Listed on Facebook’s most dangerous individuals/organizations’ list, ADF says Cameroon government is behind “smear campaign”

Members of the Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF), one of many non-state armed groups operating in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon have reacted to a recent decision by social media giant, Facebook to name them among the most dangerous organizations.

Reacting to the decision, Ndong Emmanuel, fondly referred to as General Capo, Deputy Defense Chief of the Ambazonia Governing Council said it didn’t strike any new chords, and is a follow up of past battles.

“The ADF has taken note of the Facebook list of dangerous individuals and organizations and it is not surprising that Facebook has singled us out among the various forces on the ground to label us as such. This has been an ongoing campaign by Facebook to suppress the voice of the ADF. The Facebook pages of our top officials have repeatedly been interrupted, viewership surprised and our live shows interrupted,” he told MMI.

“The recent images we shared on the killing of the 5-year-old baby in Buea have been taken down by Facebook even though other people put up the same pictures and videos… We believe this is part of a campaign by the Cameroon government to hide its atrocities,” he said, adding it counts as an “abuse of monopoly power.”

Previous attempts to have Facebook held accountable through US congressmen, he explained, have proven futile.

“Our methods of operation and our cause are good. The ADF will continue to be a dangerous organization against the Cameroon government…” he promised.

“Facebook,” to him, “is not a state party and, regrettably, they will list an organization like the ADF that is fighting a legitimate fight, among dangerous organizations without any substantiation or justification… it is a smear campaign to tarnish the only well structured and well-disciplined force on the ground…”

The ADF should be recalled has like other factions battling government forces, been accused of several rights violations making life unbearable for citizens in the conflict-hit regions.

The faction and others however continue to trade blames with state forces.