A prominent Cameroonian separatist leader, Lucas Ayaba Cho, has been arrested in Norway over his alleged involvement in the ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon. His lawyer revealed that Cho was detained on Tuesday, facing charges based on his social media activities.
Cho, a leading figure in the Anglophone separatist movement, has been a key player in the push for independence from Cameroon. The conflict, which began in 2016, has claimed over 6,000 lives and displaced nearly a million people, largely in the country’s English-speaking regions.
The separatist leader heads the Ambazonia Governing Council (AGovC), a political wing of the Ambazonian Defence Forces (ADF), and has been known for his radical stance against the Cameroonian government. Cho has faced criticism for actions like ordering the recent lockdown and targeting taxi drivers who refused to repaint their vehicles in the colors of the proposed breakaway state, Ambazonia.
Norwegian authorities confirmed that Cho’s arrest was linked to his involvement in the ongoing conflict. His detention could potentially lead to his extradition to Cameroon under a security agreement between the two countries.
If convicted in Cameroon, Cho could face up to 30 years in prison. His arrest is being hailed as a major victory by critics of the separatist violence in the Anglophone regions.
