International law, and morality and logic are two different things. International law is founded on customs, conventions or treaties and judicial opinions by legal experts and scholars. Logic and morality on the other hand are perceptions of what aught to be sensible, good and just, which might not necessarily be legal. European international legality created states in Africa and other parts of the world without the acquiescence of the people of those territories, however this might seem illogical and immoral but it is legal. That some European countries met in Berlin in 1884-1885 to partition the African continent into territories constitutes international legality. That these same powers met in Versailles in 1919 to abrogate the previous international legality agreed upon in Berlin and created new international legality which gave birth to, amongst others, two territories in central Africa, namely French and English Cameroons constitutes international legality. That one of the territories, French Cameroon became independent in 1960 constitutes international legality. That British Northern and Southern Cameroons decided through separate plebiscites to become independent by joining, for the former Nigeria and for the latter the Republic of Cameroon constitutes international legality. That the concept of a territory joining an independent territory to form a union under international law is consecrated by international legality. However, the interpretation of resolution 1364 of the 21/04/1961 consecrating the independence of Southern Cameroons by the UN after the plebiscite and at the internal level, the legal interpretations advanced by many people about the legality or not of the referendum of 1972 and the change of name from the Federal Republic of Cameroon to the Republic of Cameroon requires an international legal interpretation for a review of the terms of the union between the two distinct territories in order to ascertain if those alterations are legal. Note that we might not agree about the morality or logic of a law but this doesn’t render that law illegal. Slavery, Colonial rule and Apartheid were immoral and illogical but they were all legal until there were rendered illegal by the people. So too are wars. They may seem to be immoral and illogical but they are legal because the legality of wars are consecrated by the victors. In conclusion, whether we like it or not, Cameroon needs to reconcile itself with its two distinct colonial legacies for a lasting peace to reign in the country.
Now let us disprove those who said Southern Cameroons have no legal claims today for self determination.
Pictures of official delegates to the Foumban 1961 Conference (courtesy John Altinks Abanda). Plus list of official delegates below:
For the record, the List of Delegates and Officials of Southern Cameroons at the Foumban Conference, 17-21 July 1961(courtesy John Altink Abanda)
Government Representatives
Hon.J.N Foncha M.H.A.
Hon.A.N. Jua M.H.A.
Hon.S.T. Muna
Hon.P.M.Kemcha M.H.A.
House of Chiefs
Fon of Bafut
Fon of Bali
Fon of Mankon
Fon of Nsaw
Chief of Kimbongsi
Chief of Buh
Chief Oben
Chief Ebanja
Chief Dipoko
KNDP Representatives
Mr. Mbinkar
Mr. Fontem
Mr. Tamfu
Mr. Kini
Mr. Kome
Mr. Carr
CPNC Representatives
Dr. Endeley M.H.A
Mr. Mbile M.H.
A.
Mr. Motomby-Woleta M.H.A.
Rev. Ando Seh M.H.A.
O.K. Representatives
Mr. Ntumazah ( did not attend at the last minute)
Mr. Mukong
Mr. George Mbaraga (represented Ntumazah)
Officials
Hon. Attorney- General (Mr. B. G. Smith, M.H.A)
Conference Secretary ( Mr. J. Dixon)
Private Secretary to the Premier ( Mr. O. A.Bokwe)
Interpreter ( Dr. B. Fonlon)
Publicity Officer (Mr. Abanda)
Secretary ( Mrs. E. N. Lima)
Secretary ( Miss B. Hawksworth)
Secretary ( Miss S. Deacon)
Photographer ( Mr. E. Mbwaye)
After the above presentation let me give details of what actually took place to show that there was neither a legal nor any moral binding contract that subjected Southern Cameroons to be called La République du Cameroun today thus lossing her identity
There was no accord per se, signed between President Amadou Ahidjo of independent “la Republique du Cameroun” and Dr. John Ngu Foncha of British Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia during the Foumban comference that was held between the 17th to the 21st of July 1961, to be rightfully called as “the Foumban accord”. You are young and ignorant of the facts.
All young Ambazonians must take note and stop repeating fabricated falsehoods of our colonizers by mentioning the word ” Foumban Accord”.
What you ignorantly call the “Foumban Accord” was never signed by both leaders. Why?
The British Southern Cameroon’s House of Parliament in 1961 had as its speaker, honourable Zacharia Abendong of Ngie county who had a degree in political science.
Dr. John Ngu Foncha carefully took political advice from him and acted interligently. A lesson for all.
During the pre-plebiscite conference that took place before the U.N. in 1959, Juhn Ngu Foncha heard in the presence of members of the U.N. plus Sir Alhadji Tafawa Baliwa of Nigeria how Amadou Ahidjo accepted that his big country was not going to annex Ambazonia if the citizens of that territory voted in a U.N. sponsored plebiscite to Join French Cameroun.
When the plebiscite vote took place on February 11th 1961 and Ambazonians voted to Join la Republique du Cameroun, this vote was just a clear intention of the Ambazonians to gain their independence by joining French Cameroun in the promised confederation. It was not yet a union.
The U.N. that was in charge of the Ambazonian territory as a trustee prepared Resolution 1608 (xv) of April 21st 1961 with the following objectives in view:
(A) To terminate its U.N. trusteeship administration over the territory at midnight September 30th 1961.
(B) To permit Britain the Administering authority to withdraw its soldiers that were protecting the territory before midnight September 30th 1961.
(C) To allow Amadou Ahidjo of French Cameroun and John Ngu Foncha to hold a “post-plebiscite conference or what you call Foumban conference to hold between 17th–21st September 1961to dicuss the details of the promised confederation that Ahidjo agreed to form with Foncha in 1959 and register such details at the secretariat of the U.N. before midnight September 30th 1961
(D) To grand independence to British Southern Cameroons/ Ambazonia on October 1st 1961.
NB: when this Resolution 1608 (xv) of April 21st 1961 went before the general Assembly of the U.N. to be voted, French Cameroun relied on its military accord with France and voted against the resolution.
Honourable Zacharia Abendong then adviced John Ngu Foncha not to sign anything at Foumban so that since Amadou Ahidjo had voted against Resolution 1608 (xv) of 21st April 1961, if 0ctober 1st came with nothing registered at the secretariat of the U.N. in compliance with Art 102 (1) of U.N. charter, all possibilities of ever forming any union will be time barred under Art 102 (2) of the same charter.
News leaked to Amadou Ahijo who plotted and Zacharia Abendong was shot to death at Batie hills West Region of French Cameroun in a convoy to the Foumban conference.
On July 1st 1961 or 16 days before the Foumban conference, President Amadou Ahidjo signed a decree in his parliament in Yaounde, transforming his French Cameroun into a federation to accommodate Ambazonia and brought his fake federal constitution to Foumban on July 17th 1961 for adoption and signature by Dr. John Ngu Fonch.
Imagine Ahidjo coming to talk about a confederation that he had promised not to annex Ambazonia but with his own document, prepared to favour him in Yaounde by him and France.
It was an extra territorial law just like Russian President signing a decree in his country and bringing it to the president of America to ratify it so that it can apply in Russia and in America.
That is the document that all ignorant Ambazonians call ” the Foumban Accorde or the 1961 constitution”
John Ngu Foncha and Dr. Endeley told Ahidjo that what ever they were going to talk, drink, dance and sleep with young girls in Foumban could only come back for signature by the two leaders after their Ambazonian parliament in Buea had viewed it, added its proposals and adopted what they accepted before they could meet in March or April 1962 in Yaounde and sign the document
Anyone who is arguing should tell me why the so-call Foumban- Accord or 1961 federal constitution was never signed and Registered at the secretariat of the U.N. as an act of union treaty between the two leaders before 1st October 1961.
When Amadou Ahidjo and France discovered that their trick had been caught, before the last British Soldier left Ambazonian territory on September 30th 1961, French speaking gendarmes from la Republique du Cameroun were already beating and raping women in Tombel as they were annexing the territory till today.
Comments 2
Clear and succinct write-up of the incidents that are not clearly understood by most people about what transpired between independent LRC, its colonizer France and southern Cameroons. France and LRC like to eliminate anyone who disagrees with them and is the reason African countries still under French colonialism will never be free and progress like every other country in the world.
Great writeup the fundamental principles of Justice and Peace are based on morals and logic and not on legality. It is better to have a good judge with bad laws than good laws with bad judges. A good judge will render a bad law good while a bad judge will render a good law bad.