They are demanding the release of imprisoned activists like Sissiku Ayuk Tabe before the start of the competition scheduled for January 9, 2022.
On the eve of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), separatist fighters are calling on the Yaoundé government to release all Anglophones imprisoned across the country as part of the crisis, like their leader Sissiku Ayuk Tabe. Indeed, the group called "Ambazonia defense forces" through its spokesman threatens to boycott the CAN if their request is not taken into consideration by the government.
In a video posted on social media, the separatists claim that their fighters have already infiltrated the country's major cities namely Yaoundé, Douala and Nkongsamba. As a reminder, on August 20, 2019, Sissiku Julius Ayuk Tabe and his nine co-defendants were sentenced to life with a fine of 250 billion CFA francs to be paid for the damage caused. Six days after the life sentence, defence lawyers are appealing for procedural irregularities and violations of fair trial rights. These separatist leaders were arrested in January 2018 in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, and returned to Cameroon.
