Anglophone Conflict in Cameroon: U.S. Government Indicted two members of Ambazonia Defence Force in Minnesota
In a stunning development that bridges continents and exposes the reach of transnational militancy, two naturalized U.S. citizens, Benedict Nwana Kuah, 51, and Pascal Kikishy Wongbi, 52, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Minnesota for allegedly orchestrating a campaign of violence in their native Cameroon.
According to the eight-count indictment, Kuah and Wongbi held leadership roles in the Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF), a separatist militia seeking to carve out an independent state in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions. From the comfort of their homes in Minnesota, the pair allegedly directed kidnappings, bombings, and killings targeting civilians, government officials, and security forces in Cameroon
The indictment paints a chilling picture of calculated brutality:
- 2017–2024: The defendants allegedly funneled thousands of dollars to co-conspirators in Cameroon to purchase weapons and explosives.
- 2022: Fighters kidnapped a government official, broadcasting propaganda videos to amplify their message.
- 2023: Kuah reportedly helped plan an IED attack on a regional governor and financed a bombing at the Mount Cameroon Race for Hope, injuring 19 people.
- 2023: A commander appointed by Kuah allegedly murdered two unarmed civilians in a market square. Wongbi appeared in a propaganda video threatening similar violence.
- 2024: Kuah allegedly approved funding for a Youth Day bombing that killed a 15-year-old girl and injured dozens of children.
The pair also ran online fundraising campaigns, “The Takeover Fund” and “Operation 200AKs”, soliciting donations for AK-47 rifles and explosives. Kuah appeared in multiple videos urging supporters to fund the fighters’ arsenal
The charges include:
- Conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim, and injure persons abroad
- Conspiracy to provide material support or resources
- Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
- Additional counts against Kuah: providing material support, conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction
If convicted, both men face a maximum penalty of life in prison.
“Operating from the comfort of their living rooms in Minnesota, these defendants caused violence and suffering half a world away,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
“Their alleged conduct caused death, terror, and suffering among innocent civilians,” added Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti.
The FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office is leading the investigation, with support from Homeland Security Investigations and multiple divisions of the Justice Department
As the legal process unfolds, the world watches closely. For Cameroon, this indictment may mark a turning point in the fight against separatist violence. For the U.S., it’s a reminder that justice knows no borders. Note: An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
