Separatist Leader Arrested In Norway Amid Ongoing Conflict
His lawyer stated that the arrest was made on “charges based on his various expressions on social media.”
Lucas Ayaba Cho, a prominent figure in Cameroon’s Anglophone separatist movement, was arrested in Norway on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the ongoing armed conflict in the Central African country.
His lawyer stated that the arrest was made on “charges based on his various expressions on social media.”
Cho has been a key player in the push for independence from Cameroon, where violence since 2016 has resulted in over 6000 deaths and nearly a million displaced individuals.
Many residents in the English-speaking regions claim discrimination at the hands of the French-speaking majority.
Global human rights body, Amnesty International, has accused both government forces and armed separatists of human rights abuses, including killings, rapes, and torture of civilians.
A Cameroonian official indicated to the BBC that Norway and Cameroon have a security agreement which may lead to Cho’s extradition shortly. However, his lawyer mentioned he was unaware of any extradition request.
Describing himself as a liberation leader, Cho is known for commanding the Ambazonian Defence Forces (ADF) from his base in Norway. He has been linked to a recent campaign that included a two-week lockdown aimed at boycotting schools.
His militant approach has drawn criticism, particularly after ADF fighters targeted taxi drivers, demanding they repaint their vehicles to reflect the colours of the proposed state of Ambazonia.
The ADF’s political branch, the Ambazonia Governing Council, has also instituted a “liberation tax” on residents in the Anglophone regions to fund their conflict against the government.
Cho’s history of anti-institutional radicalism dates back to the 1990s, including an expulsion from the University of Buea for protest activities.
Norway’s National Criminal Investigation Service (KRIPOS) stated that Cho “had a central role in an ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon.” On Wednesday, Norwegian investigators sought his custody from the Oslo District Court, with prosecutor Anette Berger noting, “We are in an early phase of the investigation, and there are several investigative steps that remain.”
Emmanuel Nsahlai, a US-based lawyer representing victims of the Anglophone crisis, called Cho’s arrest a “significant victory” against separatist violence. He remarked, “This arrest marks a critical step in holding him accountable for his actions and bringing justice to the victims of his violence.”
Cho is not the first separatist leader to face arrest abroad regarding the violence in Cameroon.
The Cameroonian government has consistently urged foreign nations to assist in repatriating separatist leaders for trial, following the extradition of Julius Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and others from Nigeria in 2018.
