Abdul Karim Ali Cell 23 Kondengui Central Prison, Yaoundé, La Republic du Cameroun.
Date: July/25//2023
Southern Cameroons is not just a geographical location; it is a living soul. The more it suffers, the stronger it becomes, like metal forged in fire. The children of Southern Cameroons have endured immense pain and suffering, yet they persist and forge ahead. They travel to hell and back everyday. In my previous and numerous articles on collaboration, the response has often been mixed, with varying ratings in different dimensions. Notably, our evergreen and esteemed patriots like Pa Nfor Ngala have also contributed significantly to this subject. In this brief piece, I will emphasize the importance of effective collaboration between the Southern Cameroons diaspora and its homeland populace to counter the inevitable pain that lies ahead.
The heart is the engine of life in the human body, both physically and metaphorically. It sustains life by generating the pulse, and figuratively, it represents our emotions, intuitions, and spiritual life. If Southern Cameroons were a body, the diaspora would represent the soul, and its homeland (GZ) would symbolize the heart. Just as the soul is integral to an individual’s identity and purpose, the diaspora plays a crucial role in connecting Southern Cameroons to the wider world and advocating for its struggles. On the other hand, the heart, like the homeland (GZ), is at the core of its existence, providing life, and vitality to the struggle. The collaboration between the diaspora (soul) and the homeland (heart) is essential for the well-being and progress of Southern Cameroons agenda as a whole.
The soul is in pain when the heart is bleeding. Theologically, the soul survives even when the heart stops to beat. It guides and protects the heart, but without the heart’s vitality, the body cannot house the soul and it may wander. Throughout history, no people have achieved liberation without the active engagement and commitment of their diaspora. The examples of Israel, Eritrea, South Sudan, South Africa, India, Pakistan, and Palestine demonstrate the benevolent influence of their diasporas in gaining freedom from occupation.
The abduction and torture of countless Southern Cameroonians, including myself, and their subsequent transfer to Yaoundé, reaffirm the painful reality of our history. It represents the increasing pain of our entire people suffered for decades. Our parents endured subterfuge, humiliation, and agonizing hardships, but their struggles have shaped our narrative. Our history is conceived and written in anguish and blood, yet brewed in hope, tenacity, defiance, and courage. Understanding, mastering, and sharing this history are essential tasks that we must diligently undertake, ensuring its passage to future generations. We carry the weight of our past, and through the retelling of our story, we honor the resilience of those who came before us, those who have been martyred, and we pave the way for freedom.
The successful achievement of Southern Cameroons as it should be, is a duty we dare not shirk. The diaspora must remember that their homeland is not just a piece of land; it is their beating heart, an integral part of their identity. The diaspora is the bleeding soul of Southern Cameroons, connecting the pain of the past to the hope of today and tomorrow. We have no choice but to work together. Your own very heart relies on you. It is way past time to upscale your response to this annihilation attempts by moving from too much talk and divisiveness, to concrete walking the talk and collaboration.
With humility, I urge both the heart (GZ) and the soul (diaspora) to contemplate the following question: “What will happen to Southern Cameroonians in GZ, those in LRC, and the Prisoners of Conscience, especially those in LRC, if a civil war or a mass attack on Southern Cameroonians occurs in LRC?”
Challenges to Address:
1. Over 1500 Prisoners of Conscience in need of food, medicine, and clothing. I find myself amidst Prisoners of Conscience who are facing extreme hardships – they are exposed to cholera and various infections, sick, starving, and lack access to basic necessities like food, clothing, and medications, including crucial malaria treatment and antibiotics. The gravity of their situation weighs heavily on my heart, and I am driven to urgently seek help and support for their plight.
2. Over a million displaced persons requiring support.
3. Over 80,000 refugees in need of assistance.
4. Over 8,000,000 citizens requiring protection and support.
Only through the collaboration of both the heart and soul can we prevent the pain from escalating to epidemic proportions. The diaspora represents the soul, while GZ embodies the heart.
May God Bless Southern Cameroons.
