The Southern Cameroons Interim Government has called on Ambazonians and freedom-seeking frontline leaders to set aside their differences to unify in support of the suffering peoples in Ground Zero against the French Cameroun occupying regime.

In a comment on Thursday on why the so-called National Day would never have been staged in Southern Cameroons, Vice President Dabney Yerima condemned the regime in La Republique du Cameroun for its relentless atrocities in the Ambazonia homeland and noted that May 20 remains a French Cameroun affair and it is coming while the people of Southern Cameroons are under a new round of Biya French Cameroun regime crimes.

Comrade Dabney Yerima furthered that the Biya Francophone regime backed by the French government of President Emmanuel Macron have turned Southern Cameroons into a Francophone Africa military base against the Ambazonia people.

“For over four years now, the international community have fully supported this consortium of crime syndicates in Yaoundé passing for a government and turned a blind eye to the endless crimes of this vicious regime,” Vice President Yerima said.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Rights activists in Cameroon have condemned a five-year jail sentence given to two transgender women for “attempted homosexuality” and public indecency. A lawyer for the two, who were arrested for wearing women’s clothing in a restaurant, say they are preparing an appeal. 

In a statement, Human Rights Watch describes the jail sentence issued by the court as harsh.  

Police arrested Njeuken Loic, also known as Shakiro, and Mouthe Roland, also known as Patricia, in the coastal city of Douala on February 8. Police said they were wearing typically female clothing while eating in a restaurant.

Prosecutors charged them with attempted homosexual conduct, public indecency, and non-possession of their national identity cards.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted homosexuality.

Tamfu Richard, one of the lawyers defending Shakiro and Patricia, says justice was not done during the trial.

“We consider the decision to be too severe against these accused persons because no evidence was produced before the court to sentence our clients on charges of attempted homosexuality, public indecency, non-possession of ID cards,” Richard said. “So our next action will be to file an appeal before the appeal court and we hope that, before the court of appeal, we will be able to make sure justice is done at that level.”

HRW said that after Shakiro and Patricia were arrested in February, they were taken to the overcrowded Douala central prison, where they reported being beaten and insulted by guards and other inmates.

Activists say that for transgender women, five years in a Cameroonian men’s prison can amount to a death sentence. HRW calls on Cameroon authorities to release Shakiro and Patricia and vacate the charges immediately.

Rights lawyer Alice Nkom says the sentence indicates how LGBTQ people continue to be persecuted in Cameroon. She says the international community should intervene to force Cameroon to respect the rights of its citizens. 

“We are waiting to obtain a copy of the (court) decision to know the motivations that allow these results,” Nkom said. “We have 10 days to file an appeal and the dateline of doing so expires on May 21. The judge did not apply any attenuating circumstance, neither the numerous violations of the laws, nor the violation of the general principle of law, nor the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court.”

HRW says Shakiro and Patricia are the latest victims of a system plagued by absolute disregard for the due process rights of people targeted based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It calls on Cameroon to repeal its anti-homosexuality laws and stop interfering in the private lives of Cameroonians.

Contacted by phone, Cameron’s Ministry of Communication and Government spokesperson, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, declined to comment on the sentence.

Source: VOA

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has cancelled all official ceremonies marking the 2021 edition of the country’s national day due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, secretary general at the president’s office, said in a statement that Biya urged Cameroonians to strictly observe government-prescribed social distancing measures during the commemoration of May 20 as well as the celebration of forthcoming religious feast days.

Unity Day is a holiday in Cameroon celebrated on May 20 as the country’s national day.

On May 20, 1972 in a national referendum, Cameroonians voted for a unitary state as opposed to the existing federal state.

In the statement late Wednesday, Ngoh Ngoh recalled that despite the country’s commendable performance in the fight against COVID-19, the pandemic is a tragic reality against which “we should endeavor to protect ourselves by complying with barrier measures and getting vaccinated.”

The Central African country has so far registered 74,946 coronavirus cases, with 70,497 recoveries and 1,152 deaths, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Source: Anadolu Agency

In the message, President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia wished for prosperity of all Southern Cameroons believers who carried out the commands of the Almighty during the holy month of blessings.

The Southern Cameroons leader also expressed hope to witness solidarity among all Ambazonia Self Defense Groups in the fight against French Cameroun colonialism and genocidal campaign in Southern Cameroons.

President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe wished for Southern Cameroons Muslims’ unity in the struggles and quest for the independence of Southern Cameroons.

He expressed hope to witness restoration of peace and stability throughout the Federal Republic of Ambazonia. “Happy Eid Al Fitr to our Muslim brothers and sisters. After a month of fasting, charity and prayer, Allah has brought you through safely today. May Allah grant your heart’s desire or a better, just, peaceful and prosperous nation of Ambazonia” President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe opined.

By Fon Lawrence

The Southern Cameroons Interim Government has vehemently condemned the French Cameroun regime’s recent atrocities in Mezam and Bui including other rural areas across the Ambazonian territories, pledging to stand more powerfully in support of Southern Cameroons Restoration Forces.

Vice President Dabney Yerima reportedly directed Amba Self Defense Groups operating in Ground Zero to protect Southern Cameroons civilian population and supervise the implementation of “Kontry Sunday” which is a Southern Cameroons name for ghost towns.

In a Wednesday statement, the exiled Southern Cameroons leader considered providing assistance to Ambazonia fighters in Ground One to ease the work of the resistance in Ground Zero.

Provision of such support, the Yerima statement added, is in line and part of the legacy of all Southern Cameroonians martyred ever since the Biya French Cameroun war against the English speaking people of Southern Cameroons started four years ago.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the Biya Francophone dominated army has carried out countless assaults on Southern Cameroons towns and villages. Thousands of Ambazonians have died in the process at the hands of, what the Dabney Yerima statement called a genocidal campaign.

By Chi Prudence Asong