Lekeaka Oliver

Lekeaka Oliver,[lower-alpha 2] popularly known as Field Marshall, is a former Cameroonian army soldier[1] and currently an Ambazonian separatist commander and the leader of the Red Dragon militia. His armed group is part of the loosely-structured Ambazonia Self-Defence Council, and is loyal to the Interim Government of Ambazonia.[3] The Red Dragon is mainly active in Lebialem Division, Southwest Region.[2] Oliver is the brother of Chris Anu, former Secretary for Communications of the Interim Government.[4]

Lekeaka Oliver
BornDecember 1968[1]
Southern France[1]
Allegiance Ambazonia
Service/branchRed Dragon
Years of service2017–present
RankField Marshal[lower-alpha 1]
Battles/warsAnglophone Crisis

Biography

Oliver was born in South-West region in December 1968. He did not complete school, and eventually went on to join the Cameroonian army.[1]

With the outbreak of the Anglophone Crisis in September 2017, Oliver deserted his position in the army and joined the separatist side, and eventually became the most powerful warlord in the Lebialem Division. Owing partly to the topography of Lebialem, the division became a key battleground of the war, with the Cameroon Armed Forces facing a tough fight against the separatists there. As a result, Oliver became a prominent general on the separatist side as well as a prioritized target by Cameroon.[5]

On December 31, 2018, Cameroon claimed to have killed Oliver. These reports were proven false when Oliver appeared in a video a week later.[6]

In August 2019, his mother and sister were arrested in Yaoundé. The authorities claimed that they had hidden away ransom money made by the Red Dragon militia from taking hostages. The lawyers claimed that they had lost contact with Oliver.[1] Oliver's mother was released in November 20, while his sister was transferred to Kondengui Central Prison.[7]

On October 1, 2019, having chased out the traditional rulers of Lebialem, Oliver declared himself Paramount Ruler of Lebialem, prompting Cameroonian raids into the area to capture or kill him. While unsuccessful in finding Oliver, the raids led to casualties on both sides.[8]

Notes
  1. Oliver has been known as "Field Marshall" both in the media and among fellow separatists. This rank, which has become not only his claimed rank but also his nickname, is usually a very senior rank reserved for five-star generals with extraordinary wartime achievements. Given the nature of the Ambazonian separatist guerillas (see list of militant groups), with his own Red Dragon militia having an estimated 200 fighters as of May 2019, this is not a rank that anyone in any modern national armed forces would be appointed to mere two years into their military service.[2]
  2. While one source claims that his real name is Leke Olivier Fongunueh, spelling varies widely in the media.[1]

References
  1. Cameroon: Secessionist leader returns to challenge Yaoundé, The African Report, Nov 15, 2019. Accessed Nov 22, 2019.
  2. Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis: How to Get to Talks?, Crisis Group, May 2, 2019. Accessed May 2, 2019.
  3. Cameroon's Anglophone crisis: Red Dragons and Tigers - the rebels fighting for independence, BBC, Oct 4, 2018. Accessed Oct 4, 2018.
  4. Cameroon: Detained mother, sister of Ambazonia leader to appear in court, Journal du Cameroun, Sep 9, 2019. Accessed Nov 18, 2019.
  5. Cameroon: ‘Ambazonia General’ killed in Lebialem, Journal du Cameroun, Mar 21, 2019. Accessed Nov 18, 2019.
  6. Cameroon: Three gendarmes killed in Mbelenka, Journal du Cameroun, Jan 4, 2018. Accessed Jan 4, 2018.
  7. Crise anglophone : la mère de Chris Anu libérée, sa sœur est transférée à la prison principale de Kondengui, L'Actu Cameroon, Nov 20, 2019. Accessed Nov 30, 2019.
  8. Cameroon Separatist Fighter Names Himself 'King' of Southwest District, Voice of America, Oct 21, 2019. Accessed Oct 22, 2019.
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