Ambazonia Defence Forces

Ambazonia Defence Forces
Leaders
Dates of operation2017 – present
AllegianceAmbazonia Governing Council
IdeologyAmbazonian nationalism
Size
  • 1,500 (according to the ADF; as of July 2018)[7]
  • 200–500 (according to independent sources; by 2019)[4]
Part of Ambazonia
AlliesRepublic of Biafra IPOB (ESN)[8]
Opponents Cameroon
Battles and warsAnglophone Crisis

The Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF) are a military organization that fights for the independence of Ambazonia, a self-declared independent state in the Anglophone regions of the former Southern Cameroons, Cameroon. It was formally established by the Ambazonia Governing Council (AGovC) on 9 September 2017, the same day as the organization declared a war of independence.[7]

Whereas other separatist militias have refrained from bringing the war outside the Anglophone regions, the ADF has taken a different stance. Since April 2021, the ADF has been allied with the Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.[9] Furthermore, Ayaba has declared that if Cameroonians rise up against the government of Paul Biya, the ADF will support them militarily.[10]

  1. ^ "Julius Nyih Rises After Ayaba Cho's Arrest, Promises Continuity". Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  2. ^ Is the Commander in Chief of the ADF’, Cameroon News Agency, Feb 4, 2018. Accessed Apr 19, 2018.
  3. ^ DeLancey, DeLancey & Mbuh 2019, p. 48.
  4. ^ a b Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis: How to Get to Talks?, Crisis Group, May 2, 2019. Accessed May 2, 2019.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference voasep102020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Frontline separatist commander, Capo Daniel, resigns from AGOVC". Cameroon News Agency. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  7. ^ a b Cameroon: I spent a week embedded with Anglophone armed separatists, RFI, Jun 14, 2018. Accessed Jun 14, 2018.
  8. ^ BREAKING: Nnamdi Kanu, Ambazonia leader to address joint world press conference April 9, Vanguard, Apr 5, 2021. Accessed Apr 7, 2021.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference cnaapr222021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Ayaba Calls On Cameroonians To Overthrow Paul Biya, Cameroon News Agency, Apr 22, 2021. Accessed Apr 22, 2021.