This is Fon Yakum Kelvin, also president of the House of Chiefs kidnapped yesterday from his palace in Mbambalang, in the North-West region.
Another traditional leader has just been captured by separatist fighters. Yesterday, December 7, 2021, His Royal Majesty Fon Yakum Kelvin, the traditional leader of the Mbaw Yakum fondom who is also the president of the Northwest House of Chiefs was kidnapped. The abduction took place in his palace in Mbambalang, Ngohketunjia Division.
During this crisis, separatists targeted government officials, elites and village chiefs in English-speaking areas in order to put pressure on the Yaoundé government. Several traditional leaders have in the past been kidnapped by separatist fighters, such as the Fon of Nso. These traditional authorities are accused by the fighters "of not standing by their people who aspire to an independent state".
As a reminder, the Maison de Fons is a body created by the government at the end of the Grand National Dialogue of 2019. This institution is supposed to give a voice to traditional leaders who would have long been ignored in key decision-making processes in their home regions.
