Three Ambazonia Leaders Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment in the United States for Providing Material Support to Separatist Fighters in Cameroon and the kidnapping of the Fon of Nso and the late Cardinal Tumi
Three men of Cameroonian origin have been sentenced in a United States federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to provide material support and financial resources to separatist fighters in Cameroon for the development and use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other weapons.
The defendants, Francis Chenyi Sr., 52, Lah Nestor Langmi, 49, and Claude Ngenevu Chi, 43, were prosecuted in the Western District of Missouri over activities linked to separatist violence in Cameroon’s Northwest Region.
Francis Chenyi Sr., of Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Lah Nestor Langmi, of Buffalo, New York, were each sentenced to 180 months (15 years) in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Claude Ngenevu Chi, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Chenyi and Langmi, both U.S. citizens of Cameroonian origin, were convicted following a federal jury trial. They were found guilty of conspiring to provide material support or resources intended to facilitate conspiracies to kill, kidnap and maim persons in a foreign country and to use weapons of mass destruction outside the United States.
The two men were also convicted of participating in an international money-laundering conspiracy involving the transfer of funds from the United States to Cameroon.
Chenyi additionally faced a conviction for conspiring to provide material support and resources for the use of a weapon of mass destruction abroad. Chi previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support and resources for the use of weapons of mass destruction abroad.
Alleged Support for Kidnapping and IED Operations
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants maintained communications with separatist fighters and other individuals in Cameroon and provided financial and logistical support for violent activities.
The case included evidence concerning the kidnapping of a traditional leader and Catholic Cardinal Christian Tumi. Prosecutors said Langmi sent an audio message to separatist fighters requesting the kidnapping of a traditional leader.
Following a confrontation between separatists and Cameroonian government forces, the traditional leader and Cardinal Tumi, who was travelling with him, were reportedly taken from their vehicles.
Prosecutors alleged that Chenyi subsequently provided interrogation questions for the traditional leader and Cardinal Tumi and authorized the transfer of funds to separatist fighters through peer-to-peer financial transactions.
The evidence also indicated that Chenyi became involved in ransom payments connected to individuals who had been abducted in Cameroon and communicated with Langmi concerning such payments.
Financing the Development of Explosive Devices
The prosecution further presented evidence that co-conspirators repeatedly requested money to purchase materials and components for the construction of IEDs.
According to the case evidence, Chenyi approved and financed some of these requests and coordinated with individuals in Cameroon to facilitate training for separatist fighters in the use of IEDs.
In December 2020, Chenyi was allegedly asked to provide funds for the construction of multiple IEDs intended to support enforcement of a lockdown ahead of an election. Chenyi and Chi agreed to provide the funds, while Chenyi coordinated the transfer of money from the United States to separatist fighters in Cameroon.
Langmi was also accused of coordinating with an unindicted co-conspirator to support the development of IEDs and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) in Cameroon and keeping Chenyi informed about their development.
The prosecution further alleged that Langmi attempted to coordinate attacks around the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament hosted by Cameroon, as well as attacks in several cities across the Northwest Region during 2022.
Human Rights and Legal Implications
The convictions highlight the increasingly international dimension of the armed conflict in Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest Regions, where violence since 2016 has resulted in serious allegations of killings, abductions, torture, destruction of property and other violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
From a legal perspective, the U.S. proceedings demonstrate how domestic counterterrorism, material-support and international money-laundering laws can be applied to conduct occurring partly or substantially outside U.S. territory.
At the same time, allegations involving armed groups and counterterrorism operations in Cameroon underscore the importance of ensuring that accountability measures comply with international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including protections applicable to civilians and persons deprived of their liberty.
The case also raises broader questions about the transnational financing of armed actors, the use of digital and peer-to-peer financial systems to transfer funds, and the responsibility of individuals outside conflict zones who knowingly facilitate violent operations.
Accountability for Conflict-Related Crimes
The Human Rights and Legal Research Centre considers accountability for serious violations committed during the conflict in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions essential to sustainable peace and reconciliation.
Accountability should extend to all actors credibly implicated in serious violations, regardless of their political affiliation or geographical location. At the same time, criminal proceedings must respect due process, fair-trial guarantees and the fundamental principles of the rule of law.
The prosecution of individuals accused of financing or facilitating violent acts outside the United States demonstrates the potential reach of international cooperation in addressing transnational support for armed violence.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean T. Foley and Joseph M. Marquez for the Western District of Missouri, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division. The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office.
Conclusion
The sentences imposed on Chenyi, Langmi and Chi represent a significant development in efforts to disrupt alleged transnational financial and logistical networks supporting armed violence in Cameroon.
For Cameroon, the case further illustrates the need for comprehensive accountability mechanisms capable of addressing violations committed by all parties to the conflict, while ensuring fair trials, protection of civilians and respect for international human rights and humanitarian law.
Human Rights and Legal Research Centre will continue to monitor developments concerning accountability, human rights and the rule of law in Cameroon’s ongoing conflict.
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.
