Arrest warrants issued for 48 Ambazonia leaders

Anglophone crisis:

-Yaounde on diplomatic offensive to get the secessionists arrested abroad

-The governments of Nigeria, S. Africa, EU etc are expected to respect the principle of reciprocity in

international law, and to hand in these ‘fugitives’ over to Cameroonian authorities

By Ekum-Tambe Eku in Yaounde

Ambazonia interim leader, Sisiku Ayuk Julius Tabe, now a wanted man

The Yaounde Military Court has issued 15 (some sources say 48) arrest warrants for leaders of the Anglophone struggle notably those advocating secession. According to sources close to the military court, top on the Wanted list include notably Sisiku Ayuk Julius Tabe, Tassang Wilfred, Mark Barata, Tapang Ivo Tanku, Ebenezer Akwanga, Boh Herbert, Milton Taka, Cho Ayaba, Bobga Harmony, Eyambe Elias, Nso Foncha Kem, Elizabeth Bifuh-Ambe, Larry Ayamba, Milan Atam and Kometa Elvis.

            The ‘wanted men’ are accused among other things of instigating the brutal killing of gendarmes, police and military men on duty in the NW and SW, stabbing of 29 students on their way to school, burning of 142 schools and health centres, burning of markets and shops, killing of 7 traders, attack on 8 police stations and  7 gendarmerie brigades, vandalizing and desecrating state symbols among other crimes.

            All the persons listed above are living in different countries abroad including Nigeria, South Africa, Belgium and USA amongst others. They are said to be the front-liners calling for the separation of the of the Republic of Cameroon and the restoration of the state-hood of Southern Cameroons, now called Ambazonia.

            These “Facebook Generals’ are accused of using the social media to incite violence and ghost towns in the two Anglophone regions, as well as to propagate their secessionist agenda.

            In the course of the violence they are said to have incited, several public and private structures including schools, vehicles, and police stations were destroyed.                      Apart from material damages, several lives have also been lost as a result of the violence caused by the secessionists.

            Only last week, four gendarmes were reported killed by unknown assailants in the localities of Jakiri, Bafut, Bamenda in the NW, and Akwen in Manyu division.. The assailants reportedly used war guns to target mainly security officers.

            The international arrest warrants are therefore intended to get these suspects arrested and brought to book.

            Given the seriousness of the crimes allegedly committed, these secessionist leaders are liable to be charged with terrorism, according to the 24 December 2014 Anti-Terrorism law in Cameroon.

            It is understood that for an international arrest warrant to be executed, many things are involved. One of them is that there is the need for collaboration between the country calling for the arrest and the countries hosting the ‘fugitives’.

            It is expected that South Africa and Nigeria, that have once resisted secession, will respect the law of reciprocity and extradite the suspects to Cameroon for trial.

            But law experts say the chances of these Ambazonia leaders arrested in their host countries are very slim.