Marianta Chia Njomia (often referred to as Iya Marianta) is a UK-based Cameroonian activist and one of the disputed leaders of the Interim Government (IG) of Ambazonia. In 2022, she made history within the separatist movement by becoming the first woman to be declared “President” of a major faction, further complicating the already fractured leadership of the quest for independence in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Marianta Chia Njomia |
| Common Title | Iya Marianta (“Iya” meaning Mother/Elder) |
| Base of Ops | United Kingdom (Exile) |
| Political Role | President of the Interim Government (Factional; Since 2022) |
| Rival Claimants | Samuel Ikome Sako, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, and Chris Anu |
| Significance | First female leader of a major Ambazonian faction; advocate for “Ground Zero” coordination. |
Ascent to the Presidency (2022)
Marianta Njomia’s rise to the presidency was a direct result of the “Leadership Crisis” that has plagued the Ambazonian movement since 2019.
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The Impeachment of Sako: In February 2022, the Restoration Council (the legislative arm of the IG) declared that it had impeached the then-leader, Samuel Ikome Sako, citing allegations of financial mismanagement and a failure to unite the various armed groups.
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Selection as President: Following Sako’s disputed removal, the Restoration Council appointed Marianta Njomia as the new President of the Interim Government. This created a third major claimant to the presidency, alongside the imprisoned Ayuk Tabe and the defiant Samuel Sako.
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2022 Election: To solidify her legitimacy, her faction held a “restricted suffrage” election via a diaspora electoral college in September 2022. She reportedly won the poll, defeating rivals like Chris Anu and Gertrude Kisob.
Political Stance and Strategy
As leader, Marianta Njomia has sought to distinguish her administration through a focus on grassroots coordination and diplomatic pragmatism.
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Support for “Ground Zero”: She has consistently emphasized that the diaspora must serve the needs of those fighting on the front lines (Ground Zero). Her speeches often call for the diaspora to increase financial sacrifices to support the Ambazonia Restoration Forces.
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Unity and Reconciliation: Njomia has frequently addressed the “fallacy of disunity,” arguing that while the leadership may be fractured, the people’s desire for independence remains uniform. She has participated in various “All-Ambazonia” conferences aimed at building bridges between the competing factions.
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Referendum and Negotiation: While supporting the armed struggle, she has expressed openness to a UN-backed referendum as a civilized route to resolving the conflict, provided that the Cameroonian government (which she refers to as La République du Cameroun) accepts Ambazonia’s separate legal status.
Current Status (Late 2025)
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Ongoing Rivalry: As of late 2025, Marianta Njomia remains a key player in the diaspora leadership. However, the movement remains deeply divided. Her former ally, Chris Anu, eventually broke away to form his own faction, leaving the “Interim Government” split into at least four competing cabinets.
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2025 National Reconciliation: Throughout 2025, her administration has focused on “National Reconciliation” within the movement. She has warned the international community against complicity in what she describes as the “genocidal acts” of the Cameroonian state and continues to lobby for external self-determination negotiations.
Marianta Njomia represents a shift in the movement toward female leadership and a more consultative approach, though she continues to face the same challenges of legitimacy and fragmentation as her male predecessors.