The Southern Cameroon National Council (SCNC), including its youth wing, structure and leadership; whether membership cards are issued; the treatment of its members by government authorities (1990-2000) [CMR35332.E]

Founded in 1995, the Southern Cameroon National Council (SCNC) "was established to represent the interest of the Anglophone community and has advocated the independence of the two anglophone provinces" (IND Apr. 2000; IPS 11 Sept. 1998). According to the IND, the SCNC is not a political party but, its shares a number of supporters with opposition parties, most notably the SDF [Social Democratic Front] whose stronghold is the Anglophone provinces" (Apr. 2000). Although Sam Ekontang Elad is described as the SCNC leader (ibid.), a 26 May 2000 Africa Research Bulletin report says that on 13 April 2000, the SCNC appointed Judge Frederick Ebong Alobwede as "the first president of the Federal Republic of Southern Cameroon", which was proclaimed in December 1999 (13940).

Referring to an unfair trial in Cameroon, Amnesty International Annual Report 2000 states that, in early October 1999, a military tribunal "passed lengthy prison terms after an unfair trial" on some civilians who were blamed for a March 1997 attack in north-west province, attributed by the authorities to the SCNC and to the affiliated Southern Cameroon Youth League (SCYL). The Amnesty International report adds that the military tribunal was neither independent nor impartial and no convincing evidence was produced in court (ibid.).

The attachment from Bordercamp 2000 Website provides the names of some SCNC members tried in the Yaounde Military Court between 14 April and 5 October 1999.

Describing the relationship between the Cameroon authorities and the SCNC members during the last years, a 4 May 2000 IRIN report says:

In March 1997, 10 people were killed in Northwest Province in attacks, which the authorities blamed on the SCNC. Dozens of Anglophone Cameroonians, members and suspected members and sympathisers of the group, were imprisoned and later charged.
On 6 October 1999, a military tribunal sentenced three to life imprisonment, imposed sentences ranging from 1 to 20 years on 33 others, and acquitted another 30 in what Amnesty International called a flawed trial.
In January and April [2000], AFP and RFI reported the arrest of scores of suspected SCNC members and, on 2 May, AFP reported that a decree banning the organisation in the Southwest Province had been issued.

However, citing a communiqué signed by Dr Nfor Ngala Nfor, SCNC vice-president, a 5 June 2000 AFP article indicates that the SCNC was ready for a dialogue with the Cameroon authorities.

Information on the SCNC structure, membership cards, and its young wing could not be found among the sources consulted the Research Directorate. However, the following from a Website, which claims to belong to Southern Cameroon Advisory Council in North America may be of interest.

The acronyms AAC, SCPC, and SCNC, respectively stand for the All Anglophone Conference (AAC), the Southern Camerons People's Conference (SCPC), the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) and the Southern Cameron's Advisory Council (SCAC). The first AAC was held in Buea in April 1993, and the second in Bamenda in April/May 1994. It was decided then that the name "Anglophone" was too loose and limiting, portraying more of the colonial heritage and less representative of the territorial boundaries that defined a people with a right to self-determination. The All Anglophone Conference (AAC) was then transformed into the Southern Camerons Peoples Conference (SCPC): a name with a historical meaning and territorial significance. The Anglophone National Council (the elected governing body of the AAC) became the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC). The Anglophone Advisory Council comprising non-elected elderly and retired statesmen, clergy, clerics, Fons, Chiefs, and Southern Cameroons political party chiefs, became the Southern Cameroons Advisory Council (SCAC), which plays the role of advisor to the SCNC (n.d.)

Please also refer to CMR3533.E of 27 September 2000 for additional information on the treatment of SCNC members by government authorities.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Agence France Presse (AFP). 5 June 2000. "Les sécessionistes anglophones ouverts au dialogue avec Youndé." http://www.izf.net/izf/Actualite/archive_afp/cameroun.htm [Accessed: 29 Sept. 2000]

Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 26 May 2000. Vol. 37, No 4. "In Brief: Cameroon."

Amnesty International. 2000. Amnesty International Report 2000. http://www.web.amnesty.org/web [Accessed: 29 Sept. 2000].


Bordercamp 2000. 26 May 2000. "An Appeal from Political Prisoners in Cameroon." http://www.nadir.org/camp/2000/08/03/1013.htm [Accessed: 29 Sept. 2000]

Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), Home Office, UK. April 2000. "Cameroon Assessment." http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/asylum/asylum_Cameronn.htm [Accessed 27 Sept. 2000]

United Nationsl Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN). 4 May 2000. "Cameroon: UN Secretary-General Stresses Dialogue". http://www.reliefweb...trystories/cameroon/2000504.html [Accessed 27 Sept. 2000]

Inter Press Service (IPS). 11 September 1998. Tansa Musa. "Cameroon-Politics: Gov't Arrests Two Opposition Pary Members." (NEXIS)

Southern Cameroon Advisory Council in North America. N.d. "What is ACC, SCPC, SCNC, and SCAC?" http://www.geocities.com/CapitalHIll/4530/scms.htl Accessed: 29 Sept. 2000)

Attachment


Bordercamp 2000. 26 May 2000. "An Appeal from Political Prisoners in Cameroon." http://www.nadir.org/camp/2000/08/03/1013.htm [Accessed: 29 Sept. 2000], p. 1-2.


Additional Sources Consulted


Africa Confidential 1999-September 2000.

L'Autre Afrique June 1998-January 2000.

IRB Databases.

Country Reports 1999. February 2000.

Resource Centre Country Files: Cameroon. 1995-2000.

Keesing's Record of World Events 1995-2000.

La Lettre hebdomadaire de la FIDH 1995-2000.

Le Nouvel Afrique-Asie 1999-2000.

LEXIS/NEXIS.

West Africa 1999-2000.

World News Connection (WNC).

Internet Sites, including:

Africa News Service.

Amnesty International Online.

Human Rights Watch Online.

International Crisis Group (ICG).

Panafrican News Agency.

ReliefWeb.