The Organisation of Emerging African States (OEAS) has expressed concern over the continued detention of Simon Ekpa, a prominent Biafra separatist, and Ayaba Lucas Cho, an Ambazonia leader, in Finland and Norway, respectively. The OEAS has condemned the charges against the activists, alleging they are politically motivated and aim to suppress their fundamental human rights in their home countries, Nigeria and Cameroon.
In a statement released on Thursday, signed by OEAS legal counsel Jonathan Levy and Secretary-General Ebenezer Akwanga, the organization argued that Ekpa, the Prime Minister of the United States of Biafra, and Cho, the leader of the Ambazonia Defence Forces, were unjustly detained for their pursuit of self-determination for Biafra and Ambazonia. The OEAS further claimed that Nigeria and Cameroon have been negotiating with Finland and Norway to ensure their persecution.
The group has called for the immediate release of Ekpa and Cho in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights and other international treaties. OEAS also urged that the cases against the two activists be transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for further investigation.
“Norway and Finland should be mindful that the accusers themselves are responsible for the situation in their respective countries, which resulted from decades of oppression of the Biafran and Ambazonian peoples,” the statement read.
OEAS noted that Ekpa and Cho’s actions in 2024, expanding on a 2021 diplomatic agreement between Biafra and Ambazonia, had drawn the attention of Nigerian and Cameroonian officials. This led to calls for their arrest and extradition, with accusations of incitement and terrorism-related offences. Ekpa’s arrest in Finland and Cho’s detention in Norway have raised alarms about the ongoing political tension and the potential for international diplomatic fallout.
The OEAS reminded Finland and Norway that the European Convention on Human Rights, along with other international agreements, protects the rights of all individuals, including Ekpa and Cho. If evidence of war crimes, genocide, or crimes against humanity is found in the investigation, the matter should be referred to the International Criminal Court, the organization urged.