From Prison Cell to Public Plea: Abdul Karim Ali’s New Year Message

Kondengui Prison, Cameroon, December 31, 2023 – As the world celebrates the arrival of a new year, a different reality unfolds within the walls of Kondengui Prison in Cameroon. There, prominent Anglophone peace activist Abdul Karim Ali, imprisoned since August 2022, issued a stark message that echoed beyond the confines of his cell.

Ali’s words, delivered in a New Year’s message, paint a grim picture of suffering and resilience. He speaks of “horrendous pain and suffering” endured by his fellow detainees, many of whom are “seriously ill and in need of urgent medical treatment.” His message transcends personal hardship, however, becoming a plea for unity and action within the Anglophone regions of Cameroon.

“There is nothing to be happy about,” Ali stated bluntly. “Can there be a ‘happy new year’?” he asks, his voice heavy with the weight of injustice. He criticises “domestic and international violence,” urging compatriots abroad to recognise the harm inflicted by internal divisions. “The new year will be joyous if our comrades in the diaspora recognise the continued harm groupism is causing our plight.”

A Yearning for Collective Freedom:

After his arrest and detention over two years ago, the Muslim scholar and peace advocate was interrogated repeatedly about a video he made on July 9, 2022, denouncing a Cameroonian military chief for allegedly torturing civilians. Two of his friends have since been detained alongside him. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have issued strong statements, calling for his release.

Ali’s New Year message is not solely focused on personal suffering. He yearns for what he calls collective freedom for the country’s English-speaking regions: “I pray that 2024 marks the beginning of our collective work and the end of Cameroun’s injustice to the people of Southern Cameroons.” His words resonate with a deep longing for justice and an end to the long-standing conflict.

Unity: The Key to Victory:

For Ali, unity is the key to achieving this freedom that the English-speaking population has been fighting for since 2016. He sees it as the “thick line between us and victory.” His message is also a call to action: “What good is my supplication if Southern Cameroonians won’t change, so God change their situation?” He implores his community to come together, stating, “The world must know that truth will always suffocate falsehood.”

Defiance in the Face of Adversity:

Despite the hardship he has endured, Ali’s message is imbued with unwavering determination. He declares, “This generation of Southern Cameroonians won’t pass this struggle to the next one.” His words echo a defiant spirit, a refusal to let suffering and injustice extinguish the flame of hope.

A Call to Action Beyond Prison Walls:

Abdul Karim Ali’s New Year message transcends the confines of his prison cell. It serves as a potent reminder of the ongoing struggle for peace and justice in Cameroon. His call for unity, accountability, and an end to civilian suffering resonates far beyond prison walls, urging the world to take notice of the human cost of conflict and the power of hope in the face of adversity.

Mimi Mefo Info