Three appear in US court for funding, supporting separatist activities in Cameroon
By Nange Mbehni
Court proceedings for three US citizens of Cameroonian origin have begun in Kansas City, Missouri in the United States of America (USA). Claude Ngenevu Chi, 40, Francis Chenyi, 49, and Lah Nestor Langmi, 46, made their appearances in court on November 28, 2022. The three are accused of supporting and funding separatist militia groups in Cameroon.
“The three defendants – [Chi, Chenyi and Langmi] were arrested today and made their initial court appearances in connection with an indictment, unsealed today, charging them for their roles in a conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a conspiracy to kidnap persons and use weapons of mass destruction in a foreign country” stated a press release from the US Department of Justice’ Office of Public Affairs.
The release further details that Chi, Chenyi and Langmi “are charged in four count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri, on November. 18, 2022.”
“Chi, Chenyi and Langmi are charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources intended to be used to carry out a conspiracy to kill, kidnap and maim persons in a foreign country and one count of providing material support or resources intended to be used to carry out a conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction outside the United States. They are additionally charged with one count of receiving money from a ransom demand and one count of participating in a money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of up to 15 years in prison for the material support charges, up to three years in prison for the receiving money from a ransom demand charge and up to 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy charge.”
“The three allegedly solicited and raised funds for equipment, supplies, weapons and explosives to be used in attacks against Cameroon government personnel, security forces and property, along with other civilians believed to be enabling the government,” emphasized the press release.
Throughout the Anglophone Crisis – an armed conflict between Cameroon Security forces and Separatist militia groups, funding for most of the activities of the militia groups has been mobilized abroad by proponents of the warfare. Most of the funds are raised through crowdsourcing. No doubt the US Department of Justice’s release says “the funds mobilized by [Chi, Chenyi and Langmi] were raised through online chat applications and payment platforms from individuals located in the United States and abroad. The funds were then transferred from various financial and cryptocurrency accounts controlled by the defendants through intermediaries to the separatist fighters to support attacks in Cameroon.”
It’s worth stating that, Chi, Chenyi and Langmi have supported and raised funds for separatist fighters – fondly referred to as Amba Boys, in Cameroon since January 1, 2018. “As alleged, they each held senior level positions within an organization that supported and directed the militant separatist groups known as the Ambazonian Restoration Forces and other separatist fighters in Cameroon’s Northwest Region, “adds the press release from the US Department of Justice’ Office of Public Affairs.
The beginning of court proceedings on those funding and supporting separatist activities in Cameroons Northwest and Southwest regions is an answer to calls many have been making throughout the span of the crisis.
