Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe (born 1965) is a Cameroonian information technology expert and the first self-proclaimed President of the “Federal Republic of Ambazonia,” an unrecognized state seeking independence for Cameroon’s English-speaking North-West and South-West regions. Since his controversial arrest in Nigeria in 2018, he has become the symbolic face of the Anglophone Crisis, leading the separatist movement from a high-security prison in Yaoundé.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe |
| Born | May 2, 1965, Kembong, Manyu Division, Cameroon |
| Current Status | Incarcerated (Serving life sentence in Yaoundé) |
| Former Office | President of the Interim Government of Ambazonia (2017–2018) |
| Political Stance | Pro-independence; originally favored non-violence and diplomacy |
| Professional Background | Computer Engineer; former executive at Cisco Systems and American University of Nigeria |
Professional Life and Move to Activism
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IT Career: Before entering politics, Ayuk Tabe was a highly successful tech executive. He worked for the Cameroonian electricity company SONEL and later became the Academy Manager for Cisco Systems in West and Central Africa. He eventually served as an Assistant Vice President at the American University of Nigeria.
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The Anglophone Crisis (2016): When lawyers and teachers in English-speaking Cameroon began protesting “marginalization” by the Francophone government, Ayuk Tabe emerged as a diplomatic leader. He became the chairperson of the Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Consortium United Front (SCACUF).
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Declaration of Independence: On October 1, 2017, Ayuk Tabe and SCACUF unilaterally declared the independence of “Ambazonia.” He was named the first President of the Interim Government. Unlike some militant factions (like the ADF under Ayaba Cho Lucas), his faction initially emphasized civil disobedience and international lobbying.
Arrest, Trial, and Life Sentence
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The Abuja Abduction (2018): On January 5, 2018, Ayuk Tabe and nine of his advisors (known as the “Nera 10”) were arrested by Nigerian intelligence agents at the Nera Hotel in Abuja. They were extradited to Cameroon, a move later ruled illegal by both Nigerian courts and the UN, as many of them had asylum-seeker status.
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The Sham Trial: In August 2019, after a marathon 19-hour session at a military tribunal in Yaoundé, Ayuk Tabe and his aides were sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of terrorism, secession, and hostility against the fatherland. The trial was widely condemned because they were civilians tried by a military court without their chosen lawyers present.
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Leadership from Jail: Despite being in prison, he has continued to issue statements. In early 2024, he called for an end to the infighting between the various separatist factions (the “Leadership Crisis”). In January 2025, he reaffirmed his commitment to the struggle, calling it “existential and non-negotiable.”
Current Status (Late 2025)
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Supreme Court Appeal: On December 18, 2025, Ayuk Tabe and the “Nera 10” appeared before Cameroon’s Supreme Court for a final appeal of their life sentences.
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Procedural Postponement: The Supreme Court has postponed its final verdict until January 15, 2026. His legal team continues to argue that the military court had no jurisdiction over him and that his original arrest was a “state-sponsored kidnapping.”
Sisiku Ayuk Tabe remains a polarizing but powerful figure. To the Cameroonian government, he is a convicted terrorist responsible for regional instability; to many in the Anglophone regions, he is a political prisoner and the legitimate leader of their quest for self-determination.