Southern Cameroons Independence Day Marked by Mixed Celebrations

October 1, 2024, the day Southern Cameroons gained independence, has come and gone. It, however, leaves another chapter in the ongoing conflict in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions. For separatists fighting to establish an independent state called Ambazonia, the day was an opportunity to signal that their cause remains alive. While some decided to stay indoors, others turned to AI-generated images for celebration. Images seen by MMI, however, show that there were celebrations in some of the hotspots in the North West Region.

Since 2017, when the Anglophone crisis escalated into armed conflict, separatists have marked October 1 as Ambazonia Independence Day. The Cameroonian government’s ban sparked a mix of defiance and silence on that day, as celebrations erupted in rural areas controlled by separatist forces while major towns remained deserted.

Scenes in Towns and Cities

In towns like Bamenda, Buea, and Limbe, fear of clashes between security forces and separatists kept many residents indoors. Streets were largely empty, and economic activity ground to a halt, with only a few roadside vendors daring to open their stalls.

Ntou Dong Chamberlain, the Senior Divisional Officer for Meme Division, chose to punish the locals instead. He did this by sealing off shops in Kumba’s main market that had remained closed in fear of any issues that might arise during the day.

These urban centres were heavily militarised, with security personnel stationed at key locations to stop any separatist activity.

Celebrations in the Villages

While towns remained quiet, separatists in rural areas appear to have celebrated with enthusiasm. Videos obtained by MMI show armed fighters in various locations marking the day. While it has not been possible to determine the exact date and time of these images, their Metadata confirm they were taken on either October 1st or 2nd.

Locals in Bui Division joined the Ambazonia State Army in Kikaikom for a military parade under the command of self-proclaimed separatist “General Talk and Do”.

A similar scene unfolded in Ngoketunja, where fighters in Bamali, Bamabalang, and Bamessing gathered under their blue-and-white Ambazonian flags, expressing hope for the realisation of their dream state.

In Momo Division, the Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF) put on a strong display, despite the recent arrest of their leader, Ayaba Cho. A sizable crowd attended the event under the direction of the self-styled separatist ‘General Sumanguru’, and they expressed their continued support for their leader, who is currently behind bars.

Mimi Mefo Info