Ambazonia Self-Defence Council
{{Infobox war faction
| name = Ambazonia Self-Defence Council
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| war = the Anglophone Crisis
| image = 100px
| caption = Seal of the Ambazonia Self-Defence Council
| active = March 2018[https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/07/19/these-killings-can-be-stopped/abuses-government-and-separatist-groups-cameroons# “These Killings Can Be Stopped” - Abuses by Government and Separatist Groups in Cameroon’s Anglophone Regions], HRW, Jul 18, 2018. Accessed Mar 13, 2019. – present
| ideology =
| position = *Ambazonian separatism
- odeshi (elements)
| leaders = * "General Bitter Collar"{{Cite web |title=Ground Zero To Dictate Pace Of Revolution After Decisive Meeting |url=https://www.bareta.news/ground-zero-to-dictate-pace-of-revolution-after-decisive-meeting/ |author=Mbah Godlove |work=Bareta News |date=3 August 2022 |access-date=17 June 2023 }}
- "Commander Armoured Car"
- "Field Marshall" Lekeaka Oliver{{KIA}}{{Cite web |title=Cameroon's Rival Separatist Groups Clash, Kill Fighters |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/cameroon-s-rival-separatist-groups-clash-kill-fighters-/6444121.html |author=Moki Edwin Kindzeka |work=VOA |date=16 February 2022 |access-date=20 April 2022 }}
- General No Pity{{Cite web |title=General No Pity reserves right to use all means to counter the Francophone dominated army |url=https://www.cameroonintelligencereport.com/general-no-pity-reserves-right-to-use-all-means-to-counter-the-francophone-dominated-army/ |author=Isong Asu |website=Cameroon Intelligence Report |date=8 October 2021 |access-date=20 April 2022 }}
- "Field Marshal" Insobu{{KIA}}{{cite web |url=https://baretanews.com/fm-no-pity-is-officially-adf-fighter/ |title=FM No Pity is officially ADF fighter |author=Mark Bareta |website= |publisher=Bareta News |date=8 January 2022 |access-date= 20 April 2022 }}{{cite web |url=https://cameroonnewsagency.com/insobu-dies-why-infighting-keeps-taking-away-ambazonia-best-front-warriors/ |title=Insobu Dies: Why Infighting Keeps Taking Away Ambazonia Best Front Warriors |website=Cameroon News Agency |date=2022 |access-date= 20 April 2022 }}
- Marshall Foncha
- "General John"
- "General Talk and Do"{{cite web |url= https://www.bareta.news/tobin-district-under-immediate-lockdown-in-response-to-controversial-tax-decision/ |title=Tobin District Under Immediate Lockdown in Response to Controversial Tax Decision |author= Mbah Godlove |website=Bareta News |date= 14 January 2024 |access-date= 16 April 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240229152129/https://www.bareta.news/tobin-district-under-immediate-lockdown-in-response-to-controversial-tax-decision/ |archive-date=29 February 2024 |url-status=dead}}
- "General Thunder"{{KIA}}{{Cite web |title=Crise anglophone : prélats et chefs traditionnels indexés |url=https://actucameroun.com/2021/06/17/crise-anglophone-prelats-et-chefs-traditionnels-indexes/ |website=Actu Cameroun |date=17 June 2021 |access-date=25 May 2023 }}
- "General Presido"[https://www.facebook.com/CAMEROONNEWSAGENCY/posts/3870275729752116 Facebook], Cameroon News Agency, May 14, 2021.
- General No Pity's forces
- Red Dragons
- Tigers of Ambazonia
- Seven Karta
- Manyu Ghost Warriors
- Ambazonia Restoration Army
| headquarters =
| area =
| size = Thousands (self-claim)
| partof = {{flag|Ambazonia}}
| predecessor =
| successor =
| allies =
| split =
| opponents =
| battles =
}}
The Ambazonia Self-Defence Council (ASC), also known as Ambazonia Military Council (AMC), Ambazonia Military Forces (AMF),{{cite web| url = https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/05/13/cameroons-separatist-movement-is-going-international-ambazonia-military-forces-amf-anglophone-crisis/| title = Cameroon's Separatist Movement Is Going International| date = 13 May 2019| author = Gareth Browne| website = Foreign Policy| access-date =26 March 2020}} and Ambazonia Restoration Forces (ARF),[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45723211 Cameroon's Anglophone crisis: Red Dragons and Tigers - the rebels fighting for independence], BBC, Oct 4, 2018. Accessed Oct 4, 2018. is an umbrella organization that consists of several militants that fight for the independence of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, including the Red Dragons, the Tigers of Ambazonia, Seven Karta, the Manyu Ghost Warriors, the Ambazonia Restoration Army, the Southern Cameroons Defence Forces, the Bui Warriors, General No Pity's forces, and numerous others. Collectively, these militias possibly outsize the Ambazonia Defence Forces and SOCADEF.
History
The ASC was created by the Interim Government of Ambazonia in March 2018. The Interim Government wished to include all separatist militias, including the ADF; however, the ADF declined to join, opting for cooperation rather than integration.{{cite web |url=http://cameroonnewsagency.com/opinion-ambazonia-acting-president-says-general-ivo-died-a-hero/ |title=Opinion: Ambazonia 'Acting President' Says General Ivo Died A Hero |author= |work=Cameroon News Agency |date=21 December 2018 |accessdate=11 March 2019 }} It is unclear whether the ASC has a centralized command structure, though given the local nature of its militias, this is unlikely.
In March 2019, the Southern Cameroons Liberation Council (SCLC) was created. Days later, it declared an immediate end to a lockdown in Fako Division, previously declared by the Interim Government. Although the ASC is loyal to the Interim Government, and the Interim Government is part of the SCLC, the ASC refused to end the lockdown.[https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/cameroon-confusion-looms-as-ambazonia-faction-maintains-lockdown-in-fako/ Cameroon: Confusion looms as Ambazonia faction maintains Fako lockdown], Journal du Cameroun, Apr 10, 2019. Accessed Apr 10, 2019. In its refusal to obey the order, the ASC cited the lack of consultation by the SCLC.[http://cameroonnewsagency.com/asc-maintains-lockdown-despite-sclc-lift/ ASC Maintains Lockdown Despite SCLC Lift], Cameroon News Agency, Apr 10, 2019. Accessed Apr 11, 2019.
By 2021, the ASC had become more commonly known as the "Ambazonia Restoration Forces" (ARF).{{Cite web |title=General No Pity: "Our Big Rubbergun will not leave any La Republique soldier alone" |url=https://www.cameroonintelligencereport.com/general-no-pity-our-big-rubbergun-will-not-leave-any-la-republique-soldier-alone/ |author=Fon Lawrence |website=Cameroon Intelligence Report |date=14 July 2021 |access-date=20 April 2022 }}
In January 2022, the ARF began to fracture as conflicts erupted among its members. Several commanders of the umbrella group, including General No Pity and General Mad Dog, formed the Bui Unity Warriors in opposition to "Field Marshal" Insobu's Bui Warriors, another group within the ARF. The internal struggles further escalated in February 2022, as the Interim Government splintered when its leader Samuel Ikome Sako was impeached. General Mad Dog began attacking the forces of then-ARF chief commander Lekeaka Oliver, and General No Pity's troops killed Insobu in April 2022. Oliver was killed in July, either by government forces or rival rebels.{{cite web |url= https://cameroonnewsagency.com/war-in-anglophone-regions-chris-anu-officially-announces-death-of-brother-oliver-lekeaka/?fbclid=IwAR2oAcmva5nBbN4ePUwsBZbZ5mvWFETiFruGPU8YYqSXezs3VgBacV4wFns |title= War in Anglophone regions: Chris Anu officially announces death of brother, Oliver Lekeaka |date= 18 July 2022|author= |website= |publisher= Cameroon News Agency |access-date= 18 July 2022 }}
In August 2022, more than 50 ARF commanders met to agree to a more organized unification of the ARF as well as to distance themselves from the exile leadership of the rebellion. At the meeting, "General Bitter Collar" and "Commander Armoured Car" were elected as Communication Secretaries for the unified militias.