SCACUF Governing Council Chairman Sets Independence/Restoration Day Committee

1st October, 2017 is fast approaching. This is the day Southern Cameroons finally had its independence from Great Britain. In the past, members of the Southern Cameroons National Council-SCNC every 1st October in Southern Cameroons and elsewhere celebrated this day. It has always been followed with flags hosting and quiet celebrations coupled with multiple arrest and militarisation of major strong holds such as Bamenda, Kumba, Kumbo, Mutengene and Buea. This year, it is indicating that the entire Southern Cameroons will be flooded with Cameroun military as it is already currently the case. The vast majority of Southern Cameroonians previously did not believe in an independent Southern Cameroons by then, most of them looked at SCNC members as old people just wanting to divide the country into two. Young people then did not understand the history of the Cameroons and the legal argument of both Cameroons. That has changed greatly with the advent of Social Media. However, since October 2016 when the lawyers started the strike, things have tremendously change both home and abroad with vast majority of Southern Cameroons wanting nothing to do with La Republique Du Cameroun. That said, the celebration this year is expected to be solemn and different.

In this light, the Chairman of the Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Consortium United Front Governing Council Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, yesterday 16th August, 2017 issued a communique setting up ad-hoc committees. The following committees were created.

1. The Ad-Hoc Committee for Education: This committee will Enforce the Governing Council’s position on the No-Return to School Project to be chaired by Comrade Tassang Wilfred. This committee will consult and coordinate efforts to ensure that the decision of the Governing Council is respected
2. The Ad-hoc Committee on Independence Day: This committee has been tasked with the coordination of activities in preparation of our upcoming Independence Day Restoration on October 1st. This committee will be chaired by Comrade Nfor Ngala Nfor, Chairman of the SCNC.
3. The Committee on the United Nations General Assembly. Chaired by Comrade Elvis Kometa, this committee will be tasked with coordination the planning and execution of the SC/Ambazonia action during the upcoming General Assembly.
The above committees are open to suggestions from Southern Cameroonians/Ambazonians. All suggestions should be sent to admin@scacuf.org- reports SCACUF Governing Council Chairman.

It should be recalled that the UN does not grant independence twice, nor can they cancel the independence already given. On the 21st of April 1961, the UN overwhelmingly voted to grant independence to the former British Southern Cameroons which became effective from October 1, 1961 by joining French Cameroun. However, the union did not culminate and failed to offer a union treaty as per the same UN Charter rules. The decision to grant Southern Cameroons Independence is final and will never be repeated. As it stands, Southern Cameroons is under annexation from French Cameroun and therefore what the people of Southern Cameroonians are now fighting is geared towards restoring the lost independence and not proclaiming another independence. It is therefore left for Southern Cameroonians to officially proclaim come October 1, 2017 in what has been known as the RESTORATION DAY.

It is fair to say that schools and court have been shut down since October 2016 and there are no signs of that reopening. Southern Cameroonians have collectively called for the release of its leaders and all others locked up in jails across the Cameroons in connection to this struggle and the resumption of genuine dialogue to tackle the root causes of the problem as recommended by the United Nations. Will this be done by the regime? It is still seen to be done.

The euphoria amongst Southern Cameroonians towards 1st October Independence and Restoration day has heighten amongst Southern Cameroonians as they await to see what the committee set up for this will bring forth. However, BaretaNews must caution that restoring the independence of Southern Cameroons will not be offered on a platter of gold as La Republique will do everything to retain its colonial territory. However, there is hope in the air as SCACUF intensive diplomacy pushes up with potential countries lining up to recognised the new African state as well as the AGC deep rooted preparation for a military solution which is promising at all fronts.

Mark Bareta.