French Cameroun Forces Destroying UNESCO Heritage Sites in Southern Cameroons

Is French Cameroun intentionally destroying ancient touristic and UNESCO heritage sites in Ambazonia as frustration for already losing the territory?

One of the areas where the colonial regime of French Cameroun has economically milked Ambazonia has been through the unsustainable exploitation of her rich touristic and heritage potentials. It is on record that these touristic and heritage sites notably the ancient traditional Palaces and Museums in the middle belt and Savanna Zones of Ambazonia have generated billions of Francs CFA to the colonial regime through the constant patronage by national and foreign tourist visitors.

But since the declaration of the senseless war on the sovereign people of Ambazonia by the dying colonial dictator Paul Biya, the terrorist forces from Yaoundé have repeatedly shown their resolve to crumble these ancient touristic and heritage sites. These sites have constantly been at the center of attacks, invasions and looting from the terrorists Yaoundé forces.

Firstly, after the invasion of the Lebialem County, the Biya terrorists went ahead to desecrate and loot the ancient traditional palaces of the Fons of Fontem and Azi, which are historical and traditional emblems of the Bangwa people and remind the world of their resistance to German colonial occupation through what was known as the Bangwa Resistance. Today, the two palaces are a shadow of themselves as some of its very important artifacts and other household materials have been looted by regime forces and the infrastructure damaged by bullets shot from Armored Vehicles.

In the Kom Kingdom of Boyo County, repeated attempts by the colonialist to invade and desecrate the palace of the Paramount Fon of Kom have failed, allegedly due to a mystical resistance put up by the dreaded Afo’akom. The Afo’akom, is century old beaded statue regarded with reverence by the people of Kom.

The ancient artifact is feared even by Americans for its mysticism and the havoc it caused in an American arts gallery, after it was stolen from the Fon’s palace in 1966 and taken to the US against the wishes of the fon and his people.

In another act of desecration some few days ago, the colonialist forcefully invaded the Bafut Fon’s palace, one of UNESCO’s heritage sites, shooting sporadically into residential buildings and vandalizing shrines and other infrastructure. According to reports, the Fon of Bafut, HRM Abumbi II, accused by the colonialists of sympathizing with Ambazonian Restoration Forces, was the main target but was absent during the invasion.

Ambazonians from the Bafut Fondom has been spitting fire since the invasion promising hell and brimstone to whoever facilitated the operation of the terrorist forces in the palace, which they describe as the rallying point of the Bafut people.

The Bafut Palace, ascribed as the World Monuments and a UNESCO heritage site is surrounded by a sacred forest in the heart of the northern zone of Ambazonia. Being a colonial construction of the Germans after the Bafut-German war, the palace has been the fulcrum of political power for over 400 years. It embodies Bafut cultural identity and remains a center for religious rites and traditional ceremonies.

Over 50 houses are clustered around the site’s spiritual core, Achum Shrine, and are used by the Fon, his wives, and the royal court. The World Bank, UNESCO, the German Government, the US Embassy in French Cameroun and a host of international NGOs are among the international bodies that have to contribute to the maintenance of the Bafut palace Museum.

Like the Prince of Fontem pointed out in a video some times ago, it is time for all traditional rulers in Ambazonia to evacuate all significant artifacts in their palaces to safer zones. The repeated invasion of palaces by colonial agents are signs that they will not hesitate to steal these artifacts or even destroy them as signs of frustration.