Red Dragon (Ambazonian militia) explained

Red Dragon
War:the Anglophone Crisis
Active:2017 – present
Ideology:Ambazonian separatism
Leaders:"Field Marshal" Lekeaka Oliver
Headquarters:Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary[1]
Area:Lebialem
Size:"Hundreds" (at peak)[2]
Allegiance:Interim Government of Ambazonia
  • Sako faction (until 2022)
  • Marianta faction (from 2022)
Partof:
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.[3] It was led by Lekeaka Oliver,[4] and controlled most of Lebialem Division in the Southwest Region, driving away the traditional rulers and local administrators.[5] The group was greatly weakened in 2022, with Oliver being killed.[6]

History

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,[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] However, "General Ayekeah" subsequently reemerged as the leader of another insurgent force, the "Alou Guerilla Fighters".[10]

In October 2019, Lekeaka Oliver declared himself Paramount Ruler of Lebialem, drawing condemnation from traditional rulers of the subdivision.[11] Cameroon subsequently launched raids into Lebialem in a failed attempt to capture or kill Oliver, leading to casualties on both sides.[12] 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".[13] According to the news site Susa Africa, the Red Dragon had also become part of the "Lebialem Defence Force".[14]

In February 2021, Red Dragon fighters killed at least three traditional rulers in Essoh Attah, Lebialem.[15] 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.[16]

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. 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, 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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nwafor . Justice . 2022-10-31 . Financing The Ambazonian Dream . 2023-03-21 . HumAngle . en-US.
  2. Web site: Ahead of peace talks, a who's who of Cameroon's separatist movements . R. Maxwell Bone . . 8 July 2020 . 18 July 2022 .
  3. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45723211 Cameroon's Anglophone crisis: Red Dragons and Tigers - the rebels fighting for independence
  4. https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/central-africa/cameroon/272-crise-anglophone-au-cameroun-comment-arriver-aux-pourparlers Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis: How to Get to Talks?
  5. https://www.theafricareport.com/20150/cameroon-secessionist-leader-returns-to-challenge-yaounde/ Cameroon: Secessionist leader returns to challenge Yaoundé
  6. Web site: War in Anglophone regions: Chris Anu officially announces death of brother, Oliver Lekeaka . 18 July 2022. Cameroon News Agency . 18 July 2022 .
  7. https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/cameroon-mystery-surrounds-reported-death-of-ambazonias-field-marshall/ Cameroon: Mystery surrounds ‘reported death of Ambazonia’s Field Marshall’
  8. https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/cameroon-three-soldiers-killed-in-mbelenka/ Cameroon: Three gendarmes killed in Mbelenka
  9. https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/cameroon-ambazonia-general-killed-in-lebialem/ Cameroon: ‘Ambazonia General’ killed in Lebialem
  10. Web site: Cameroon – Anglophone Crisis: Ambazonia General, Ayekeh wreaks havoc in Lebialem . 24 September 2019 . Atia T. AZOHNWI . Cameroon Info . 15 June 2023 .
  11. https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/cameroon-lebialem-traditional-rulers-disown-ambazonia-warlord-field-marshal/ Cameroon: Lebialem traditional rulers disown Ambazonia warlord Field Marshal
  12. https://www.voanews.com/africa/cameroon-separatist-fighter-names-himself-king-southwest-district Cameroon Separatist Fighter Names Himself 'King' of Southwest District
  13. Web site: Ambazonia 'Major General' Ayeke killed, leaves fighters stranded . 13 October 2020 . Atia T. Azohwi . Mimi Mefo Info . 15 June 2023 .
  14. Web site: Why Political Power Distribution Escalated Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon? . Susa Africa . 17 September 2020 . 8 November 2023 .
  15. https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/cameroonambazonia-separatists-accused-of-killing-three-traditional-rulers-in-restive-sw-region/ Cameroon:Ambazonia separatists accused of killing three traditional rulers in restive SW region
  16. Web site: Suspected Ambazonia combatants launch umpteenth attack in West region . 1 July 2022. Cameroon News Agency. 2 July 2022 .
  17. Web site: Cameroon Displays Separatist Leader's Corpse to Deter Rebels, Recruits . Moki Edwin Kindzeka . VOA . 18 July 2022 . 18 June 2023 .
  18. Web site: Lebialem: Mayor Nicasius Nkemasong says peace is returning to Menji . Mimi Mefo Info . 13 March 2023 . 11 November 2023 .
  19. Web site: Ambazonia explosive injures soldiers, others feared dead . David Atangana . Mimi Mefo Info . 13 March 2023 . 11 November 2023 .
  20. Web site: The Southern Cameroons People's Conference Resolutions . Mbah Goodlove . Bareta News . 17 January 2018 . 8 November 2023 .
  21. Web site: Cameroon: High Ranking Government Official Abducted by Ambazonian Independece Fighters . Cameroon Concord . 6 February 2024 . 10 August 2024 .
  22. Web site: Kidnapped Cameroonian official released . 2024-01-29 . Xinhua . en.