Yaounde – Thirty Southern Cameroonian detainees in Yaoundé were scheduled for release on Monday, October 21, marking a potential breakthrough in the ongoing conflict between Ambazonia and Cameroon. These individuals were among 37 Ambazonians who were abducted by Nigerian security forces, in cooperation with Cameroonian authorities, during a football game. After their abduction, they were illegally transferred to Cameroon—an act that the Abuja High Court ruled was unlawful—where they were subjected to trial by a military tribunal.
In a recent development, the Yaoundé Court of Appeal ordered the release of 30 of these detainees, while the judgments for the remaining seven have been postponed until November 21. Additionally, two other Ambazonians, who had been detained from the Southern zone and already served their sentences, will join the group of 30, bringing the total number of those expected to be freed to 32.
Of the original 37 abductees from Nigeria, Bui County accounted for more than 24 individuals. A source from Kondengui prison, where the detainees are held, confirmed that only three of the 11 refugees abducted from Calabar, Nigeria, remain in custody.
While the reasons for this unexpected release are not yet clear, some speculate it may be tied to possible regime changes in Yaoundé. However, there are still thousands of Ambazonian detainees in various prison centers throughout Cameroon, including prominent figures like the Nera10 and Adukarim Ali. If the release is indeed a goodwill gesture, many hope it could be the beginning of broader negotiations aimed at resolving the eight-year conflict between Ambazonia and Cameroon, which has caused immense suffering and displacement across the region.
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