The Southern Cameroons Defence Forces (commonly referred to as SOCADEF) is the armed wing of the African People's Liberation Movement, an Ambazonian separatist movement. It is led by Ebenezer Akwanga, who is based in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, and its ground forces were commanded by General Andrew Ngoe.Cameroon: ‘Ambazonia General’ killed in Matoh
Journal du Cameroun, Jan 24, 2019. Accessed Jan 24, 2019. Together with the

Ambazonia Defence Forces The Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF) are a military organization that fights for the independence of Ambazonia, a self-declared independent state in the Anglophone regions of the former Southern Cameroons, Cameroon. It was formally established by th ...

, it is one of the most prominent militias fighting in the Anglophone Crisis. SOCADEF has not joined the Ambazonia Self-Defence Council, an umbrella organization created by the

Interim Government A provisional government, also called an interim government, an emergency government, or a transitional government, is an emergency governmental authority set up to manage a political transition generally in the cases of a newly formed state or f ...

. However, its political wing, the African People's Liberation Movement (APLM), took part in forming the

Southern Cameroons Liberation Council The Southern Cameroons Liberation Council (SCLC) is an Ambazonian umbrella movement, aiming to unite all Anglophone groups on a common front. As of April 2019, it consists of seven movements. Foundation The SCLC was established at the All South ...

in March 2019, effectively uniting with the Interim Government under an umbrella organization. On January 24, 2019, General Andrew Ngoe was killed in Matoh, Mbonge, leaving "General Opobo" in charge. The militia made some headlines in March 2020 when it declared a two-week ceasefire to give people time to get tested for

coronavirus Coronaviruses are a group of related RNA viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans and birds, they cause respiratory tract infections that can range from mild to lethal. Mild illnesses in humans include some cases of the com ...

. General Opobo was captured and killed by other separatists in June 2021, and SOCADEF was rumored to have disbanded. In reality, the militia went underground for several months while acquiring better weapons and a new leadership. In September 2021, SOCADEF resurfaced with a new leader known as "General Jason".SOCADEF of Matoh introduces new General and recruits armed with sophisticated weapons
Mimi Mefo Infos, Sep 19, 2021. Accessed Sep 21, 2021.

References

{{SouthwestRegionCM-geo-stub Military of Ambazonia National liberation movements in Africa Secessionist organizations