A military court in Cameroon has convicted seven activists from the country’s English-speaking minority of rebellion and terrorism.
They were found guilty of “acts of terrorism, hostility against the homeland, secession, revolution and insurrection”.
The minority say they are marginalised by the country’s Francophone majority and have been demanding independence.
The highest term went to Mancho Bibixy (the group leader) and another Tsi Conrad, who both bagged 15 years each.
Bibixy was a radio presenter in the Anglophone North-West Region.
Three others, Tha Emile Agwei, Tamngwa Malvin and Aselecha Martin got 13 years each.
The remaining two, Awah Thomas and Guingah Valentine were jailed 11 and 10 years respectively.
Bibixy and his co-defendants were also ordered to pay a joint fine of $464,000 (£348,000) plus legal fees.
Defence lawyer Claude Assira said the court’s decision was “excessive and pointless” and would not resolve Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis.
Following a referendum, British-run Southern Cameroons joined the French-speaking Republic of Cameroon in 1961, while Northern Cameroons voted to join English-speaking Nigeria.
In January, Nigeria arrested members of a group leading a separatist movement in Cameroon.
The Movement for the independence of Southern Cameroonians is clamouring for an independent Ambazonia State, which seeks to break away from the domination of the French-speaking Cameroon.
The seven officials nabbed include leader of the group, Sisiku Tabe.
Others were Nfor Ngala Nfor, Fidelis Che, Henri Kimeng, Cornielius Kwanga, a professor identified as Awasum and a lawyer, Nalowa Bih.
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