Written by Lisa Murimi
Cameroonian separatist leader Lucas Ayaba Cho was arrested in Norway on Tuesday for his alleged role in the ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.
Cho, a prominent figure in the independence movement, was detained on charges related to his social media activities, according to his lawyer.
Cho leads the Ambazonian Defence Forces (ADF), one of the main separatist groups fighting for independence from Cameroon.
The conflict, which began in 2016, has claimed over 6,000 lives and displaced nearly one million people.
The Anglophone minority in Cameroon’s two English-speaking regions has long accused the French-speaking majority of discrimination.
Cho’s arrest could lead to his extradition to Cameroon under a security agreement between Norway and Cameroon.
His lawyer, however, stated that he is unaware of any formal extradition request.
The conflict has drawn international condemnation, with Amnesty International accusing both government forces and separatists of committing atrocities, including killings, rapes, and torture.
Norway’s National Criminal Investigation Service (KRIPOS) confirmed Cho’s arrest, citing his central role in the conflict.
Human rights groups and victims of the violence have hailed the arrest as a step toward accountability for separatist violence in Cameroon
