Samuel Ikome Sako

Dr. Samuel Ikome Sako is the interim president of the unrecognized Federal Republic of Ambazonia. He was named interim president a month after Julius Ayuk Tabe, the first president, was arrested in Nigeria and extradited to Cameroon.[1] He was unilaterally dismissed by Julius Ayuk Tabe in May 2019, a decision he refused to recognize. This triggered the Ambazonian leadership crisis.

Samuel Ikome Sako
2nd President of Ambazonia
Assumed office
4 February 2018
Preceded bySisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe

In terms of background, he has studied theology and is an ordained minister and a Christian counselor. He has spent several years in the United States, where he has been a trade consultant and a CEO. He was also President Emeritus of the Community Humanitarian Emergency Board International (COHEB).[1]

Presidency

After being named interim president, one of Sako's first priorities was to unite the separatist militias on the ground under one banner. In March 2018, the Interim Government created the Ambazonia Self-Defence Council, an umbrella organization intended to include all separatist militias. While the Ambazonia Defence Forces declined to join, many other militias did.[2]

In his end of year speech on December 31, 2018, Sako stated that the separatists would change from a defensive to an offensive strategy. He announced that a Mobile Wing Police would be created, with the intention of capturing and holding territory, as well as defeating pro-government militias. He also promised to take action against anyone involved in kidnappings of civilians, including separatist elements.[3]

In late-March 2019, he attended a conference in Washington, D.C. where over a dozen Ambazonian movements (including federalists) were represented. The conference resulted in an agreement to unite under a common front, and the subsequent creation of the Southern Cameroon Liberation Council.[4]

On May 2, 2019, a document signed by Ayuk Tabe declared that the Sako-led interim cabinet had been dissolved, and that his own pre-arrest cabinet had been restored. The document expressed recognition for the job the Sako-led cabinet had done, but claimed that infighting had rendered it unfit to continue; the caretaker cabinet has lost the ability to reconcile our people and, in doing so, has imperiled the identity and mission of the interim government to complete the decolonization of Southern Cameroons through advancing our collective national interests..[5] This move was not recognized by the Sako-led cabinet, which refused to step down. In June, the Ambazonia Restoration Council (one of the oldest Ambazonian separatist movements) impeached Ayuk Tabe for "treasonous misconduct". The same declaration stated that Sako would continue as interim president for the time being, and that they would look for a new leader in three months.[6] This move was condemned by Ayaba Cho Lucas of the Ambazonia Governing Council, who supported Ayuk Tabe despite being a rival of the Interim Government.[7]

In June 2019, Sako confirmed that the Interim Government was negotiating with the government of Cameroon.[8]

In November 2019, pro-separatist sources reported that Sako and his supporters had changed his title from Acting Interim President to President, aiming to permanently replace Ayuk Tabe even if the latter would ever be released.[9]

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References
  1. Just In-Dr Samuel Ikome Sako Is New Acting Interim President of The ‘Federal Republic of Ambazonia’, Cameroon News Agency, Feb 4, 2018. Accessed Apr 19, 2018.
  2. "Opinion: Ambazonia 'Acting President' Says General Ivo Died A Hero". Cameroon News Agency. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  3. No Retreat, No Surrender, From Defensive To Offensive Strategy, The way Forward In 2019-Dr Samuel Sako, Cameroon News Agency, Dec 31, 2018. Accessed Dec 31, 2018.
  4. Federalists Meet Restorationists, Which Group Will Perform The Osmosis?, Cameroon News Agency, Mar 29, 2019. Accessed Apr 10, 2019.
  5. Cameroon: Detained Ambazonia leader dissolves ‘Interim Government’, Journal du Cameroun, May 2, 2019. Accessed Jul 8, 2019.
  6. Cameroon: Confusion as detained Ambazonia leader impeached by peers, Journal du Cameroun, Jun 12, 2019. Accessed Jun 12, 2019.
  7. Cameroon: Sepratist hardliners react after impechment of detained Ambazonia leader, Journal du Cameroun, Jun 12, 2019. Accessed Jun 12, 2019.
  8. Cameroon: Ambazonia leaders endorse Swiss-led dialogue to solve Anglophone crisis, Journal du Cameroun, Jun 28, 2019. Accessed Jun 28, 2019.
  9. Dr. Sako sworn in as President of Ambazonia, Mimi Mefo Infos, Nov 30, 2019. Accessed Nov 30, 2019.
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