Southern Cameroons National Council
This article needs to be updated.(October 2018) |
Southern Cameroons National Council | |
---|---|
Leader | Frederick Alobwede Ebong |
Vice-Chairman | Nfor Ngala Nfor |
Founded | 1995 |
Ideology | Separatism |
The Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) is a political organisation seeking the independence of the former
Creation
After achieving independence in the 1960s, Cameroon took territorial control over the area of
1990s
In 1995, the SCNC rose to political prominence with a host of efforts to push for secession of the anglophone Southern Cameroons from the country of Cameroon. The government of Cameroon was finishing its application to join the Commonwealth of Nations and the SCNC organised a number of publicity activities to oppose this inclusion.[3] In August 1995, the SCNC petitioned the UN to intervene and mediate between them and the government of Cameroon warning that a lack of intervention would create "another Somalia".[1] In October 1995, the SCNC publicised a plan schedule of work for an eventual declaration of independence. These political activities resulted in significant disruption by police and security forces.[2]
In 1996, Chair Elad resigned and was replaced by Henry Fossung.[1] Activities were routinely disrupted by police and plans for independence were scuttled consistently.[2] March 1997 produced the arrest of 200 supporters for a supposed attack on security forces in Bamenda. In the trials for the 200, Amnesty International and the SCNC found substantive evidence of admissions through torture and force.[2] The raid and trial resulted in a shutdown of SCNC activities and Fossung taking a low profile.[1] In response to this, in April 1998 a small faction elected Esoka Ndoki Mukete, a high-ranking member of the Social Democratic Front, as the new chair of the SCNC. The decision was opposed by Fossung and the powerful SCNC-North America and the result was paralysis of the organisation.[1]
The divisive council remained over much of 1998 and early 1999 until October 1999 when the government found multiple members guilty in the 1997 trial. Although the faction led by Fossung opposed a unilateral declaration of independence, the faction led by Mukete became more assertive. While Mukete was officially travelling abroad, a small group took over Radio Buea and proclaimed the establishment of Southern Cameroons as an independent and legal political force.[3] Mukete's role in the SCNC was reduced and multiple members, including the leadership were arrested.[1]
In 2000, the SCNC resolved the leadership dispute by electing Frederick Ebong Alobwede the new chairman and considered him the first President of the Southern Cameroons.[4]
2001−present
Repression of the group increased significantly in 2001 when the organisation was declared illegal and clashes with police at a demonstration resulted in multiple deaths.
In 2006, a faction formally declared the
International recognition remained limited although the group became part of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization in 2006. In 2009, the African Union (AU), with support from Muammar Gaddafi, began considering efforts regarding the SCNC call for independence. However, in late 2009, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights rejected the SCNC's petition and slowed the efforts by the group in the AU.[1]
The 2012 Amnesty International Report on Cameroon found that the security forces continue to disrupt SCNC activities. In February 2011, Chief Ayamba Ette Otun was arrested while travelling through the country. He was released soon afterwards without charge. In October 2011, a meeting in Buea was disrupted and 50 members were arrested and released without charge days later.[7]
In June 2014, longtime SCNC Chairman Chief Ayamba Ette Otun died aged 91;[8] the current Chairman is Dr. Peter Forchu Chesami.[9]
On 31 March 2019, the SCNC and several Ambazonian movements agreed to create the Southern Cameroons Liberation Council, a united front consisting of both separatists and federalists.[10]
References
- ^ ISBN 9781506327150.
- ^ ISBN 9781857431834.
- ^ ISBN 9789956558810.
- ^ "Cameroon: Anglophone separatists appoint president". BBC Africa Monitoring. 13 April 2000.[verification needed]
- German-Foreign-Policy.com (in German). 8 November 2001. Archived from the originalon 18 April 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ "Amnesty International 2006 Cameroon Human Rights Report". dibussi.com. 24 May 2006.[verification needed]
- ^ "Amnesty International Annual Report 2012 − Cameroon". Refworld.org. Amnesty International. UNHCR. 24 May 2012.
- ^ "Southern Cameroons: SCNC Leader Chief Ayamba Passes Away At The Age Of 91". UNPO. 20 June 2014.
- ^ "Pleading For World Justice And Peace To Southern Cameroons". SCNC. 17 June 2018.
- ^ Anglophone Struggle Takes Another Kink, Separatists, Federalists Bury Hatchet, Create Southern Cameroons Liberation Council, The National Times, 1 April 2019. Accessed 1 April 2019.