PRESIDENT DR SAMUEL IKOME SAKO’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENCOURAGING UNITY WITHIN THE AMBAZONIAN STRUGGLE FOR RECOGNITION.

By Fombat Dieudonne
London, United Kingdom
Great Britain Contributor The Independentist News
14/11/26

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Dr. Samuel Ikome Sako has made several contributions towards promoting unity within the Ambazonia struggle, particularly through attempts to bring together political leaders, self-defence groups, diaspora organisations and supporters of Southern Cameroons’ self-determination.

His unity initiatives can be examined in several important areas, dating particularly from his emergence as Acting President in 2018.

Establishment of the Ambazonia Self-Defence Council (ASC)

One of his significant initiatives was the establishment of the Ambazonia Self-Defence Council in March 2018. It sought to bring different self-defence groups under a common coordinating platform. It encouraged cooperation between local defence groups and the Interim Government. It aimed to reduce divisions between groups operating under different political affiliations. It promoted a common vision for the protection of communities and the Ambazonian cause.

An academic study of the diaspora movement and self-determination in Ambazonia also documents this initiative as an attempt to unify different local militias.This initiative was rejected by Ayaba Cho and Ebenezer Akwanga as documented WiredSpace https://www.cameroonconcordnews.com/southern-cameroons-self-defense-unity-cho-ayaba-and-the-akwanga-gang-reject-collaboration/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Creation of the Ambazonia Coalition Team (ACT)

Dr Sako was associated with the Ambazonia Coalition Team, which sought to bring different Ambazonian political factions together.

The objective was to: – Establish a common political position. – Coordinate diplomatic engagement. – Reduce leadership rivalry. – Present a more unified representation in negotiations with the Cameroonian government.

The New Humanitarian reported on this initiative and its relationship with the Swiss-led peace process. However, it also reported that the initiative had stalled by 2021. The New Humanitarian https://guardian.ng/politics/sako-our-quest-for-federal-republic-of-ambazonia-is-of-no-threat-to-nigeria/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Promoting unity above individual leadership ambitions

In his 2019 end-of-year address, Dr Sako called on Ambazonians to put aside personal rivalries and leadership disputes.

His message emphasised that: – The struggle should be bigger than any individual leader. – Political factions should prioritise the collective national objective. – Ambazonians should consolidate their achievements rather than compete for recognition. – Diplomatic and community efforts should be coordinated. – He expressed this principle through the message: Nobody should fight for a leader or a group of people; let’s fight for Mother Ambazonia. ambazoniagov.org

Promoting international diplomatic cooperation

Dr Sako also supported the Swiss peace initiative and the Ambazonia Coalition Team as mechanisms for presenting a common Ambazonian position internationally.

The intention was to ensure that different political groups could participate in a coordinated diplomatic process rather than approach international stakeholders independently.

However, the initiative faced difficulties because some important factions refused to participate. The New Humanitarian https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00020397231155244?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Institutional reforms and collective leadership

In his December 2025 New Year address, Sako reported that his administration had convened an Ambazonia Strategic Constituent Assembly in Washington, DC.

According to his address, the assembly pursued: – Greater coordination among government officials. – Institutional restructuring. – Collective decision-making. – Reduced dependence on individual officeholders. – The creation of an Ambazonia Negotiation – Commission to prepare for future negotiations.

These are claims made by his administration; independent evidence of their implementation and acceptance across competing factions is still needed. southcampost.com

The limitations and challenges

It is important to distinguish between efforts to promote unity and the actual achievement of unity. Academic research published in 2023 identified continuing divisions within the Ambazonian movement, including: – Rival political leadership structures. – Disagreements over who has the authority to negotiate. – Differences between diaspora leadership and armed groups operating inside Southern Cameroons. – Competing political strategies.

The research also acknowledges that Sako’s Ambazonia Coalition Team brought ten nationalist groups together in 2019, although the Sisiku faction did not participate. Sage Journals https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00020397231155244?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Overall assessment

Dr Samuel Sako’s documented contributions to unity can be summarised as follows:

Area	Contribution
Defence cooperation	Established the ASC initiative
Political cooperation	Promoted the Ambazonia Coalition Team
National reconciliation	Called for an end to leadership rivalry
Diplomacy	Encouraged coordinated international negotiations
Governance	Promoted institutional and collective leadership
Negotiation preparation	Announced a Negotiation Commission in 2025

My central observation: Dr Sako has made identifiable attempts to build institutional, political and diplomatic cooperation within the Ambazonian movement. However, the persistence of competing leadership structures means that these initiatives should not be confused with the achievement of comprehensive national unity.

What would genuine Ambazonian unity require?

I would identify five essential principles: – Recognition that the national cause is greater than individual political ambitions.– Respect for different political opinions and leadership structures. – An inclusive national conference involving all significant factions.– A common negotiating position established through consultation and consent. – A commitment to protecting civilians, respecting human rights and pursuing a peaceful political resolution.

A question worth discussing: Is the biggest obstacle to Ambazonian unity the absence of a common leadership structure, or the unwillingness of competing leaders to recognise one another? That distinction is important when assessing Dr Sako’s contribution and the future of the struggle.

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Follow the Amazon link below to get your copies of the many publications on the Ambazonian revolution By Martin Mungwa

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Fombat Dieudonne Contributor The Independentists News