Cameroon:CHRDA Launches Book on Anglophone Crisis

 By Christopher Ambe

The Centre for Human Right

s and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA), Buea has published a book on the socio-political and economic crisis (otherwise known as the Anglophone crisis) rocking the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon since 2016.

The 173-page and nine-chapter book,titled “IN THE EYES OF THE STORM, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA. The Unheard Voices of the Anglophone War in Cameroon

”, was launched, March 17, at the Press Flat Centre, PCC Synod Office- Buea.

The book , which  contains  pathetic  testimonies and eye-witness accounts of ugly happenings ,  unheard voices of victims, also demonstrates how  the Anglophone crisis  has morphed into an Anglophone War-and  claimed  several thousands of lives and  destroyed  property worth billions of FCFA.

The CHRDA, the author of the book, is an NGO that is committed to protecting and advancing human rights, as well as promoting democracy in Africa.

Launching the book, Barrister Felix Agbor Nkongho (fondly called Agbor Balla) who is President/Founder of CHRDA, said the revelations contained in the book would prick the conscience of readers and cause them see the greater need to protect humanity.

“We are not blaming anyone. We are trying to find solutions to the crisis. So when you read The Unheard Voices…, Speak to your leaders, speak to your MPs, your senators, speak to Amba boys that you know. Tell them, ‘Enough is enough. This is the time when we need peace. Life must return to normal.’ ”

Describing the book as a must-read document, the CHRDA founder implored everyone to read the book and share widely its contents.

“We should not be bystanders, but active participants in making Cameroon a better country to live in,” Barrister Nkongho appealed to the audience, who greeted him with thunderous applause when he announced that every person present at the launch was entitled to a free copy of the new book.

Addressing the audience, Christopher Tambe Tiku, head of the Southwest Regional Office of the Cameroon Human Rights Commission and noted rights activist, commended all the contributions of CHRDA towards improving the human rights situation in the country.

Although the book launch was not the traditional kind where people are invited to buy copies of the new book in question, so impressed with the publication was Mr. Tambe Tiku that, he gave a symbolic financial support to the staff of CHRDA for their enormous efforts towards rights promotion.

He promised the Cameroon Human Rights Commission would   forge an important working collaboration with CHRADA soon.

 “We would like to tap a lot from CHRDA experiences; we can complement efforts towards the promotions of human rights. The promotion and protection of human rights is not an individual responsibility. We must complement one another,” Mr. Tambe Tiku reiterated.

The audience at the launch included lawyers, journalists, civil society leaders, teachers, security rights advocates, administration officials and diplomatic representations (like Consulate-General of Nigeria in Buea).

At the end of the launch, each of the over 200 launch attendees received a free copy of the book.

The book review by rights advocate, Norman Taku, aroused the interest of the audience in the book.

Cameroon: Hon Aka Urges Government Assistance As Nigerian Herdsmen Invade Akwaya Villages

The MP of Akwaya In Manyu, Hon Aka Martin,says  Nigerian herdsmen have invaded three villages in the  Cameroonian subdivision and have killed three persons already.

He appeals to the Cameroon government to urgently come to the assistance of Akwaya people. The MP, who was in Buea last March 7 was interviewed by The Horizon’s Contributing Editor, Christopher Ambe

Excerpts:      

Hon Aka Martin,MP for Akwaya

What is the state of Akwaya now?

Akwaya , which is a subdivision in Manyu Divison of the Southwest region  with a population of over 150,000 people, is calm although before February 11  this year, we had a separatist attack at a Gendarmerie Post. The attackers were repelled by Cameroon forces.

But as we speak now three Akwaya villages have been invaded by herdsmen from Nigeria. These villages are: Bakinjaw,Ballin and Bagundu-all  Messsaga Ekol in Akwaya Subdivision.

 This is not the first time they are invading us from Taraba and Benue States. But this time they have crossed the boundaries right into Cameroonian villages with their cattle and they are burning houses. They have killed three persons from Bakinjaw Village-one is a Grade One teacher and elderly man.

This attack started last week and it is ongoing.

As MP for Akwaya, what action have you taken against this invasion by these foreigners?

I have informed the Administration of Cameroon about this attack. Last year, I returned to the village to help refugees from Nigeria who came in their thousands, I even wrote to the hierarchy but received no support. The villagers gave them assistance. This time they have crossed into Cameroon and are attacking the villagers now are moving towards where the Gendarmerie Post is located. The gendarmes there are few and seem helpless because of the weapons these invaders are carrying. Their aggressive behavior is akin to what is happening in the Far North Region of Cameroon. These Nigerians are moving along with their heavy weapons, invading places .They started as far back as Taraba state of Nigeria, capturing communities and now they are in Messaga Ekol area. These villages are in between the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon and the boundary between Taraba and Cross River Sates.

The Nigerian invaders come in the night, chase away the villagers and install themselves. The invasion is to chase away the villagers and keep their cattle there.

Apart from informing the Government of Cameroon, have you contacted the Consul-General of Nigeria in Buea?

Of course, we have! The chief of my village has formally contacted the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Buea… We have even informed the representative of the Head of State in the Division.

Apart from this foreign invasion of Akwaya,is the subdivision free from the threats of Separatist fighters?

Separatist attacks there are reducing –or dying down. You know the separatists started in Akwaya, because of the underdevelopment of the subdivision. Some of the separatists are still hiding there. Because of the underdevelopment of the subdivision it is very difficult for the Cameroon military to counter them. So when they start attacking around Widikum, Bamenda and Bafut,they run to the forests in Akwaya and hide there .

Sometime ago you were pleading with the Cameroon Government to raise Akwaya to a full division. Have got any assurance?

The campaign for Akwaya to be upgraded to a division is still on. This time it is not me alone fighting for that but the entire subdivision. We just met with the PCC Moderator, Rev Samuel Fonki (Akwaya elite) in Buea about this and we are sending a delegation to see the Prime Minister to press for this. We wish that Akwaya be raised to a full division or that more administrative units be created there along the border areas, so that such happenings like what we have now can easily be handled.

I learnt that your predecessor, former MP of Akwaya was dragged to court allegedly for supporting terrorism and you are said to be one of those who filed a criminal complaint against him.  What is your reaction to this?

  Get this from me: I have not taken anybody to court. I have not given any statement anywhere. But I am aware that villages have jointly written a complaint against him in which report my name is mentioned of about what he allegedly said about me. Until now, I have not been convoked by any security or judicial service. So I don’t want to talk about it.

So you are affirming that you are not the person who has dragged Hon Ayah to Court?

I am not the one.

But do you have any personal problem with Hon.Ayah Paul,your predecessor?

I have never had any confrontation with him. I don’t know if he has a grudge against me.

 This is your third year as MP for Akwaya. Do you have any message for the people of Akwaya with regards to development?

This year Akwaya in Manyu Divison has the highest share of the state budget-close to 1.5billion Fcfa. This kind of amount is usually meant for an urban council and not even a rural council. So if there is no peace, how are we going to implement the projects the money is meant to take care of?

I am appealing to my people to be peace builders and promoters, and allow this huge investment budget for Akwaya to be executed. Those who are in the bushes (separatist fighters) should drop their arms and go back to the farms for crop cultivation, which is what has been keeping Akwaya alive. They should stop killing their brothers because of some ideology. They should all embrace peace, because it is a sine qua non for development.

You are already three years in office as MP of Akwaya. What can you say are some of your major achievements?

I have done  a lot in the field of human development .I have awarded scholarships to   sons and daughters of Akwaya  to study in universities  .They are about 25 of them and I have  financially assisted others to sit for  various competitive examinations into the public service.

Let me tell you that parliamentarians are not out to carry out projects in their areas. We work in synergy with the mayors, who are responsible for the execution of projects.  For example, in my constituency, I come out with plans/project estimates in my area .For the projects to be approved they must pass the test of maturity. I have done that in my area with the mayor and have succeeded .I have built two classrooms in my village. They are building two others in another village; I have come out with road projects and I still have some projects which I have handed to the Southwest Regional Assembly for consideration. Many people always ask, ‘What have you achieved?’ Do they know number of bills we have passed in the National Assembly? The number of bills we have passed in the National Assembly to keep the country functioning is an achievement

Honorable Aka, last year your village was burnt by some assailants. What do you have to say about the burning?

Actually on the 25 of June last year, heavily armed men attacked my village (Bakinjaw) during the funeral of my cousin, who died in Mamfe and was brought to the village for burial. These armed men sneaked in the night into the village and ambushed the mourners. On that particular day, 36 people died and later on four died in a health center in Nigeria.  We suspected they were armed separatists and after that the attackers circulated a video identifying themselves as Manyu Unity Warriors; that they were separatists from villages in Manyu that came to attack our village because we have not been supporting their independence struggle; that we have killing their fighters; that we are in Ambaland and we don’t want to respect their laws. So it was purely a separatist attack of my village, because we have never bought their separatist objective.

There is relative peace there now but for the attack by the Nigerians. I want the state to come to our assistance, because we have been supporting the state of Cameroon. 

(This interview also appears in The Horizon Newspaper ,Cameroon,of March 9,2023)