Movement for the Restoration of the Independence of Southern Cameroons
THE WASHINGTON DECLARATION

Mindful of the right of the People of Southern Cameroons AKA the People of Ambazonia to self-determination under Articles 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 20 of the African Charter;

Mindful of the right of the People of Southern Cameroons to separate from the “union” with La Republique du Cameroun as reaffirmed under Principles VII and VIII of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1541 of the 15th of December 1960;

Determined to resist the recolonization of Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) and the continued treatment of its People as second class citizens of La Republique du Cameroun;

We, The Sovereign People of Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) resident in the United States of America, assembled freely this 21st day of January 2017 in Washington, DC, declare as follows:

That we have organized ourselves into an umbrella organization to be known as the Movement for the Restoration of the Independence of Southern Cameroons, abbreviated MoRISC.

That the goal of MoRISC is to campaign for the restoration of the independence of the former British UN Trusteeship Territory on the 1st of October 2017.

That branches of MoRISC shall champion the worldwide campaign for the recognition of Southern Cameroons (independent on the 1st of October 1961), as a separate, sovereign and independent state compared to La Republique du Cameroun (independent on the 1st of January 1960).

That the MoRISC Secretariat headed by a Spokesperson (Ntumfoyn Boh Herbert) along with an Advisory Board made up, among others, by the leaders of member liberation movements, shall henceforth be charged to work with all governments, governmental and non-governmental organizations to implement the MoRISC Roadmap to the Restoration of Independence (on the Web at www.morisc.org/roadmap).

That We, The Sovereign People of Southern Cameroons, denounce in the strongest terms, the ongoing crimes against humanity being perpetrated by La Republique du Cameroun against the innocent People of Southern Cameroons;

That we, hereby, solemnly commit to serve, to sacrifice, and if need be, to die in the struggle to return the People of Southern Cameroons to their lost dignity as full, self-governing citizens in an independent Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia).

That We, The Sovereign People of Southern Cameroons resident in the USA, are united with our brothers and sisters at home and across the world, in refusing to give consent to the colonial government of La Republique du Cameroun to continue to misgovern Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia).

Horrified by the diabolic plan of La Republique du Cameroun to unleash another Rwanda-style genocide in Southern Cameroons and, fully aware but unintimidated by the decision by Yaounde to deploy killer squads – some carrying diplomatic passports – to assassinate the leaders and certain citizens of Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) at home and in the Diaspora;

Remind the African Union Security Council, the United Nations Security Council, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Republic of France, among others, of their pledge following the Rwanda Genocide of 1994 and call on them to take action promptly to prevent genocide in Southern Cameroons.

Solemnly reiterate our unflinching support for strikes, “ghost town” operations and peaceful street protests across Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) by teachers, lawyers, students, parents, traders, farmers, transporters, youths, religious and traditional leaders, and join our voices to theirs in calling on the colonizer from Yaounde to go home.

We submit that our teachers, lawyers, students, parents, traders, farmers, transporters, youths, religious and traditional leaders, and all Southern Cameroonian citizens are justified not to tolerate the official policy of linguistic apartheid that the colonial government of La Republique du Cameroun has imposed on them for the past 55 years.

We denounce, in the strongest terms, the litany of extrajudicial executions; the endless acts of state-sponsored rape, maiming, and “disappearances”. We condemn media and information censorship along with the state-imposed Internet blackout put in place to prevent the world from viewing in real time the tragedy of state-led terrorism, hostage-taking and abductions ongoing across Southern Cameroons.

In advance, We, The Sovereign People of Southern Cameroons, totally reject the preordained outcome of upcoming mock trials before kangaroo courts/judges appointed by and totally at the service of the tyrant in Yaounde.

We decry the ongoing acts of molestation, intimidation, arrests, detention, and despicable torture initiated, condoned and/or ordered by the colonizer in Yaounde and shamelessly targeting even the most vulnerable: women, children, the elderly, and the physically challenged. We pledge to embark on a legal crusade before the ICC and ICJ to bring to book President Paul Biya and his government; his colonial administrators, all companies and individuals acting as accomplices; as well as members of Mr. Biya’s barbaric army, gendarmes and security forces.

We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all Southern Cameroonian leaders, students and mostly young men abducted from numerous towns and held in prisons and camps in La Republique du Cameroun and support the youth of Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) for their solid engagement in the campaign to end colonial rule from Yaounde.

Finally, We, The Sovereign People of Southern Cameroons resident in the USA, reiterate our commitment to use all peaceful and legal means to bring about the restoration of our independence on the 1st of October 2017 and, hereby, encourage our People in the Homeland to remain peaceful and non-violent; but most especially to remain resolute and steadfast notwithstanding the endless acts of provocation by the colonialists from Yaounde.

Done at Washington this 21st day of January 2017

SIGNED: Ntumfoyn Boh Herbert (Yindo Toh)
Spokesperson, MoRISC