The Ambazonia State Army (ASA): The Naivety of Despising the Cover of a Government

The cover of a legitimate government is what shields freedom defenders from being branded as terrorists. It provides the legal and moral protection under the Montevideo Convention, which defines a state as a political entity capable of representation. Without that cover, any armed actor becomes, in the eyes of the world, not a freedom fighter but a rogue combatant — a bandit with a flag.

By The Independentist News Desk

In every liberation struggle, two indispensable pillars determine the strength, discipline, and ultimate success of the revolution: a governing body to represent the people, and a fighting force to defend the cause. History—from Algeria to Eritrea and South Sudan—shows that when these two act in synergy, the movement stands firm; when divided, it collapses into chaos.

The Twin Pillars of Every Revolution

A government in exile provides the legal and diplomatic shield that gives legitimacy to the struggle. The military wing, meanwhile, raises global awareness through its sacrifices on the battlefield. One arm fights to be heard; the other ensures that the voice of the oppressed is anchored in international law.

In Ambazonia’s case, every fighter carrying a weapon for liberation is inherently an element of the Ambazonia State Army (ASA) — the official self-defense wing of the Federal Government of Ambazonia in exile. This is not a matter of semantics but of organization, legitimacy, and international standing. The Government in exile remains the recognized representative body of the Ambazonian people seeking independence as Africa’s newest nation-state.

The Enemy’s Playbook

Colonial regimes have always understood that a revolution divided against itself cannot stand. In the Ambazonian struggle, La République du Cameroun (LRC) has consistently sought to sever the umbilical cord linking the government in exile and its defenders on the home front.

Through disinformation, infiltration, and financial manipulation, the enemy deploys proxies who whisper false doctrines of independence from government authority — enticing naïve fighters to operate as “free agents.” The result? The creation of “unknown gunmen” — defenders stripped of legitimacy and exposed to both international condemnation and enemy exploitation.

Let it be clear: no one urging a soldier or defender to detach from his government is a friend of the revolution. Such counsel is not patriotism; it is betrayal disguised as advice. The day an Ambazonian fighter renounces the government’s cover is the day he becomes, in the eyes of the world, a gunman without a cause.

The Government’s Obligation — and Its Limits

The Federal Government of Ambazonia bears the ultimate responsibility to fund and coordinate the ASA. Yet, that support is directly tied to available resources. In the absence of formal taxation — which only a sovereign state can enforce — the government depends on voluntary contributions from its citizens through initiatives like The Draft.

It is a cruel irony that some of the very voices decrying insufficient funding are the same ones discouraging the diaspora from contributing. This deliberate sabotage serves the enemy’s agenda — to starve the revolution and demoralize the defenders.

The government gives from what it has. To claim otherwise is to spread enemy propaganda. The widow’s mite from Buea or Boston sustains the resistance more than the loudest critic ever will. Patriotism is measured not by words or posts but by sacrifice.

The Peril of Listening to Proxies

When defenders abandon the chain of command to follow self-styled “commanders” or “generals” without government oversight, tragedy follows. The Ayaba Cho Lucas episode remains a grim lesson: when personal ego overrides collective interest, crimes against humanity replace disciplined resistance — and international credibility is lost.

The cover of a legitimate government is what shields freedom defenders from being branded as terrorists. It provides the legal and moral protection under the Montevideo Convention, which defines a state as a political entity capable of representation. Without that cover, any armed actor becomes, in the eyes of the world, not a freedom fighter but a rogue combatant — a bandit with a flag.

Conclusion: One People, One Government, One Defense

Every Ambazonian defender is, by definition, a member of the Ambazonia State Army (ASA). To despise the authority or cover of the government is to renounce the very nation one claims to fight for.

The Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia remains the recognized political authority directing the independence struggle on the diplomatic front. It is the body to which the international community listens when addressing the plight of Ambazonians. Its defensive arm, the ASA, is the disciplined instrument of that political vision.

To every man and woman in uniform on the Ambazonian front: your legitimacy, safety, and honor lie in standing under the cover of your government. Anything less is self-destruction.

Editorial Footnote

The Ambazonia State Army (ASA) functions as the official self-defense wing of the Federal Government of Ambazonia in exile, operating under international humanitarian law and guided by the principle of self-defense recognized in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

The Independentist News desk