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Red Dragon (Ambazonian militia)

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Red Dragon
Leaders"Field Marshal" Lekeaka Oliver †[1]
Dates of operation2017 – present
AllegianceInterim Government of Ambazonia
  • Sako faction (until 2022)[2]
  • Marianta faction (from 2022)[2]
HeadquartersTofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary[3]
Active regionsLebialem
IdeologyAmbazonian separatism
Size"Hundreds" (at peak)[4]
Part of Ambazonia
Opponents Cameroon

Red Dragon is an Ambazonian separatist militia loyal to the Interim Government of Ambazonia, and is part of the Ambazonia Self-Defence Council.[6] It was led by Lekeaka Oliver,[1] and controlled most of Lebialem Division in the Southwest Region, driving away the traditional rulers and local administrators.[7] The group was greatly weakened in 2022, with Oliver being killed.[8]

History

[edit]

On 31 December 2018, the Cameroonian Army claimed to have killed Field Marshal Lekeaka Oliver in Lebialem. His death was quickly denied by the Interim Government of Ambazonia,[9] as well as by sources within the Cameroonian Army. Oliver resurfaced in a video a week later, proving that reports of his death were indeed false.[10] In March 2019, the Cameroonian Army claimed to had killed "General Ayekeah" of the Red Dragons, as well as two fighters who tried to intervene.[11] However, "General Ayekeah" subsequently reemerged as the leader of another insurgent force, the "Alou Guerilla Fighters".[12]

In October 2019, Lekeaka Oliver declared himself Paramount Ruler of Lebialem, drawing condemnation from traditional rulers of the subdivision.[13] Cameroon subsequently launched raids into Lebialem in a failed attempt to capture or kill Oliver, leading to casualties on both sides.[14] In October 2020, the Cameroonian security forces finally killed "General Ayekeah"; this left the Red Dragon militia under Oliver the dominant rebel group in Lebialem. At this point, journalist Atia T. Azohwi stated that Oliver had succeeded in securing a "territory where his word is law".[15] According to the news site Susa Africa, the Red Dragon had also become part of the "Lebialem Defence Force".[5]

Presence of Ambazonian militant groups, including the Red Dragon, by 2023.

In February 2021, Red Dragon fighters killed at least three traditional rulers in Essoh Attah, Lebialem.[16] In the Ambazonian leadership crisis, the Red Dragons sided with the faction loyal to Samuel Ikome Sako. The Restoration Council, the legislative arm of the Interim Government, split from Sako's faction in early 2022 and later declared that Marianta Njomia had replaced Sako as president. The Red Dragons now appear to be loyal to Marianta's faction.[2]

Cameroonian security forces including the Rapid Intervention Battalion reportedly located Oliver in Menji, and organized a raid on 12 July 2022. According to the Cameroonian government, Oliver and one of his guards were killed during the attack, while the remaining Red Dragons fled. The Interim Government of Ambazonia confirmed his death days later, but disputed the events leading to his demise; according to his brother Chris Anu, Oliver was killed by an insider who had then tipped off Cameroonian forces about the location of the corpse.[8] Ambazonia Defence Forces deputy commander Capo Daniel claimed that Oliver had "been replaced by a younger and more vibrant leader" in commanding the Red Dragon militia, though did not name this individual.[17] Regardless, the Red Dragons were greatly weakened by Oliver's death and separatist operations were reduced in Lebialem.[18]

Even though the Red Dragons were believed to be still active in Cameroon as of early 2023,[3] they had reportedly been "completely dislodged" from Lebialem by September of that year. In their place, a new local rebel group, "Team Retina" under "General Massacre", had emerged.[19] In October 2023, the Red Dragons took part in the "Southern Cameroons People's Conference" in Toronto.[20] On 6 February 2024, Red Dragon militants kidnapped Nicholas Nkongho Manchang, the Sub-Prefect of Bamenda's 2nd Arrondissement, and five of his staff members in Ntumbaw.[21] The official was freed a few hours later by security forces.[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis: How to Get to Talks?, Crisis Group, May 2, 2019. Accessed May 2, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Suspected Ambazonia combatants launch umpteenth attack in West region". Cameroon News Agency. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b Nwafor, Justice (2022-10-31). "Financing The Ambazonian Dream". HumAngle. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  4. ^ R. Maxwell Bone (8 July 2020). "Ahead of peace talks, a who's who of Cameroon's separatist movements". The New Humanitarian. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Why Political Power Distribution Escalated Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon?". Susa Africa. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  6. ^ Cameroon's Anglophone crisis: Red Dragons and Tigers - the rebels fighting for independence, BBC, Oct 4, 2018. Accessed Oct 4, 2018.
  7. ^ Cameroon: Secessionist leader returns to challenge Yaoundé, The African Report, Nov 15, 2019. Accessed Nov 22, 2019.
  8. ^ a b "War in Anglophone regions: Chris Anu officially announces death of brother, Oliver Lekeaka". Cameroon News Agency. 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  9. ^ Cameroon: Mystery surrounds ‘reported death of Ambazonia’s Field Marshall’, Journal du Cameroun, Jan 2, 2019. Accessed Jan 2, 2019.
  10. ^ Cameroon: Three gendarmes killed in Mbelenka, Journal du Cameroun, Jan 4, 2018. Accessed Jan 4, 2018.
  11. ^ Cameroon: ‘Ambazonia General’ killed in Lebialem, Journal du Cameroun, Mar 21, 2019. Accessed Dec 24, 2019.
  12. ^ Atia T. AZOHNWI (24 September 2019). "Cameroon – Anglophone Crisis: Ambazonia General, Ayekeh wreaks havoc in Lebialem". Cameroon Info. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  13. ^ Cameroon: Lebialem traditional rulers disown Ambazonia warlord Field Marshal, Journal du Cameroun, Oct 15, 2019. Accessed Oct 15, 2019.
  14. ^ Cameroon Separatist Fighter Names Himself 'King' of Southwest District, Voice of America, Oct 21, 2019. Accessed Oct 22, 2019.
  15. ^ Atia T. Azohwi (13 October 2020). "Ambazonia 'Major General' Ayeke killed, leaves fighters stranded". Mimi Mefo Info. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  16. ^ Cameroon:Ambazonia separatists accused of killing three traditional rulers in restive SW region, Journal du Cameroun, Feb 15, 2021. Accessed Feb 16, 2021.
  17. ^ Moki Edwin Kindzeka (18 July 2022). "Cameroon Displays Separatist Leader's Corpse to Deter Rebels, Recruits". VOA. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Lebialem: Mayor Nicasius Nkemasong says peace is returning to Menji". Mimi Mefo Info. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  19. ^ David Atangana (13 March 2023). "Ambazonia explosive injures soldiers, others feared dead". Mimi Mefo Info. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  20. ^ Mbah Goodlove (17 January 2018). "The Southern Cameroons People's Conference Resolutions". Bareta News. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Cameroon: High Ranking Government Official Abducted by Ambazonian Independece Fighters". Cameroon Concord. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Kidnapped Cameroonian official released". Xinhua. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
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