Two separatist leaders who are members of the Ambazonia Governing Council, who are said to be naturalized U.S. citizens, Benedict Nwana Kuah and Pascal Kikishy Wongbi, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Minnesota for allegedly organizing and financing kidnappings, bombings, and killings in their native country, the Republic of Cameroon. They are accused of using their positions in the separatist group, the Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF), to raise funds and direct violent acts against civilians and government officials from their base in the U.S., the Justice department said in a statement on Friday.
The charges include conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim, and injure persons abroad and conspiracy to provide material support or resources, among others. If convicted, they could face a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The indictment outlines a series of violent acts that Kuah and Wongbi allegedly financed and directed:
- Financial support: Since 2017, they allegedly sent thousands of dollars to co-conspirators in Cameroon for weapons and explosives. They also allegedly used online campaigns like “The Takeover Fund” and “Operation 200AKs” to raise money for AK-47 rifles and explosives.
- Targeted attacks: The indictment details specific attacks, including a 2022 kidnapping of a government official, a 2023 improvised explosive device (IED) attack that targeted a regional governor, and a bombing at the Mount Cameroon Race for Hope that injured 19 people.
- Civilian casualties: The defendants are accused of directing attacks that resulted in civilian deaths. For example, a commander appointed by Kuah allegedly murdered two unarmed civilians in a market square in 2023. In 2024, Kuah allegedly approved the funding for a bombing at a Youth Day celebration that killed a 15-year-old girl and injured dozens of children.
Legal Basis and Jurisdiction
This case highlights how U.S. law can be applied to actions carried out abroad. The Justice Department, specifically its Criminal Division and National Security Division, along with the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, is prosecuting the case. The charges, such as conspiracy to kill or kidnap persons abroad and providing material support to terrorists, allow for the prosecution of individuals who use the United States as a base of operations to direct violence overseas.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson stated, “Operating from the comfort of their living rooms in Minnesota, these defendants caused violence and suffering half a world away.” This quote underscores the legal principle that individuals cannot use U.S. territory to finance or direct violent crimes in other countries without facing consequences.
This comes as a big blow to the ADF whose founder Ayaba Cho Lucas was first arrested in Norway.
