We have tried unity—nineteen times. We have built structures—then destroyed them. We have allowed personal egos, political deals, and criminal behaviour to derail a genuine liberation agenda. It is time to learn from our history. The path forward is clarity, discipline, and strategic leadership. Let us finally direct our energies where they belong—toward the system that oppresses our people—and stop the endless cycle of internal politicking that has cost us nine precious years..
By Millan Atam
I have deliberately avoided the endless debates that dominate our online forums. These conversations often distract from the real work required to advance our liberation struggle. Yet, this very strong claim caught my attention—the assertion that “the only solution to our revolution is the day all our leaders finally come together for the way forward.” and my name is quoted as one of those concerned. I have found the need to react.
This statement, though well-intentioned, is profoundly misleading. I heard the same argument during my tour of the United States not long ago. The refrain was familiar: “We can only move forward if we unite.” My response was simple: Unite to do what? We must confront a truth many prefer to ignore—Unity, by itself, has never been our problem. The quality of the actors we attempt to unify with has always been the issue.
My involvement in this struggle goes back at least three decades. I joined the early online forums around 2001, when two principal groups defined the landscape:
The Southern Cameroons Yahoo Group, dominated by SCNC veterans such as Denis Atemnkeng, Nfor Ngala Nfor, Njoh Litumbe, Carlson Anyangwe, Governor George Achu-Mofor, Christmas Ebini, Augustine Ndangam, Vincent Feko, Ntemfac Ofege, Martin Ayim, Chris Atang and many others—many of whom are no longer with us.
The Ambasos Yahoo Group, shaped by leaders of the Republic of Ambazonia—Edwin Ngang, Peter-Paul Ndikum, Muluh Mbuh, among others.
My own generation had a few strong voices too: Ebenezer Akwanga, Lucas Ayaba, and others. But despite the brilliance, the passion, and the commitment within these groups, one poisonous habit consistently undermined progress—constant infighting, personal attacks, ego contests, and a deep-seated tendency to delegitimize any effort that was not my effort. I pulled one lesson out of this. The online groups were a waste of time where people spend more time putting each other down and little focus on the gangster regime. So by the time I decided to get involved actively, I knew exactly what to expect – reason why all the efforts at sabotage and character assassination only fell on a rock.
SCACUF: A Hard Lesson from 2017
Fast-forward to 2017 during the formation of SCACUF. Having observed two decades of disagreements among our leaders, we deliberately designed a structure that allowed collaboration without requiring friendship. It was an attempt to build a functional political infrastructure—one that could accommodate divergent views while keeping the focus on the common enemy – the Yaoundé Regime.
But the very people who undermined unity for decades quickly mobilized to destroy SCACUF. I am sure you all remember when our famous commander-in-chief with a Doctorate Degree created a group called “Millan” with the sole goal of destrying Millan at all costs. He launched a sustained attack that claimed Millan Atam is the enemy of unity. The same Millan who had worked day and night, travelled countries and worked like a dog to bring all our frontline leaders under one banner – including the CIC himself. Interestingly, his was only a peripheral voice and would have had no impact had not those closest to me found it propitious to lean on his arguments to dismantle all the work we had done. I had found this amusing because SCACUF was never my creation. I only facilitated its establishment.
Its true architects were those leaders who agreed to put aside their animosities to build something that confounded the enemy regime: Nfor Ngala Nfor (SCNC), Augustine Ndangam (SCAPO), Wilfred Tassang (Consortium), Edwin Ngang (Republic of Ambazonia) on behalf of Fon Gorji Dinka, And Others who had contributed to the discussions and debates leading to its creation.
Even the acronym of SCACUF —one I personally disliked—was insisted upon by these leaders against good advice? So who stood to benefit from the dissolution of SCACUF?
Those who thrive in disorder, preferring their own personal outfits and personal income streams. Such individuals like the Commander-in-Chief fiercely opposed any effort where financial contributions were channeled into a common pot. He had to have his own personal financial stream.
Then, there were those chasing political deals, while the real technocratic work was being done. These had no clue what had motivated the design and structure of SCACUF, had no clue of the history of animosity. All they understood was that the struggle offered an opportunity for deal-making and politicking.
To many of them, SCACUF needed to die simply because it did not offer them personal glory. Nine years later, some these same voices are again calling for a SCACUF-type structure— another grand assembly to “save the revolution.” Regrettably it will not work. The landscape has changed dramatically and let me tell you why.
In 2017, the leaders we brought together disagreed, disliked, and distrusted each other—but they did not have blood on their hands. Today, many of those being proposed for “unity” are individuals who have the blood of our people on their hands and some have been: Indicted for crimes against humanity, Linked to kidnapping-for-ransom operations, Accused of fraud and Collaboration with the Biya regime around plantation deals, Presiding over criminal cartels, Responsible for character destruction, And you want me to add my name to that list?
Ironically, the greatest threat to our struggle today is not disunity or the supposed criminals — but the unending campaigns for forced unity. These “unifiers” appear like clockwork every time progress is about to be made. Their mantra is always the same: Unity or nothing. This formula emboldens those who commit crimes, knowing they will eventually be pardoned under the banner of “unity.”
Earlier this year, the Southern Cameroons Alliance (SCA) commissioned a study. It tracked attempts at unity between over the past 30 years and this is what was found: Between 1993 and 2011, there were at least six (6) formal efforts (meetings, conferences and seminars to forge unity). Between 2016 to 2024 with this current phase of the liberation struggle, there has been at least thirteen (13) more attempts at unity. That is at least nineteen (19) attempts in total—perhaps more. Nearly two decades of meetings, conferences, alliances, fronts, platforms, charters, and memoranda have all failed. In fact, as recently as a couple of months ago, failed alliances are being re-forged. Why? Because the same actors simply recycle the same garbage, but as we all know, a leopard will never change its spots.
Therefore, Based on history, experience, and the patterns of behaviour we have witnessed: We must abandon the idea that success depends on uniting with individuals who have harmed the struggle. Unity with criminals is not unity – it is self-sabotage and we will continue to have the same results. Garbage in – Garbage out period!
SCACUF is dead. For those who have been harassing me about the need to recreate SCACUF, my simple answer is that we poisoned it, buried it, and it is not Jesus Christ that can be resurrected. The context has changed, and the goodwill and innocence of 2017 cannot be recreated. Forget it!
Rival Liberation movements rarely succeed through consensus. Organisations like SWAPO in Namibia right from the beginning maintained a firm grip on the liberation struggle and did not allow dissent. However, where dissent is allowed and nurtured, it is almost impossible to realign the forces. Of all those claiming to be Presidents of the IG today, at least 80% are individuals whose leadership credentials were never tried and tested, never followed any revolutionary path – but once they tasted the trappings of power, have refused to relinquish. How do you get six presidents in a room and ask five to relinquish their presidential ambitions in favour of one? No ways!!!
At a certain point, a credible, disciplined, and visionary group must emerge to lead. The others either align or fall away. This is the natural evolution of all successful liberation movements – who were in rivalry with others – ANC, EPLF, SPLM, ZANU, ZAPU and many others. All this clamour for unity is based on the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO).
Our focus must return to the true enemy. The regime holding our people hostage benefits every time we engage in internal political theatre. For too long, these political juggernauts have held us back with their games and political theatrics. We must redirect our energy toward defeating the Yaoundé regime—not appeasing personalities within our own ranks.
We have tried unity—nineteen times. We have built structures—then destroyed them. We have allowed personal egos, political deals, and criminal behaviour to derail a genuine liberation agenda. It is time to learn from our history. The path forward is not another unity attempt with the same actors. It is not another alliance with those who have repeatedly betrayed the struggle. It is not another attempt to resurrect what we sabotaged.
The path forward is clarity, discipline, and strategic leadership. Let us finally direct our energies where they belong—toward the system that oppresses our people—and stop the endless cycle of internal politicking that has cost us nine precious years.
Millan Atam
Millan Atam is the Chairman of the Southern Cameroons Alliance and writes in his personal capacity.
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