July 2020

July 2020 - Southern Cameroons Updates

By: Editimfon Ikpat, Junior Research Associate, PILPG-NL

THIS POST COLLECTS UPDATES FROM THE PAST MONTH CONCERNING RELEVANT DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTHERN CAMEROON. THE INFORMATION IS DRAWN FROM LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ONLINE SOURCES.

Anglophone crisis: Ceasefire negotiations

Following the Resolution of the United Nations on July 1st, 2020, to end hostilities and impose a general ceasefire to help combat COVID-19, leaders of the Ambazonia separatist movement, including Sisku Ayuktabe, began peace talks with the Cameroonian government on July 2nd, 2020. This initiative towards peace talks and cease-fire negotiations has been commended by the Coalition for Dialogue and Negotiations. [July 6th, 2020]

Anglophone crisis: Government denies  cease-fire negotiations

The Cameroonian government has denied having cease-fire negotiations with separatist leaders concerning the Anglophone regions of Cameroon. This was made known by a communique released on Monday July 6th, 2020, by the communication minister – Rene Emmanuel Sadi. [July 6th, 2020]

Anglophone crisis: prisoners sign petition for a cease-fire

The Ambazonia Separatist Movement July 8th, 2020, signed a petition addressed to the Cameroonian government containing conditions for which they will participate in negotiations for peace in the Anglophone region. The conditions include 

  • The declaration of a cease-fire by the Cameroonian government 

  • The withdrawal of Cameroonian soldiers from the Anglophone regions

  • The granting of amnesty to Anglophone Cameroonians in the diaspora, to enable them to return

  • The release from prison of those arrested in connection with the Anglophone conflict

  • Acceptance of the Cameroonian government to participate “in genuine negotiations without conditions on neutral ground and with a mediator defined by mutual agreement”. [July 8th, 2020]

Anglophone crisis: Separatists kill aid worker

On Thursday July 9th, 2020, Felix Mba, a health worker with the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), was kidnapped by an unnamed separatist group. He was  found dead on Friday July 10th, 2020. In a press release, on July 11th, 2020, the MSF expressed its shock following the murder of its agent, and has called the parties to the conflict to protect the MSF staff “because they are there for humanitarian reasons”.

Over two weeks following the death of the MSF health worker, the American Secretary of State for African Affairs – Tibor Nagy – on July 24th, 2020,  condemned the murder and has called on the separatists “to let civilians live in peace and stop the violence”. [July 24th, 2020]

International Criminal Court responds to war crimes case against President Biya

On July 16th, 2020, the International Criminal Court (ICC), released its response to the war crimes case brought against the Cameroonian President – Paul Biya. The Office of The Prosecutor has responded that, based on the available information, none of the preconditions for the triggering of the jurisdiction of the Court according to articles 12 and 13 of the Rome Statute, have been satisfied. Therefore, the allegations made do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Court. The complaint was made by Leonel Beteck against the backdrop of atrocities committed by the Cameroonian forces in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. [July 16th, 2020]

Actors in separatist conflict urged to adhere to call for a ceasefire

The Roman Catholic Organization has urged the actors in the ongoing separatist conflict to adhere to the call for a ceasefire in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 2532 adopted on July 1st, 2020. The Women’s Task Force of the Southwest and Northwest region of Cameroon has also called for a ceasefire in line with UN Resolution 2532 of July 1st, 2020. Adding that the adherence to the UN Resolution will serve as a precondition for the presidential plan for the reconstruction of the Southwest and Northwest regions. [July 1st, 2020]

United Nations not interfering in Anglophone crisis

The head of the UN-Sub-Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for the Northwest and Southwest regions – James Nunan – at a press conference on Tuesday July 14th, 2020 expressed that the presence of the UN in the conflicting Anglophone regions is mainly to “assist vulnerable populations with relief efforts rather than engage in the conflict.“ The United Nations Development Programme has outlined recovery plans for these affected regions. [July 14th, 2020]

Trial of Ayuk Tabe & Co.  adjourned 

In a notice served on July 15th, 2020, Ayuk Tabe & Co. were to appear before the Yaoundé Appeal Court in the Centre region the following day, July 16th, 2020. However, the case has been adjourned  to August 20th, 2020. It is speculated by their lawyers that there is no reason for the adjournment. [July 15th, 2020]

Hundreds of civilians killed in Anglophone crisis

In its latest report, the Human Right Watch, has estimated that since January 2020 in both the North West and the South West regions of Cameroon, at least two hundred and eighty five civilians have been killed. These killings relate to the ongoing Anglophone crisis. [July 27th, 2020]