The AU reacts to October, 1st Massacre in Southern Cameroons

The African Union, through the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat has reacted to the October 1st carnage in Southern Cameroons, that saw the gruesome killing of over 100 peaceful and armless citizens of Ambazonia by forces of La Republique on the streets and in their homes, following celebrations of the declaration of the Restoration of the Independence of Southern Cameroons, Ambazonia by the Chairman of the Southern Cameroons Governing Council, Sissiku Ayuk Tabe. The AU’s reaction comes after those of the UN, EU, Commonwealth, US, La Francophonie and many international human Rights organizations including Amnesty International and REDHAC.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission in the last paragraph of his reaction stated that:

“The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the African Union’s commitment to support the efforts of the government and people of Cameroon towards a peaceful settlement of the crisis through inclusive and meaningful dialogue and national reconciliation.

The Chairperson of the Commission reaffirms the commitment of the African Union to promote peace and stability in Cameroon, in line with its relevant instruments that consecrates the principle of the intangibility of African Borders as they existed at Independence and other relevant AU instruments.”

From the above statement, it is clear that the AU clearly sees this crisis as an issue of colonialism where the colonised people of Southern Cameroons are fighting to free themselves from the fangs of a colonial master La Republic du Cameroon who has gone beyond her boundary obtained at independence and illegally occupied another nation’s territory. Consequently, any dialogue between the two parties must be centered on the addressing the root causes of the crisis which border on the re-colonialisation and the illegal encroachment by La Republique into the territory of Southern Cameroons.

When the AU issued out such a statement calling for the respect of African borders obtained at independence following all relevant AU instruments. We are told that on 1st January 1960, Cameroun had independence without Southern Cameroons so therefore the act of union between both Cameroons has never been consumated. La Republique should therefore respect it borders obtained at independence as the AU has just advised.

It is important to note that Southern Cameroons and La Republique du Cameroon are two separate nations with clearly defined borders obtained at independence from the British and French respectively. For La Republique to claim ownership of the territory of Southern Cameroons, she must be able to produce a treaty of Union signed with Southern Cameroons and deposited at the UN and AU after the purported Unification, to show that La Republique and Southern Cameroons after becoming independent on separate dates later came together in a particular form of Union.

Is La Republique du Cameroon having such a treaty to show forth? Certainly none. That’s why they are afraid of frank and inclusive dialogue and have resorted to corruption, intimidation, brutality and genocidal actions. If they are confident of their position and claims of Cameroon being a one and indivisible nation, with Southern Cameroons as part, they should bring forth their evidence on the dialogue table in the presence of these third parties and dispute the Restoration of Independence declaration by the Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Governing Council.

The Southern Cameroons Leadership must now work upon this to push forth so that La Republique respect its African borders at Independence.

Until then, we shall continue to resist their oppression and push forward for the recognition of our new state by relevant international agencies and stakeholders.

You can read the full reaction of the AU below.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, is deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon.

The Chairperson expresses condolences to all affected persons and families and calls on all stakeholders to exercise restraint in their pronouncements and to refrain from further acts of violence.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the African Union’s commitment to support the efforts of the government and people of Cameroon towards a peaceful settlement of the crisis through inclusive and meaningful dialogue and national reconciliation.

The Chairperson of the Commission reaffirms the commitment of the African Union to promote peace and stability in Cameroon, in line with its relevant instruments that consecrates the principle of the intangibility of African Borders as they existed at Independence and other relevant AU instruments.

James Agbor

BaretaNews Contributor