Barrister Akere Muna, the renowned Cameroonian lawyer has made public his view on the Southern Cameroons crisis and the frustrations experienced by  Ambazonians. Muna spoke on the antennas of Radio France Internationale (RFI) and oberved that the new generation of Southern Cameroonians find themselves in a situation which they think that independence would be a solution, whereas those who are between the two generations have rather contextual arguments and think that the union can still be perfected.

Muna who supports the improvement of the union told RFI that if a referendum were to be held on the independence of Southern Cameroons on a “YES” or “NO” basis,  70/100 of the population now is a young population and are less than 30 years, so they will say “Yes” for independence.

Akere Muna further pointed out that the majority following of the Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Governing Council  are neither armed nor structured. But it is rather a spontaneous movement that people try to captivate to be at the head. “We have seen in Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Egypt that it is a crowd movement that expresses a ras-le-bol, “explains Akéré Muna. “There are people who later decided to present themselves as the leaders of the movement, and have been adopted by one group or the other.”

Regarding the leader of the Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Governing Council, Akéré Muna stated that he does not know him despite claims from some Biya comedians.  Muna noted that although Sesekou Ayuk Tabe is outside the country, many now see him as their legitimate voice.  Muna also rejected the idea that the Southern Cameroons crisis have some ethnic roots, but rather suggested that it emanated from a frustration.

Akéré Muna in the interview projected himself as a true Cameroonian born in the English-speaking part but having practised his entire career in the French-speaking section of the country.  He opined that it is feasible to manage these two fringes while respecting both communities. “But because of the mediocrity of others, we think we are gaining in the division. Anglophones find me anglophone and francophones find me francophone, “he added.

Mr. Muna revealed that if we continue to hide certain facts in the history of Cameroon, it could jeopardize the peace that is dear to the country. “ I had to wait 3 years to be a lawyer in Cameroon while I was already practicing as a lawyer in London. And this, just because I was anglophone,” said Akere Muna.

He concluded his RFI conversation by insinuating that the solution to the Southern Cameroons problem lies in the personal involvement of the President of the Republic, who, according to him, should listen beyond the analyses of his immediate collaborators.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Cameroon Intelligence Report with files from CIN