DISCUSSION AT CHATHAM HOUSE ON THE CAMEROON ANGLOPHONE CRISIS: EXAMINING ESCALATION AND SEEKING SOLUTIONS.
WHY THE BIYA REGIME IS INTRANSIGENT:
In Cameroon, we have a strongman, not strong institutions, and the tendency of strongmen is always to respond with brute force. We also have a system where we have very extremist members of government who enjoy the status quo and make money from the crisis. People have interest in ensuring that we are where we are.
ON THE SPREAD OF THE RESTORATIONIST IDEOLOGY:
During the period when we were taken to jail and because of the systematic and gross violations of our people, the population got more radicalised. People felt that independence was the panacea to the problem and that there was no need to be talking about ‘a united’ Cameroon and that we should go back to ‘Ambazonia’ Southern Cameroons.
MY STANCE OF FEDERALISM:
I am for a two-state federation and I have made that clear, notwithstanding those who disagree with me, they don’t have to be disagreeable about it. I believe that federalism is a middle point between those who stand for a decentralized unitary state and those who are clamouring for independence.
ALL ANGLOPHONE LEADERSHIP DIALOGUE FORUM:
We need an All Anglophone Leadership Dialogue Forum. We have a myriad of leaders who have divergent views. There are some who believe in the force of argument and there are some who believe in the argument of force. Some are for separation while there are those who clamour for a two-state federation, there are those who clamour for a unitary state.
The leaders have to meet and agree on a common course because if they don’t meet and talk, when there’s a call for real dialogue, their voices will not be heard. What unites us is stronger than what divides us so I think that with time we shall meet and agree on the short term, medium term and long term goals.
ON “BETRAYING” THE STRUGGLE:
I can never betray our people because it is a cause that I believe in. I know things are very charged emotionally at this time, it’s easy for us to try and destroy our own but those who look beyond the present situation know who’s fighting for them. History will record the real story. I don’t get distracted by the smear campaign, I keep walking, doing what I think is right, doing what the people would like.
My dad died in my house, and I wasn’t given the opportunity to bury him because I was in jail. So even from an African perspective, even my ancestors will strike me dead if I betray the struggle.
WE NEED CONTINUED PRESSURE FROM THE INDEPENDENCE CAMP:
Yes, I want pressure to still come from those calling for independence because we need that pressure to be able to bring the government to the table. But yes, I also understand that those clamouring for independence should allow the space for those who don’t think like them to talk.
By Barrister Nkongho Felix
More on the Clotham house Dialogue
29 comments
Bro sorry but you aren’t trustworthy right now. What you say and what you do are not straight. No need for a AAIII. You saw the outcome of the last two. If you had a real interest of exchange you would have travelled to Nigeria to meet your former comrades. But pride, envy and arrogance are too strong in you. You even had no balls to call Mark. If all Ambazonian groups meet then only for the constitutional assembly in Buea.
Bro. it’s our pressure that got you and the others out, the entire people of Ambazonia never went to school, shot their shops, lost lots of money, sacrifice their whole being, for these are the only way for us to apply pressure.
You called for school resumption and so on. What exactly do you mean by separatist and pressure? We the people of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia do not understand pressure to be a word but a realty, and for the post one year that is exactly what we have been supplying day and night with terror and evil on top of us.
Even if you where the one we listen to, you will have to tell us exactly what you mean by pressure and separatist.
If you were courageous enough like you were before you went to Kondegi, you will support the school boycott strategy so as to get the pressure you so badly need.
The interim government rules, Yaounde and it’s allies are in panic.
It is because of your type we are still in this mess today. You may be thinking you are enlightened and so can see things better than others. Know that you will be caught up and exposed by time. Every single word you have altered on international media after your release especially after September 22, 2017 speaks loud and clear and no one needs an interpreter to get it. You need to take a break and reflect well on which side of history you want to be and start acting accordingly. Stop this game of words and stand for the truth and only then shall you be set free.
Barrister Nkongho Felix, we are now called The Federal Republic of Ambazonia. I will try to listen to your solution. Please clearly define this “Federalism of Two States you want. I will agree and support you if the English speaking State is allowed to HAVE ITS OWN DEFENCE FORCES: RUN ITS OWN ECONOMY AND PORTS OF ENTRY: RUN ITS OWN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: RUN ITS OWN ELECTIONS. THIS WILL BE A LEGALLY SIGNED AGREEMENT BY THE UN and INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY: ANY CONFLICTS WILL BE ABJUGATED BY A NEUTRAL BODY. We will never allow la republique to fool us again with the support of outside military forces. DO NOT forget, you are a victim, we are all victims, any other solution right now is only viable if we can defend ourselves and our institutions.To conclude before we embark on any negotiations, ALL PRISONERS MUST BE UNCONDITIONALLY RELEASED< REPARATIONS FOR DAMAGE TO HUMAN LIFE AND PROPERTY AGREED ON. You can see this dictator is losing on all fronts, knows he will lose in any situation, all he can do right now is play Mobutu( time will tell). Lowell, Massachusetts has already recognised our INDEPENDENCE, I bet you by next year, there will be more nations. ALL AMBAZONIANS, send your congratulations and gratitude to the city of LOWELL. ALL we need for the UN is to grant us a seat.
Well said
You talk real.
The only person of the federalism idea that I like and respect is general Ivo, and because even though he talks federalism, he is a man of action, he is very active and his action serves beyond federalism.
He talks federalism and acts independence.
Balla for president.
Our children must go to school. No turning back on this.
All those ambazonians leaving outside the country should withdraw their children from school to show what they mean.
Cowards.
How many bottles 33export Issa Tchiroma is going to spend for you. It is funny that you people always try the same tricks. We Ambazonians listen to our interim government only.
Man, I can smell the 33export for his post. I think Issa Tchi give his a whole truck.
You can take your children to the other side of mongo so they can go to school,because schools in Ambaland is not opening any time soon.we want to raise leaders not motorcycle reader,not men and women employed Dan la series “C”if you know what I mean.Nonsense.
It is not a crime to dream.
There will never be a state called ambazonia.
Children must go to school whether you like it or not. It is their legitimate right.
You are hiding abroad with your children going to school and fooling others at home not to sent theirs to school so that they will keep riding bikes.
Coward.
Stop your nonsense talk. Going back to school… for what? Feed the pockets of the regime. Biya is not interested in good education of our children. That’s why his own were send to America. Our children leave school and have no jobs. Become beggars. And you idiot talk about school resumption. Shey. Drink your 33export.
YES BRO THEY ARE SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND PUNISH THOSE HOME, SO THEIR EDUCATED CHILDREN’S WILL COME RULE THOSE AT HOME,NOW WE SHOULD TELL BIYA TO ALLOW ANGLOPHONE CHILDREN TO COME AND GO TO SCHOOL FOR FREE IN FRENCH PART OF CAMEROON. THESE AMBAFOOL, FOOL LOWELL COUNTY YOU GUYS WILL NEVER STEP FOOT IN CAMEROON AGAIN,YOU HAVE FOREIGN PASSPORTS WE DOESN’T NEED YOU
Tyty alias Issa Tchiroma you can’t convince here anybody. Publish your nonsense in the Cameroon Tribune.
Your fear will come true. There is and there will be Ambazonia. You just need to learn to accept that the mother cow that has delivered the milk is gone. It is a bad feeling for lrc but that’s life.
You say “Balla for president”. President of lousy lrc?
Yes he will be president and our children will go to school.
Even in the USA and Europe there are jobless street roamers like you.
Come home and speak that your nonsense and see if you will be listened to.
I repeat there will be no ambazonia. Continue dreaming.
Fools.
For which country? Cameroun? LOL Then you people must remove the Beti people from power. You know what Biya did with Ahidjo’s people. So your talk is nonsense. Maybe the Munas gave you that foolish idea. Very funny indeed. We are not interested in Cameroun. Ambazonians are finished with LRC.
Please let us ignore comments that are made by people bent on provocations. This is our fight and anyone who thinks that we will give up this time is only day dreaming.
Although I believe that you can slap a mad man especially when provoked, we should refrain from responding to trolls. Starve them off with no response.
If I understand well, Balla does not seem to have realized that we have reasonably researched and understood why we can’t live together again with la republic. Balla should have known that people heard the call of the governing body and came out on the 22nd of September and st of October to declare their independence. If he doubts the voice of the people then he is blind. If he wants to hear it clearer let him press for a referendum so that the results would be clear to him. His ideas represent him and few who still dream of any fruitful relationship with la republic. Its impossible for the french and English systems to co exist especially in Africa because no French speaking Africa know the word “independence” and no french speaking African country know words like “integrity, credibility, responsibility,honesty, equality before the law, free and fair elections, accountability…” they are taught to believe in France, in power, in manipulation, in gendarmes,in exploitation, in corruption… and that is how they relate with the society. We have seeing people like Balla loose their integrity just because of the cross effect of mingling with the system… they are good in influencing people to become like them. Ambazonians free yourselves and take your destiny into your hands like Rwanda or remain slaves forever – make no mistake.
Referendum is a good idea. Let us push for that. LRC is frightened about that topic. Ask the people what they want.
1.full independence from LRC
OR
2.a two state federation with LRC
IDIOTS REFERENDUM WILL BE IN ENTIRE CAMEROON BECAUSE FRANCOPHONES HAVE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES ABOUT LIVING WITH YOU OR NOT…BECAUSE CAMEROON WAS ONE COUNTRY UNDER UK…AND FRANCE..PROTECTORATE…REFERENDUM DOESN’T CONCERN..ONE..PART..FOOLS
Bali Nyonga: Your are correct. Let us ignore this nyammangoro eater! The consortium fired him and he is no longer a force to be reckoned with. He will not even be a quarter head in Ambazonia.
Mr. Bali Nyonga, I am from Mamfe a nyammangoro eater according to your sentence and I and our people are very stunch participators in our liberation struggle. For you to use divisive terms that was used in the past to divide northwest and southwest people at this time when we need unity between us, is not a sensible act.
Hi SAA, I have just re-read my posting and I do not see where I mentioned “nyammangoro eater”. It is possible that you read that on Atem Bakia’s posting. For the record, I am from Bali-Nyonga and eat nyammangoro.
SAA, there is more that brings us together than separates us.
Trolls ignored from now on.
THIS BALLA MAN IS TALKING FROM THE TWO SIDES OF HIS MOUTH. THIS MAN IS TAKING THIS LIBERATION STRUGGLE FOR SOME KIND OF A JOKE. THIS MAN IS NOT WORTH US DEALING WITH. HE ALREADY SAID IT, ‘HIS INTENTION ONLY IS TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF AMBAZONIA’. PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING FOR THEIR LIBERATION AND THIS MAN IS ONLY TALKING ABOUT BEING THE PRESIDENT.
MR. Balla, you will do yourself some good IF YOU WOULD SPEND YOUR ENERGY FIGHTING FOR A FREFERANDUM from the UN.
I hope Ambazonians are not going to start acting like dictators forcing people on what to think. And persecuting people who think differently.
I would like a separate country but what if the UN agreed to guarantee Federal country with LRC where we will elect our own prime minister, have our own
Parliament? Would you reject that?
True federation in 2018 or independence in 2050? Which one would you choose?
In a true democracy there needs to be different voices. when we start insulting and intimidating those who think differently then we are already creating a dictatorship.