Southern Cameroons: Wife of Abdul Karim Speaks Out After In-Absentia Military Court Sentence
By Andre Momo, April 18, 2025
Buea, Southern Cameroons — In a powerful and emotionally charged message, Mairama Abdulkarim, the wife of prominent Southern Cameroonian activist Abdul Karim, has spoken out following her husband’s sentencing in absentia by Cameroon’s military court. Her statement, shared widely on social media, fiercely condemns the Cameroonian state’s judicial actions and reaffirms the unwavering spirit of the Southern Cameroons independence movement.
The message, titled “They Sentenced Themselves Thinking They did my Husband,” lashes out at what she calls a “brutal sword of injustice,” describing the court’s decision as not just a personal attack on her family but a broader assault on truth and resistance.
“The military occupier through its military courts has done its best. Allah will do He’s and He’s is the best of deeds,” she wrote. “No weapon can kill the truth my husband holds.”
In her defiant tone, Mairama underscores the unbreakable resolve of Southern Cameroonians in the face of decades of marginalization and violence, referring to the government’s efforts as “puny annexation.”
Her husband, Abdul Karim, a well-known voice for justice in the Anglophone regions, has long been critical of the Cameroonian government’s military response to peaceful calls for autonomy. His recent sentencing—carried out without his presence in court—has sparked outrage among rights groups, with many condemning the process as a flagrant violation of international standards for due process.
Mairama’s words cut deep:
“If anything, your brutal sword of injustice confirms why I love my husband and why Southern Cameroonians will never surrender… Dead for us is Victory. Either way, we shall win and you shall lose.”
Her message has drawn sympathy and support from a growing international audience, with human rights defenders urging the Cameroonian regime to end its repressive tactics and engage in genuine dialogue with Southern Cameroonian leaders.
The Cameroonian government, led by President Paul Biya for over four decades, has often turned to military tribunals to silence dissent. Critics argue that such courts lack independence and serve as tools of political suppression, especially in cases involving the Anglophone crisis.
A Voice of Courage
Mairama Abdulkarim’s statement is not just a defense of her husband, but a searing indictment of a state apparatus seen by many as illegitimate in the Anglophone regions. Her unwavering faith and fierce advocacy highlight the growing role of women in the Southern Cameroons struggle—standing at the frontline of both emotional and ideological resistance.
While the Cameroonian state may have issued a verdict, it is clear that voices like Mairama’s are determined to ensure that the story is far from over.
International Pressure Mounts
Global observers continue to call for the release of political prisoners and a cessation of military trials against civilians. Calls are intensifying for international bodies, including the African Union and the United Nations, to intervene and push for an end to the conflict which has already claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands since 2016.
As the struggle for justice continues, Mairama’s words serve as a bold reminder: Southern Cameroonians are not only fighting for territory, but for truth, dignity, and the right to be heard.
