Norway Arrests Separatist Leader for Inciting Crimes Against Humanity in Cameroon
On September 25, 2024, Norwegian authorities announced their arrest of Lucas Cho Ayaba, a German national and a leader of the Ambazonia Governing Council – a separatist group party to the ongoing conflict in Cameroon’s anglophone region.[1] Norway’s Kripos police unit – a group assigned to deal with crimes against humanity and war crimes – said that the arrestee was “in their 50s” and a key player in the Cameroonian conflict.[2] Ayaba is accused of inciting crimes against humanity and perpetuating the conflict from a residence in Norway, which gives the prosecutors several avenues through which they can pursue the case.[3] This is the first time Norway has charged someone for inciting crimes against humanity.[4] Ayaba’s lawyer affirmed that Ayaba would not plead guilty, but if convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.[5]