Belgian authorities detained three suspects on Tuesday as part of an investigation into the Cameroonian separatist group Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF), probing allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The arrests follow four initial detentions after simultaneous searches in Antwerp and Londerzeel on Sunday. Federal prosecutors stated the inquiry, initiated last summer, targets individuals residing in Belgium suspected of holding leadership roles within the ADF.
The prosecutor’s office alleged that funds for the armed struggle, including the procurement of arms and ammunition, are being raised from Belgium, and that instructions for attacks and targeted killings are also being directed from the country. Three suspects were remanded in custody by an investigating judge, while one individual was released. Belgian officials confirmed they are collaborating with counterparts in Norway and the United States, where parallel investigations have resulted in similar arrests.
The ADF is a key armed faction in Cameroon’s prolonged Anglophone crisis, which erupted in 2016. The conflict in the Northwest and Southwest regions—formerly part of British Cameroon—has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths. Human Rights Watch estimates at least 6,000 fatalities
