Commentary

The single act that could redefine Issa Tchiroma’s legacy is formal recognition of Ambazonia’s right to self-determination with a promise to withdraw Cameroon troops and recognize the pre-1961 borders— not as an act of charity or weakness, but of moral intelligence and political realism. By The Independentist Diplomatic Desk Introduction History often rewards not the

From Solomon Tandeng Muna and his family — once symbols of pride — to later figures like Fonka shang lawrence, Simon Achidi Achu, Peter Mafany Musonge, to Philemon Yang, and Joseph Dion Ngute, the story is the same: eloquent voices turned into echoes of Yaoundé. Paul Atanga Nji and Paul Tassong became the iron hands

While Yaoundé factions plot and fracture, Ambazonia has become the new superpower inside La République du Cameroun — not in weaponry, but in willpower. By Ali Dan Ismael, Editor-in-ChiefThe Independentist — The Illusion of Chiroma’s “90,000 Soldiers” Yaounde October 29, 2025 -Issa Chiroma’s brief dance with victory has ended as quickly as it began. Barely

The recent elections in La République du Cameroun have once again exposed a painful weakness in the global system that claims to defend democracy and human rights. Every major organization — the United Nations, African Union,Commonwealth, and France — saw what happened. They knew the playing field was uneven, that the outcome was written long

The Fifth Republic, built by Charles de Gaulle as a presidential monarchy, once projected stability and grandeur. Today, it stands hollowed out — a Republic in name, but a corporate protectorate of billionaires, security elites, and aging political dynasties. By Ali Dan Ismael, Editor-in-Chief, The Independentist Paris: The End of the Fifth Republic’s Illusion From

When the Ambazonian resistance demanded genuine dialogue years ago, Yaoundé mocked the request with its familiar sneer: “With whom shall we negotiate?” Now that question echoes back across the Mfoundi valley: With whom shall the world negotiate for French Cameroon? Will it be a recycled spokesman in Maroua, a junta general in Yaoundé, or the

For Tchiroma, survival was never luck; it was calculation. His years behind bars taught him two enduring truths about the Biya system: open opposition invited annihilation, and proximity to power offered both protection and opportunity.So he chose patience over exile, proximity over protest. Instead of retreating in bitterness, he re-emerged as a technocrat who spoke

For decades, each time French Cameroon faces political turbulence, its leaders reach for the same tired strategy: add a few English-speaking faces to the cabinet, call it inclusion, and present it to the world as reform. By Ali Dan Ismael, Editor-in-Chief, on special assignment in Maroua, Cameroun When Issa Tchiroma Bakary stood before cameras this

The new Ambazonian constitution will anchor the common law as its backbone, while protecting traditional justice in villages and chiefdoms. A Truth and Reparations Commission will document past abuses, giving voice to victims and holding wrongdoers accountable. By Ali Dan Ismael, Editor-in-Chief, on assignment in Buea, Ambazonia Across the vast stretch of French-speaking Africa, from

In a healthy democracy, a communication council safeguards pluralism, transparency, and accountability. In French Cameroon, however, it polices truth as though it were contraband. Instead of defending journalists, it summons and sanctions them. Instead of promoting professionalism, it propagates fear. By Ali Dan Ismael, Editor-in-Chief, The Independentist There are many absurdities in the political life