Belgium Detains Ambazonia Leaders Over Alleged War Crimes in Cameroon
Ambazonia ADF leaders arrested in Belgium
New details have emerged regarding the individuals detained in Belgium in connection with the investigation into alleged war crimes linked to Cameroon’s Anglophone conflict. Sources familiar with the case told MMI News that those arrested include Ketcha Fru, Kaavi Melchizedek, his wife, and Mua Obadia, who serves as Secretary General of the Ambazonia Governing Council (AGovC). Belgian prosecutors earlier confirmed that four individuals were initially detained during coordinated searches in Antwerp and Londerzeel, with three later remanded in custody by an investigating judge. It remains unclear which of the four individuals has since been released.
Belgian authorities have detained three individuals suspected of involvement in alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes connected to Cameroon’s long-running Anglophone conflict, federal prosecutors have confirmed.
The suspects are believed to be leaders of the Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF), an armed separatist group fighting for the independence of Cameroon’s two English-speaking regions — the North-West and South-West — in the predominantly French-speaking Central African nation.
According to Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office, coordinated searches were carried out on Sunday in the city of Antwerp and in the Flemish town of Londerzeel. Four people were initially arrested, and three have since been remanded in custody by an investigating judge.
In a statement, prosecutors alleged that funds were being raised from Belgium to support the armed struggle in Cameroon, including the purchase of weapons and ammunition. They further stated that instructions for attacks were allegedly issued from Belgian territory.
The investigation was launched last summer and focuses on individuals residing in Belgium who are suspected of forming part of the ADF leadership structure.
Background: Norway Case Against Ayaba Cho Lucas
The Belgian arrests come as Ayaba Cho Lucas, the leader of the Ambazonia Governing Council (AGovC) — the political body that oversees and controls the ADF — enters his second year in pretrial detention in Norway.
Ayaba was arrested in September 2024 and has since remained in custody while Norwegian authorities investigate allegations of serious international crimes linked to the conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.
Norwegian prosecutors have accused him of involvement in numerous grave offences, including alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes. In recent months, authorities in Norway expanded the charges against him, further intensifying legal proceedings.
The case marked one of the most significant international legal actions taken against a prominent figure associated with the Ambazonia separatist movement and signalled growing European scrutiny of diaspora-based leadership structures linked to the conflict.
Conflict Rooted in Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis
Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis began in 2016 when lawyers and teachers in the country’s English-speaking regions went on strike. They protested against what they described as the imposition of French in courts and schools, and broader marginalisation by the Francophone-dominated government.
In 2017, separatist activists declared the independence of a breakaway state known as Ambazonia, triggering an armed conflict between security forces and separatist groups such as the ADF.
Since then, the crisis has escalated into one of Africa’s most protracted and underreported conflicts.
The United Nations estimates that more than 6,500 people have been killed since the violence began nearly a decade ago. The unrest has also forced over 490,000 people to flee their homes, while more than 1.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Human rights organisations have accused both separatist fighters and Cameroonian government forces of committing widespread abuses, including unlawful killings, kidnappings, torture and the burning of villages.
International Investigations Expand
The Belgian arrests follow similar investigations in Norway and the United States, reflecting growing international scrutiny over alleged transnational support networks linked to the conflict.
Belgian prosecutors did not disclose the identities of the suspects but confirmed that the investigation centres on potential violations of international humanitarian law.
Under Belgium’s universal jurisdiction framework, national courts can prosecute certain grave international crimes — such as war crimes and crimes against humanity — regardless of where they were committed.
Political Fallout and Ongoing Tensions
Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, who has ruled the country for more than four decades, maintains that his government has taken significant steps to resolve the crisis. Authorities have previously organised a national dialogue and introduced measures aimed at granting special status to the Anglophone regions.
However, critics argue that the measures have failed to address the root causes of the conflict. The government continues to face international criticism over its handling of the crisis, allegations of excessive force by security forces, and restrictions on political freedoms.
Meanwhile, civilians in the North-West and South-West regions remain caught between separatist fighters and government troops, with insecurity and economic disruption persisting across much of the area.
As the Belgian investigation unfolds alongside proceedings in Norway, it marks a significant moment in efforts to pursue accountability beyond Cameroon’s borders — and signals that diaspora-linked activities connected to the Anglophone conflict may increasingly face legal scrutiny under international law.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on March 4, 2026 to include the names of individuals reported to have been arrested in Belgium.