Belgian authorities have detained three people as part of an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to Cameroon’s separatist conflict, federal prosecutors announced. The suspects are believed to be senior figures in the Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF), an armed group fighting for the independence of Cameroon’s English speaking Northwest and Southwest regions. The conflict has pitted separatist fighters against state security forces since 2017. According to the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office, four individuals were initially arrested on Sunday following coordinated searches in Antwerp and the Flemish town of Londerzeel. Three were later remanded in custody by an investigating judge.
Prosecutors allege that funds were raised from Belgium to support the armed struggle, including the purchase of weapons and ammunition, and that instructions for attacks in Cameroon may have been issued from Belgian territory. The investigation, launched last summer, focuses on individuals residing in Belgium suspected of being part of the ADF’s leadership structure.
The crisis in Cameroon began in 2016 with protests by lawyers and teachers over the use of French in courts and schools in the predominantly English-speaking regions. Tensions escalated in 2017 when separatists declared an independent state called Ambazonia, triggering a protracted armed conflict. Human rights organizations have accused both separatist groups and government forces of committing serious abuses, including killings, kidnappings and the burning of villages. The United Nations estimates that more than 6,500 people have been killed since the conflict began and over 490,000 displaced internally, with at least 1.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
President Paul Biya, who has been in power for more than four decades, says his government has taken steps toward dialogue and decentralization. However, critics argue that political repression and restrictions on civil liberties persist, complicating efforts to reach a lasting settlement. Belgium’s investigation follows similar legal actions in Norway and the United States targeting alleged overseas support networks linked to the separatist rebellion.
