Too little too late?
Separatists declare post-AFCON lockdown

The Ambazonia Governing Council (AGovC), an arm of the separatist movement in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions has called for a lockdown. This comes at the end of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament which the separatists had tried to no avail to interrupt.

This time, however, their focus is aimed at disrupting the upcoming Youth Day on February 11.

Announcing the lockdown, Benedict Kuah, Chairman of the Ambazonia War Council cited the February 11, 1961 plebiscite.

It was on this day that the British Southern Cameroons in a UN referendum voted to join La Republique du Cameroun.

The historical event which has come be seen as controversial, Benedict stated, was “designed to subvert internal laws and our fundamental rights”.

“That is why on this day we call on all Ambazonians to observe a national lockdown. The entire territory will be a military zone … Every citizen must stay at home,” he stated.

Lockdowns by separatists over the years have been criticized for being counterproductive and against the very people, they seek to represent.

In most cases, business persons tend to lose most, as they are stopped from carrying out activities freely for fear of their lives.

This, some say, makes worse the already challenging economic situation they are living in, caused by the armed conflict that has cost thousands of lives.