During a recent press conference held by Cameroonian-US-based lawyer Barrister Emmanuel Nsahlai, victims of the Anglophone crisis expressed their divided and disappointed sentiments in Yaounde. The conference, organised by the Association of Victims of the Anglophone Crisis (CAVAT), veered off course, causing some victims to doubt Barrister Nsahlai’s intentions.
The conference sought to bring attention to the hardships experienced by victims, especially those impacted by the February 11 Nkambe Bomb attack. Yet, when victims assembled in Yaounde, they were taken aback to see themselves depicted as individuals pursuing justice against crimes committed by Ambazonian fighters, instead of receiving the relief aid they had expected.
Samba Kingsley, a reporter from Nkambe who travelled with the victims to Yaounde, shared with Eternity Gospel Radio in Limbe that numerous victims were anticipating relief aid but were met with a push to pursue justice through global organisations. Reimbursements for transportation for the victims were distributed following the conference, prompting concerns about the communication surrounding the event.
During the conference, Barrister Nsahlai, leading CAVAT, emphasised his dedication to ensuring that those responsible for war crimes are held accountable. He stated that he had contacted international organisations such as the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to provide in-depth reports on human rights abuses in English-speaking Cameroon.
Barrister Nsahlai emphasised the importance of working with international law enforcement agencies to locate individuals financing the crisis overseas. He revealed that he had submitted complaints about terrorist activities to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), and other appropriate organisations. In addition, he sent a letter to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court of Justice, accusing Ayaba Cho Lucas, Mark Bareta, and other Cameroonians living overseas of committing atrocities in the North West and South West regions.
When unveiling plans for a forthcoming centre to assist crisis victims, Barrister Nsahlai faced criticism for concentrating on non-state actors while ignoring reported atrocities by all parties involved in the conflict. Allegations of collaboration with the Cameroonian government heightened the press conference’s contentious nature.
With the Anglophone crisis nearing its eighth year, the emotions and rifts among attendees at Barrister Nsahlai’s media briefing highlight the intricate challenges surrounding the quest for justice and assistance in a conflict that has deeply impacted those involved.
