CI-NEWS

SCNC activists still on the run.

2019-10-14

No: 451

SCNC activists still on the run.

By Chrysantus Nchong in Yaounde.

Since the beginning in October 2016 of what has become known as the Anglophone crisis, a particular group of people that has been targeted by the regime in power is those belonging to the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC), a movement that is calling for the separation of the former Southern Cameroons from La République du Cameroon, as was the case before the Plebiscite of 1961. Be they within or out of the country, these activists feel very insecure because, as one of them recently put it on conditions of anonymity, “anything can happen to us at anytime.”

The Horizon has learned that the forces of law and order have been visiting old SCNC files, with the purpose of identifying activists labelled as notorious who have been actively taking part in the struggle over the years. Most of their names are easily identifiable because at one time or another in the past, they ran into problems with security forces for holding SCNC meetings and disseminating seditious information. Meanwhile those who recently joined the movement have not been left out.

A good number the activists have lost their lives while some have been arrested and thrown into jail, and others have either gone into hiding or simply fled the country. Reports say in spite of being out of Cameroon, the latter are still involved in the independence struggle as they, amongst other things, create awareness in the international community on the marginalization of the country’s Anglophone population.

A list of some young SCNC activists who have been marked as wanted got to our newsroom. They include Florence B. Mborong, Ernest Amu Mbidzinyuy, Mbuta Valery Ndum, Nkeng Elistar Akonjang, Jonatha Wirsiy Lenyoy and Joe Ndemazia Asongtia. It is not exactly known where these persons could be, but it is believed that they are either in hiding out of the North West and South West regions or they long travelled abroad.

Talking about those coming into Cameroon from abroad, who are identified rightly or wrongly as SCNC activists or people who speak out against Anglophone marginalization in Cameroon, they have not had it easy out here. They are either arrested or simply turned away at the airport.

A few cases can be cited. Cameroonian born Patrice Nganang of American nationality, an outspoken critic of the Biya regime, was arrested and detained for a couple of months in 2017. For his part, human rights activist Joseph Navti Bikong, born Cameroonian but now having British citizenship, was arrested upon arrival at the Douala International Airport in late 2018 and released ten hours after serious interrogation. Also, Cameroonian born Wilfried Siewe of German nationality was arrested in February this year for having pictures of the Anglophone crisis in his phone and only released later. Were it not for their foreign nationalities, it is believed, these personalities would have still been in prison.

Even the Major National Dialogue that was held from 30 September to 4 October in Yaounde has not eased the tension between regime authorities and Anglophone activists. Although President Paul Biya recently released 333 Anglophone activists arrested in connection to the Anglophone crisis, die-hard Anglophone separatists say they cannot accept whatever the outcome of the Major National Dialogue may be because Sissiku Ayuk Tabe and their other leaders who were arrested in Nigeria in January 2018 and brought to Cameroon are still serving a life prison sentence.

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SCNC activists still on the run.