Mark Bareta cherry-picking issues to condemn amid separatists’ terror on civilians

Mark Bareta, a hardliner in the Anglophone struggle, who is one of those now advocating for independence, has these days been very vocal about some excesses of separatist fighters called the Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF), loyal to Lucas Ayaba Cho.

However, critics argue that his condemnations appear selective, raising questions about his consistency and underlying motives.

Separatist attacks have escalated in Bamenda, headquarters of the North West Region, with ADF fighters setting ablaze a taxi a few days ago.

This separatist faction had demanded that commercial drivers repaint their vehicles in white and blue—colours symbolising the anticipated breakaway nation of Ambazonia.

This drastic action followed a ban on motorbikes in the city, issued by the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) of Mezam. The ban was implemented because motorbikes were frequently used by separatists to carry out attacks.

In retaliation, the Ayaba Cho faction targeted taxis, particularly because of their yellow colour. This action has led to widespread fear and chaos among the local population, significantly impacting daily life and commerce in Bamenda.

MARK BARETA’S CONDEMNATIONS

Mark Bareta, once a staunch activist for violence and secession residing in Europe, condemned the burning of taxis, calling such actions unacceptable and counterproductive.

“You see what bad policies do—they drain us. Our focus should be on uniting to confront the colonial SDO’s ban on Ben Sikin in Bamenda. Instead, we are forced to protect ourselves from our own supposed defenders,” Bareta stated.

“This is the damage bad policies from groups and spoilers cause, giving the colonial authorities an advantage and pushing our people towards them. Why do we put our people in a position where they have to doubt the Ambazonia project?”

While lambasting those pushing for the burning of taxis, he started to say that making Ambazonia ungovernable is not about hurting civilians by burning taxis.

“It is about ensuring our forces are equipped to confront Cameroun forces, whether through confrontation when possible or guerrilla warfare. That is the path to victory,” he said.

Bareta was among prominent secessionist activists who radicalised youths through online channels to pick up arms in 2017.

SELECTIVE CONDEMNATIONS

Despite his strong words against the burning of taxis, Bareta’s critics argue that he selectively condemns actions based on his own agenda.

While he was quick to denounce the actions in Bamenda, he remained silent on other incidents. For instance, last Monday, separatist fighters in Buea killed a civilian and injured others, yet Bareta did not issue any condemnation.

This selective outcry has led to accusations that Bareta is cherry-picking issues to condemn, possibly to maintain a certain image or narrative.

His critics suggest that while he is willing to call out certain atrocities, he may be turning a blind eye to others that do not align with his views or strategies.

The Anglophone crisis in Cameroon has been marked by violence and turmoil since 2016, with separatist groups fighting for the independence of the English-speaking regions of the country.

The conflict has led to thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Both separatists and state forces have been accused of committing atrocities against civilians.

Njong Shey