“The SONARA Deception: PM Dion Ngute, Kribi, and the Truth Ambazonians Deserve”

SONARA, the abandoned jewel that signals a new dawn for Ambazonia

By A Concerned Ambazonian – The Independentist

Q: What is the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Dion Ngute and SONARA?

A: Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, born of a native of Nkongsamba, a town in La Republique du Cameroun, often presented as a son of Ambazonia, has repeatedly claimed that SONARA—the former national oil refinery located in Victoria (Limbe)—will soon be rebuilt. He assures community leaders and hopeful citizens that revival plans are underway. However, these pronouncements are deeply misleading when placed against the reality: SONARA is no longer part of Cameroon’s strategic petroleum infrastructure. The nation’s refining future now lies in Kribi, far from Ambazonian shores.

Q: What actually happened to SONARA?

A: In May 2019, a suspicious fire severely damaged SONARA’s processing units. The Biya regime, rather than rebuilding the facility in Victoria, quietly redirected all refinery-related investments to Kribi. There, a modern petroleum complex is being constructed with foreign partnerships, positioning Kribi—not Limbe—as the epicenter of Cameroon’s energy future. The refinery’s insurance settlement was absorbed by the state, workers were laid off, and SONARA’s assets are gradually being liquidated or restructured.

Q: Why does PM Ngute continue telling Ambazonians that SONARA will be rebuilt?

A: This is where deception meets political utility. PM Ngute knows the refinery is gone. His reassurances serve a political function: to pacify unrest and prevent economic disillusionment in Ambazonia, where SONARA once represented one of the few symbols of national inclusion. His role is to sustain hope—false hope—in a system that has already made its choice. And that choice is Kribi.

Q: Has the Cameroonian government given an official explanation for this shift?

A: To be fair, government spokespeople and planners have cited logistical advantages, deeper waters in Kribi’s port, and cost-effectiveness as justification for focusing future development away from Limbe. PM Ngute himself has stated in public interviews that feasibility studies for rebuilding SONARA are “ongoing.” However, these claims are not backed by publicly available documents, budget allocations, or construction timelines. In contrast, the Kribi project has received formal approvals, foreign investment, and operational directives—proving where the true commitment lies.

Q: So what’s the broader impact on Ambazonia?

A: The death of SONARA is more than economic—it is symbolic. It marks the systematic stripping away of Ambazonia’s industrial assets and further entrenches the logic of colonial extraction. The refinery that once provided jobs and revenue in Ambazonia has now been transferred to the heart of LRC, under tighter French and Yaoundé control. PM Ngute’s continued narrative is not just misinformation; it’s part of a broader strategy to suppress resistance and dilute the urgency for self-determination.

Q: What should Ambazonians do in response?

A: Recognize the pattern. Deception, delay, and deflection are pillars of the colonial playbook. PM Dion Ngute may smile in town halls and speak of revival, but the facts betray a different reality. The true response must be clarity, organization, and resolute communication. SONARA is gone, and no amount of political theater can resurrect it. Ambazonia must now invest in building a post-colonial vision—rooted in honesty, sovereignty, and strategic rebuilding.

Final Word from The Independentist:

To the concerned readers who write to the Independentist, your questions touch the very heart of national truth-telling. We stand with those who refuse to be misled. History will record who lied, who resisted, and who rebuilt a free Ambazonia.

The Independentist editorial desk