A fervent reader of the Independentist writes to the editorial desk saying, the Ambazonian case is neglected because it is in Africa.

Letter to the Editor

Subject: If Ambazonia Were in Europe or Asia, the UN Would Have Acted Decades Ago

Dear Editor,

For over six decades, the people of Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) have endured illegal annexation in violation of UN Resolution 1608 (XV) and the fundamental right to self-determination. The UN resolution called for the territory to “achieve independence by joining” — which legally required independence first, followed by a voluntary, treaty-based union. No such treaty was ever signed.

Now, consider how differently this unresolved colonial question would have been handled if Ambazonia were located in Europe or Asia.

In Europe, when Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, the world acted swiftly. NATO forces protected civilians, the UN deployed missions, and over 100 nations recognized Kosovo in a matter of years.

In Asia, after Indonesia occupied East Timor in 1975, the UN condemned the occupation immediately. By 1999, East Timor held a UN-supervised referendum, secured independence, and received peacekeepers to safeguard its people.

In both cases, the global community treated territorial disputes as urgent crises requiring action. But in Central Africa, Ambazonia — a once-autonomous UN trust territory — has been left to endure forced assimilation, cultural erasure, and widespread violence without comparable international intervention.

The truth under international law is clear: Ambazonia remains a non-self-governing territory that has never lawfully merged with French Cameroun. Without a treaty of union, the so-called “joining” of 1961 has no legal validity, making the current arrangement tantamount to occupation.

The United Nations must end this glaring double standard. It should acknowledge the incomplete decolonization of Ambazonia, appoint a Special Envoy, demand the withdrawal of foreign forces, and organize a UN-supervised process for the people to decide their political future in peace.

If the world could act decisively for Kosovo and East Timor, it can — and must — do the same for Ambazonia. Equal rights for all peoples should not depend on geography.

Sincerely,
Johnson Fonwi