 2021, 10:56 AM BUEA, CameroonFor the past five years, factions of a secessionist movement in southeastern Nigeria and a pro-independence movement in western Cameroon have been gathering. European and Asian leaders began to call the IRA unfair competition and protectionist. At independence, a plebiscite was held, and voters in Southern Cameroons opted to join Cameroon as a constituent state of a federal republic. Of late, we at FP have been wondering: What can Russias war in Ukraine teach the world going forward? Africa Institute of South Africa . European traders from several nations visited Ambas Bay beginning with the Portuguese in the 1470s. District Officers/Prefects are responsible for management of infrastructure, services and justice and may seek advice from tribal leaders if needed. Whereas I spent all my life fighting to have a deep sea port in Limbe(Victoria) developed, this project had to be shelved and instead an expensive pipeline is to be built from SONARA in Limbe to Douala in order to pipe the oil to Douala. Despite a shared religion, the increasing involvement of Fulani in Cameroons Anglophone conflict is unlikely to fuse with the Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North region, and there is no evidence to suggest there has been a merging of the conflicts thus far, according to Akem Kelvin Nkwain, a human rights officer at CHRDA. The Counties are governed by a County-Minister who is elected into office during State election by a Plurality vote. [33] On 6 November 1982, Ahidjo resigned and handed over power to Paul Biya who continued Ahidjo's policies and, after a falling out with Ahidjo and attempted coup by Ahidjo supporters, consolidated power in himself. ), Counties are further divided into 61 districts (LGA) governed by Prefects or District Officers. In 1858,. Symbolism (Red stands for the strength and blood of the people. Modern Peanuts of Cameroon: Selling with style. [17] A Ward Councilor is responsible for surveying the territory, alerting the District Council of any disturbance (terrorism, ethnic violence etc. As a young boy, I knew of the West Cameroon Federation State and the East Cameroon Federation State.. Watch FPs Ravi Agrawal in conversation with two of the contributors to the magazines cover story, Anne-Marie Slaughter and retired Gen. David Petraeus, as they reflect on whats surprised themand how to prevent future wars. n = f.fbq = function () { For barrister Henry Baaboh, there is no need for a referendum like the ones which were held in Spains Catalan region or the Kurdish territory in Iraq. On the west towards the border to Nigeria the lowlands of the Mamfe basin can be found. s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s) The name Ambazonia comes from the Ambas Bay. 1961. Fruit stands for success (fruits of labour). } if (!f._fbq) f._fbq = n; In 1995, over the objection of some Anglophone Cameroonians, Cameroon was admitted to the Commonwealth of Nations recognizing former Southern Cameroon's history as a British colony. Dissatisfaction with these agreements led to the brief Douala War in 1884, in which Germany assisted its local allies in winning, essentially cementing its colonial position in Cameroon and by 1887 Britain had abandoned its claims in the region.[13][14]. I still do not understand why the United Nations did not give a third option, Feh Henry Baaboh, a legal expert in Doula, told DW. Yellow/Gold stands for wealth and justice. The English speaking people of Southern Cameroons are demanding an independent, sovereign nation they call Ambazonia.Thanks for watching, please kindly Subsc. The Prefect/ District Officer forms the District Council (Local Government). The Bahamas represents how global capitalism can go very right, and very wrong, at exactly the same time. Delivered Wednesday. [34], Flag of Meme. The government of 83-year-old President Paul Biya has showed no signsto compromise. The people of Northern and Southern Cameroons under the umbrella of the Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Consortium United Front (SCACUF) finally decided to affirm the independence of the English . [31] They have additionally argued that the new constitution was legally invalid since changes to the 1961 Constitution required approval from a majority of members of the Federal Assembly (legislature) and from each of the two constituent states, and that the new constitution was never approved by a majority of West Cameroonian legislators. [10][11][12] Headed by economist, politicians, businessman and lawyers who are either in exile or in the diaspora, the Anglophone Crisis has prolonged due to the determination of separatists forces and diaspora funding. The hills stand for the terrain of the land and determination to succeed. Evening roundup with our editors favorite stories of the day. One critical concession was to require that laws applying to both states could only be adopted by the federal assembly if a majority of deputies in both federated states vote for them. The bay which is located in southwestern Cameroon is considered as the boundary between Southern Cameroons and the Republic of Cameroon. The claimed territory formerly was known as the British Southern Cameroons (West Cameroon). The protests that began as a movement against police brutality have much bigger goalsincluding regime change. meant to promote adequate regional representation in government and its services have been revised or changed at the expense of those who stood for TRUTH and justice. Last August, when the United States passed the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), commentators celebrated the fact that the worlds biggest economy would slash its carbon emissions anShow mored provide massive tax credits to programs investing in clean energy. They stretch from the South along the border of Cameroon to the North where they go to the highlands of Bamenda. The bay which is located in southwestern Cameroon is considered as the boundary between Southern Cameroons and the Republic of Cameroon. One-stop digest of politics, economics, and culture. Others have alleged that some militias have engaged in ransom attacks against civilians to fund their continued activities. Biafra Nations League - BnL.png 2,122 2,122; 416 KB. Yellow/Gold stands for Prosperity and value. Daniel, the Ambazonian deputy defense chief, acknowledged the potential regional impact of the alliance but said that after almost five years of low-level armed conflict in Cameroon, there was no other choice. Accordingto lawyer Henry Baaboh, Southern Cameroons or Ambazonia does not need to fight for independence because it already attained it in 1961. Separatist Movements in Nigeria and Camero BUEA, CameroonFor the past five years, factions of a secessionist movement in southeastern Nigeria and a pro-independence movement in western Cameroon have been gathering momentum, mobilizing supporters through social media, and clashing with government security forces in both countries. Red disk stands for the Blood[26] and strength of the people. Ambazonia emblem.jpg 529 530; 123 KB. [27] Along with the new constitution, the country's name was changed from 'Federal Republic of Cameroon' to the 'United Republic of Cameroon'. From: Africa Direct. Western Africa Map showing the 16 countries of Western Africa Benin Burkina Faso Cabo Verde Gambia Ghana Guinea Green stands for the Fertility of the land. By late 2017, with dialogue efforts moribund and violence continuing on both sides, the leading Ambazonian nationalist movements organized the umbrella organization Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Consortium United Front (SCACUF). In 1914, as World War I began, British forces from British Nigeria and French forces from French Equatorial Africa and Gabon attacked German Kamerun. E.M.L. Ambazonia, officially the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, also referred to as Amba Land, is an unrecognised breakaway state in West Africa which claims the Northwest Region and Southwest Region of Cameroon, though it currently controls almost none of the claimed territory. [30], Flag of Mezam County. Etymology. Orange stands for Courage and sacrifice. t.async = !0; [41] The violence led to additional demonstrations, general strikes (called "lockdowns"), and further crackdowns by the government into early 2017, including the banning of civil society organizations, cutting off phone and internet connections from January to April,[42] and arrests of demonstrators. n.version = '2.0'; Symbolism (Blue stands for Perseverance and liberty. The full list is shown in the table below, with current population and subregion (based on the United Nations official statistics). Gold Star stands for Leadership, wisdom and perseverance). }(window, document, 'script', Violence in the regions has since displaced over 700,000 people and resulted in at least 4,000 civilian deaths, according to the United Nations and the International Crisis Group. [27], Increasing pressure for autonomy or independence reduced trust and engagement between the government and the Anglophone minority, with the result that by 2017 there was only one Anglophone among 36 ministers with portfolio in the Cameroonian government.[27]. The name Ambazonia comes from Ambas Bay. The rough terrain of the Cameroon line and the lack of navigable rivers in much of the interior of the region claimed by Ambazonia limited colonial activity outside the coastal regions. As large parts of Ambazonia are in the Western High Plateau, they have a somewhat cooler climate than the surrounding areas in Cameroon and Nigeria. List of countries (or dependencies) in Africa ranked by population, from the most populated. Instead, Biya, who has been in power since 1982, has ordered a military crackdown on the protests. Germany conquered Buea in 1891 after several years of fighting, transferring the colonial capital there in 1892 from Douala. Jonathan Pershing, formerly the Biden administrations No. Logically, I would have expected the UN to give them the option of gaining independence and stand on their own, Henry Baaboh said. However, many towns and villages in the hinterlands had no German administration and may have only seen German soldiers a handful of times. Moreover, Nigerian and Cameroonian security forces have repeatedly violated human rights to quell the protests. In 1990, opposition political parties were legalized and John Ngu Foncha, the leading Anglophone in Cameroon's government, resigned from the governing party and encapsulated much of the dissatisfaction with the central government's attitude toward the Anglophone regions in his public resignation letter: [I]t became clear to me that I had become an irrelevant nuisance that had to be ignored and ridiculed. [17] The County-Ministers appoints Prefects or District Officers to county districts (Local Government Area). Today, pro-Biafra activists use incendiary language, referring to the Fulani as terrorists, to incite violence. Biafrans and Ambazonians are predominantly Christians, while the Fulani are mostly Muslim. SCACUF unilaterally declared the region's independence as Ambazonia on October 1, the anniversary of Southern Cameroons' independence from the United Kingdom. 1134/2002, U.N. Doc. Separatist Movements in Nigeria and Cameroon Are Joining Forces The star stands for Leadership and prosperity. Located along the Atlantic Ocean, it shares its borders with the Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria. Rooster stands for Courage, leadership and protection.[28]. Symbolism (Green stand for the Land. [27], In 1961, the government of Cameroon, with continuing assistance from France, was fighting a civil war against remnants of pro-independence fighters still dissatisfied with continued French influence in Cameroon or hoping to overthrow the pro-Western government and implement a Marxist program. Activists across Africa have watched in amazement as the EFF in its short existence have successfully championed the course of the African people and has spoken severally about the plight of the Ambazonian people. facebookTracking(); [25], On 21 April 1961, UN resolution 1608 (XV) set 1 October 1961 as the date of independence for the Southern Cameroons. if (f.fbq) return; Sheep stands for peace, purity, wisdom and innocence under God.). The name Ambazonia comes from the Ambas Bay. [57], The war has been characterized by guerilla attacks by separatist militias against both security forces and against civilians suspected of collaboration or simply failing to abide militia's declared school and election boycotts or "lockdowns" which prevent all travel and activity. The leader of the self-declared Governing Council of Ambazonia, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, is among the 10 who have been convicted A leader of Cameroon's separatist movement, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, and nine of. The Ambazonia Defense Forces see the Biafra-Ambazonia alliance as a critical outlet to end rising Fulani-led attacks. Cameroon Bank, West Cameroon Marketing Board, WADA in Wum, West Cameroon Cooperative Movement. [17] ), Flag of the Midland State. Security. Growth rate, median age, fertility rate, area, density, population density, urbanization, urban population, share of world population. The name Ambazonia comes from Ambas Bay, the area of a settlement of freed slaves which is regarded as the boundary between Anglophone and Francophone Cameroon. Counties are further divided into Districts (Local Government Areas) governed by a District Officer who is voted into office during State elections. The Indian government has tread carefullyand invited trouble. The Nigerian and Cameroonian militaries are well equipped and well trained, as both countries receive military support and training from foreign governments including the United States, France, and the United Kingdom for anti-terrorism efforts. In an open letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, published in local media outlets, the Biafran leader Kanu requested that the U.S. government suspend arms sales to Nigeria, citing human rights abuses and Buharis draconian measures to put down peaceful pro-Biafran protests. [6] Ambazonian forces have struggled to form a united front, and internecine conflicts have hampered efforts to negotiate with Cameroon or establish control over the various militia groups engaged in the fighting. Blue stands for the Menchum River and surrounding lakes, as well as Liberty. . But those ceasefire discussions have been condemned by other separatists in Cameroon and abroad, who argue that Sisiku does not have a mandate to negotiate. forces and militants fighting for an independent "Ambazonia," a name . Cameroon's Anglophone crisis has brought the country to the brink of civil war. [17], As the Thirteen counties are represented on the national flag (as stars), to represent their importance in the nation and in the fight for the struggle, each county is entitled to its own flag and emblem. In 1975, the government removed one of the two stars from the flag, another symbol of the federation between two states, creating a new flag with a single star. 2 global climate envoy, joined FP editor in chiefRavi Agrawal to discuss Washingtons climate policy, and how it is being seen around the world. Amabazonia since 2016 protests are defended by many separatist groups spearheaded by Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF), famously known as 'the boys'. The worlds longest-serving autocrat will be feted this week in Washington. The main point is that I'm pretty sure that Biafra 2.0 and Ambazonia will try to form a new country together in the end, although there's no talk about it now. n.callMethod ? "They just shot the child, going to school, dressed in. Ambazonia Interim Government, a separatist group in Cameroon, has emphasised that its agitations for a separate country have nothing in common with that of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). However, tribal leaders may not partake in federal or state politics as to prevent or calm down or avoid any form of ethnic tension. Biafrans and Anglophone Cameroonians share a common enemy: Fulani herders, a nomadic ethnic group present across West and Central Africa. The Nigerians have failed to act, the international community has failed to act, so we have no other choice but to get into an alliance that can better our chances to defend ourselves.. In October 2017, English-speaking separatists declared a breakaway state known as "Ambazonia". De facto, Buea is the capital. The English speaking region is considered an opposition bastion. A Biafra-like agitation for independence has been unfolding in neighbouring Republic of Cameroon since November 2016. There are protected areas like the Korup National Park[62] or the Takamanda National Park. Dengarkan Ambazonia National Radio dari Amerika Serikat, Buffalo secara online gratis dalam kualitas tinggi di situs. Ambazonia, officially the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, also referred to as Amba Land, is an unrecognised breakaway state in West Africa which claims the Northwest Region and Southwest Region of Cameroon, though it currently controls almost none of the claimed territory. We have been very careful in our association with the Biafra movement, because we didnt want to destabilize the region, but we have been cornered, he said from his base in Hong Kong. However, such referendum can only occur based on how the federal government treats that state (religious discrimination, tribal discrimination, exploitation of the state with no forms of developing it and marginalization). I am most of the time summoned to meetings by radio without any courtesy of my consultation on the agenda. Calls for secession are growing and an Anglophone separatist movement in the south-west and north-w. Although the government has made some concessions, it must rebuild mutual trust with Anglophone actors in order to avoid instability ahead of the 2018 general elections. Watch the video now! The government claims armed English-speaking separatists who want to create a new nation called Ambazonia have terrorized civilians and attacked government forces, prompting the military to. The National flag is raised at federal institutions or on federal property. According to John Campbell of the Council on Foreign Relations, separatist sentiment has been growing in Nigeria since Muhammadu Buharis 2015 presidential election. Cameroon's Separatist Movement Is Going International - Foreign Policy Ambazonia Military Forces General John, who says he commands thousands of rebel soldiers in Ambazonia, poses with his. Not included in this total of "countries" and listed separately are: Dependencies (or dependent territories, dependent areas) or Areas of .
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