Osita Dima

IS NORWAY GENUINELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF AMBAZONIA AND CAMEROON, OR IS IT ACTING AS AN AGENT OF NEO-COLONIALISM AND TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION? Is the Government of Norway sincerely concerned about the lives and well-being of the people of Ambazonia and Cameroon? Or is the Norwegian Government acting as an agent of neo-colonialism and transnational repression to silence dissenters and political opponents on behalf of the Cameroonian Government? If the Norwegian Government truly cares about peace and the lives of Africans, the right approach would be to bring the Government of Cameroon and the Ambazonian Government to the negotiating table and offer to serve as a peace mediator between both sides. The same goes for the Government of Finland and its interference with the declaration of the restoration of Biafra's independence. Article 1(2) of the United Nations Charter recognises the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples. Article 1(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) expressly states: "All peoples have the right of self-determination." Why are these principles celebrated when Europeans invoke them but treated with suspicion when Africans demand the same rights? Furthermore, just as concerns have been raised by the Organization of Emerging African States (OEAS), the United States of Biafra Mission in Norway reiterates its concern that Norwegian authorities may have shared information extracted from the electronic devices of H.E. Dr. Cho Ayaba with the Cameroonian authorities, just as Finnish authorities may have done with Nigeria. Did Norway share information from Dr. Cho Ayaba's electronic devices with the Cameroonian authorities? Did Finland do the same with Nigeria in the case of H.E. Simon Ekpa? If so, what information was shared, with whom, for what purpose, and under which legal authority? Is such conduct lawful under Norwegian, Finnish, and European law, particularly where the receiving authorities are accused of persecution, torture, war crimes and other grave human rights violations? Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. Article 8 protects private life and correspondence. Sections 93 and 102 of the Norwegian Constitution provide corresponding protections against torture and unjustified interference with privacy. The Finnish Constitution, particularly Section 10, protects private life and confidential communications. Articles 4, 7, and 8 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights are also relevant where EU law applies. If these information transfers occurred, we demand an independent examination of their legality and the risks posed to the individuals concerned. NOW, TO THE PEOPLE OF AMBAZONIA: Please remember that you alone can tell your story. An ignorant Norwegian who does not understand your history cannot know your story better than you. Our attention has been drawn to statements attributed to the legal representative of H.E. Dr. Cho Ayaba, referring to the people of Ambazonia as "separatists." This is deeply troubling. How can a people fighting against illegal occupation and annexation be casually labelled separatists without properly examining their history, their sovereignty claims, and the circumstances surrounding the 1961 plebiscite? The people of Ambazonia maintain that they are fighting for the restoration of their sovereignty, not merely seeking separation from a legitimate political arrangement. Who exactly are you separating from? You are fighting for your own sovereign homeland, Ambazonia. This is about the history, identity, dignity, and future of the people of Ambazonia. Even Norway supported the United Nations process concerning the future of British Southern Cameroons. That historical record deserves serious examination rather than being reduced to the convenient label of "separatism." As far back as 21 April 1961, Norway voted in favour of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1608 (XV), recognising the distinct political status of British Southern Cameroons and endorsing its right to determine its political future through a UN-supervised plebiscite. Ironically, the Republic of Cameroon itself voted against that resolution. The question today is whether Norway has adequately considered that historical and legal record when addressing the claims of the people of Ambazonia to self-determination. Please learn from the mistakes made in the Finland–Nigeria proceedings against H.E. Simon Ekpa. He was initially sentenced to six years' imprisonment, and the Finnish Court of Appeal subsequently reduced the sentence to four years while upholding the terrorism-related convictions. We strongly challenge the legal reasoning behind that outcome and maintain that the right of the Biafran people to self-determination, and the lawful self-defence of civilians against extermination, must be properly considered. This judgment must be challenged, overturned, and quashed in its entirety. The name and reputation of our Prime Minister, H.E. Simon Ekpa, must be fully cleared and vindicated. We categorically reject any attempt to associate him or his legitimate political struggle for Biafran self-determination with terrorism. Our Prime Minister is not a terrorist, and the pursuit of freedom, self-determination, and the lawful defence of our people against persecution and extermination must never be criminalised. We will continue to pursue every available legal avenue until justice is served, his conviction is overturned, and his name is cleared. If your lawyer does not understand your history, does not accurately present the nature of your struggle, or fails to challenge the prosecution's interpretation of the facts and applicable law, you have every right to question whether that lawyer is properly representing your interests. And if the lawyer cannot adequately defend your case, seek alternative legal representation. It is that simple. While we are in the process of securing permission to visit H.E. Dr. Cho Ayaba, we have also written to his lawyer, offering whatever assistance we can provide, including relevant legal research, documentation, and international human rights expertise. We want to ensure that the historical and legal arguments are properly examined before the Norwegian courts. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO QUESTION WHETHER NORWAY HAS JURISDICTION OVER THE CAMEROON–AMBAZONIA WAR. Under Sections 4–6 of the Norwegian Penal Code, the application of Norwegian criminal law to acts committed abroad depends on the applicable jurisdictional requirements. The Norwegian authorities must explain precisely which acts they allege occurred in Norway, which acts allegedly occurred in Cameroon, and the legal basis upon which Norwegian courts claim jurisdiction over each charge. The mere fact that an African political leader resides in Europe does not automatically make him criminally responsible for everything that happens during a war in Africa. Political leadership is not, by itself, proof of individual criminal guilt. LET ME END WITH SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT. Have Ukrainian soldiers committed, or been accused of committing, crimes associated with the Russia–Ukraine war? YES. Does that automatically make the current President of Ukraine criminally responsible for every crime committed by individual Ukrainian soldiers? NO. Individual criminal responsibility must be established through evidence and the applicable legal principles. Political leadership alone is not enough. Why should the same principle not apply to the leaders of Ambazonia and Biafra? Why is the Ukrainian struggle discussed in terms of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and self-defence, while African struggles for self-determination are so often dismissed as separatism and terrorism? In addition to all the legal jargon, the Norwegian authorities must apply common sense. Article 14(2) of the ICCPR and Article 6(2) of the ECHR guarantee the presumption of innocence. The European Court of Human Rights has also emphasised the need for relevant and sufficient reasons for prolonged pretrial detention, including in Buzadji v. Republic of Moldova [GC], Application No. 23755/07 (2016). The Norwegian authorities must answer the questions surrounding Dr. Cho Ayaba's prolonged detention, the evidence against him, and the jurisdiction being asserted. What is good for Norway, Finland, and Ukraine is equally good for Ambazonia and Biafra. The world must stop treating Africans and their leaders as lesser human beings. Africans must stop remaining silent while their people are killed, their families are separated, and their political aspirations are criminalised. If Norway and Finland genuinely care about African lives, peace, and human dignity, bring the governments and representatives of the peoples concerned to the negotiating table and help end these wars. Stop pretending that imprisoning African political leaders is a substitute for resolving the political causes of these wars. The right to self-determination and lawful self-defence is not a crime. Signed: Christopher Okenwa Human Rights and Anti-Colonization Unit United States of Biafra Mission in Norway Related News Reports, Investigations, and Human Rights Documentation: Cameroon: Army Killings, Disappearances, in North-West Region hrw.org/news/2022/08/11/came… Cameroon forces kill 170 in Anglophone region in six months: HRW Group says security forces used indiscriminate force against civilians, torched hundreds of homes between October-March. aljazeera.com/news/2019/3/28… Cameroon admits army role in February massacre of civilians Government says three soldiers and a vigilante group were responsible for the killing of civilians in anglophone region. aljazeera.com/news/2020/4/21… Cameroon soldiers killed nine villagers, government admits aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/7/… Rights group: At least 21 civilians killed in Cameroon Human Rights Watch accuses government forces and Fulani herders of February killings in English-speaking region. aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/26… Cameroon: Soldiers on Rampage in North-West Region hrw.org/news/2022/02/03/came… Cc: @_AfricanUnion @court_afchpr @achpr_cadhp @AfrikParliament @SWAPOPRESIDENT @BWGovernment @PresidenceMali @sigbf @ZambiaMFAIC @mfa_tanzania @PresidenceGabon @CoE_RuleofLaw @CoEHumanRights @PACE_LegalHR @NorwayMFA @OsloFF @NRC_Norway @hrw @IHRF_English @EURightsAgency @jonasgahrstore @ZelenskyyUa @amba_newsline @PresSecAgovc @RagnhildMe @espenteigen @RMistereggen @DocumentNo