Ambazonia Self-Defence Council
Leaders
Dates of operationMarch 2018[9] – present
Group(s)
Political position
SizeThousands (self-claim)[6]
Part of Ambazonia

The Ambazonia Self-Defence Council (ASC), also known as Ambazonia Military Council (AMC), Ambazonia Military Forces (AMF),[6] and Ambazonia Restoration Forces (ARF),[11] is an umbrella organization that consists of several militants that fight for the independence of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, including the Red Dragons, the Tigers of Ambazonia, Seven Karta, the Manyu Ghost Warriors, the Ambazonia Restoration Army,[9] the Southern Cameroons Defence Forces,[6] the Bui Warriors,[10] General No Pity's forces,[3] and numerous others.[6] Collectively, these militias possibly outsize the Ambazonia Defence Forces and SOCADEF.[11]

History

The ASC was created by the Interim Government of Ambazonia in March 2018. The Interim Government wished to include all separatist militias, including the ADF; however, the ADF declined to join, opting for cooperation rather than integration.[12] It is unclear whether the ASC has a centralized command structure, though given the local nature of its militias, this is unlikely.[9]

In March 2019, the Southern Cameroons Liberation Council (SCLC) was created. Days later, it declared an immediate end to a lockdown in Fako Division, previously declared by the Interim Government. Although the ASC is loyal to the Interim Government, and the Interim Government is part of the SCLC, the ASC refused to end the lockdown.[13] In its refusal to obey the order, the ASC cited the lack of consultation by the SCLC.[14]

By 2021, the ASC had become more commonly known as the "Ambazonia Restoration Forces" (ARF).[10][2][15]

In January 2022, the ARF began to fracture as conflicts erupted among its members. Several commanders of the umbrella group, including General No Pity and General Mad Dog, formed the Bui Unity Warriors in opposition to "Field Marshal" Insobu's Bui Warriors,[4][5] another group within the ARF.[10] The internal struggles further escalated in February 2022, as the Interim Government splintered when its leader Samuel Ikome Sako was impeached. General Mad Dog began attacking the forces of then-ARF chief commander Lekeaka Oliver,[2] and General No Pity's troops killed Insobu in April 2022.[5] Oliver was killed in July, either by government forces or rival rebels.[16]

In August 2022, more than 50 ARF commanders met to agree to a more organized unification of the ARF as well as to distance themselves from the exile leadership of the rebellion. At the meeting, "General Bitter Collar" and "Commander Armoured Car" were elected as Communication Secretaries for the unified militias.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mbah Godlove (3 August 2022). "Ground Zero To Dictate Pace Of Revolution After Decisive Meeting". Bareta News. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Moki Edwin Kindzeka (16 February 2022). "Cameroon's Rival Separatist Groups Clash, Kill Fighters". VOA. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Isong Asu (8 October 2021). "General No Pity reserves right to use all means to counter the Francophone dominated army". Cameroon Intelligence Report. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  4. 1 2 Mark Bareta (8 January 2022). "FM No Pity is officially ADF fighter". Bareta News. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 "Insobu Dies: Why Infighting Keeps Taking Away Ambazonia Best Front Warriors". Cameroon News Agency. 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gareth Browne (13 May 2019). "Cameroon's Separatist Movement Is Going International". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  7. ↑ "Crise anglophone : prélats et chefs traditionnels indexés". Actu Cameroun. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  8. ↑ Facebook, Cameroon News Agency, May 14, 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 “These Killings Can Be Stopped” - Abuses by Government and Separatist Groups in Cameroon’s Anglophone Regions, HRW, Jul 18, 2018. Accessed Mar 13, 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Fon Lawrence (5 August 2021). "Southern Cameroons Crisis: Bui Warriors destroy Cameroon gov't military vehicles and weapons". Cameroon Intelligence Report. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  11. 1 2 Cameroon's Anglophone crisis: Red Dragons and Tigers - the rebels fighting for independence, BBC, Oct 4, 2018. Accessed Oct 4, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Opinion: Ambazonia 'Acting President' Says General Ivo Died A Hero". Cameroon News Agency. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  13. ↑ Cameroon: Confusion looms as Ambazonia faction maintains Fako lockdown, Journal du Cameroun, Apr 10, 2019. Accessed Apr 10, 2019.
  14. ↑ ASC Maintains Lockdown Despite SCLC Lift, Cameroon News Agency, Apr 10, 2019. Accessed Apr 11, 2019.
  15. ↑ Fon Lawrence (14 July 2021). "General No Pity: "Our Big Rubbergun will not leave any La Republique soldier alone"". Cameroon Intelligence Report. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  16. ↑ "War in Anglophone regions: Chris Anu officially announces death of brother, Oliver Lekeaka". Cameroon News Agency. 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
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