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Cameroon Separatists Celebrate 'Independence' as Dialogue is Held

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   KUMBA, CAMEROON - English-speaking Cameroonians came out in huge
   numbers on Oct. 1 to celebrate what they call their independence day,
   declared by separatist leaders in 2017.

   "We are celebrating our independence," said Godlove Azeng, 31, "and at
   the same time asking the president of Cameroon, Paul Biya, to remove
   his military from our territory and asking him to free our leader
   [Julius] Ayuk Tabe who is jailed in his country."

   Separatist leader Ayuk Tabe was arrested in Nigeria with 47 of his
   supporters and extradited to Cameroon in January 2018. In August, he
   was given a life sentence by a military tribunal in Yaounde that found
   him guilty of crimes including secession and hostilities against the
   state.

   The Oct. 1 celebrations marked the second anniversary since separatists
   in Cameroon's Northwest and Southwest regions proclaimed an independent
   state they call Ambazonia.

   During the gatherings, nine people were reported killed in gun battles
   with the military in Kumbo, the Northwest villages of Kikaikom and
   Mbveh, and the Southwest towns of Kumba and Mamfe.

   Deben Tchoffo, governor of the English-speaking Northwest region, says
   government troops are deployed to protect citizens and Cameroon's
   territorial integrity.

   "Most of those areas have been secured by our security forces," Tchoffo
   said. "Cameroon is ruled by laws and regulations and we are going to
   take our responsibility to secure the villages and while waiting, I am
   asking the population of the Northwest region to remobilize themselves
   [against those who want separation]."

   The U.N. reports that the separatist war has forced more than 530,000
   people to flee their homes since the conflict erupted in late 2017. It
   says at least 2,000 civilians and 300 defense and security forces have
   lost their lives in the war.

   National dialogue

   A government-run dialogue ordered by Biya and aimed at resolving the
   separatist crisis is under way in Yaounde.

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