Red Dragon is an

Ambazonia Ambazonia, officially the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, also referred to as Amba Land, is an unrecognised breakaway state in West Africa which claims the Northwest Region and Southwest Region of Cameroon, though it currently controls almost ...

n separatist militia loyal to the

Interim Government of Ambazonia The Interim Government of Ambazonia is the provisional government in exile of the internationally unrecognized Federal Republic of Ambazonia. History Ayuk Tabe cabinet (2017–18) The Interim Government of Ambazonia was formed from the Sout ...

, and is part of the

Ambazonia Self-Defence Council The Ambazonia Self-Defence Council (ASC), also known as Ambazonia Military Council (AMC), Ambazonia Military Forces (AMF), and Ambazonia Restoration Forces (ARF),

.Cameroon's Anglophone crisis: Red Dragons and Tigers - the rebels fighting for independence
BBC, Oct 4, 2018. Accessed Oct 4, 2018. It is led by Lekeaka Oliver,Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis: How to Get to Talks?
Crisis Group, May 2, 2019. Accessed May 2, 2019. and controls most of Lebialem Division in the Southwest Region, where they have driven away the traditional rulers and local administrators.Cameroon: Secessionist leader returns to challenge Yaoundé
The African Report, Nov 15, 2019. Accessed Nov 22, 2019. On December 31, 2018, the Cameroonian Army claimed to have killed Field Marshal Lekeaka Oliver in Lebialem. His death was quickly denied by the Interim Government of Ambazonia,Cameroon: Mystery surrounds ‘reported death of Ambazonia’s Field Marshall’
Journal du Cameroun, Jan 2, 2019. Accessed Jan 2, 2019. as well as by sources within the Cameroonian Army. Oliver resurfaced in a video a week later, proving that reports of his death were indeed false.Cameroon: Three gendarmes killed in Mbelenka
Journal du Cameroun, Jan 4, 2018. Accessed Jan 4, 2018. In March 2019, the Cameroonian Army killed "General Ayekeah" of the Red Dragons, as well as two fighters who tried to intervene. In October 2019, Lekeaka Oliver declared himself Paramount Ruler of Lebialem, drawing condemnation from traditional rulers of the subdivision. Cameroon subsequently launched raids into Lebialem in a failed attempt to capture or kill Oliver, leading to casualties on both sides.Cameroon Separatist Fighter Names Himself 'King' of Southwest District
Voice of America, Oct 21, 2019. Accessed Oct 22, 2019. In February 2021, Red Dragon fighters killed at least three traditional rulers in Essoh Attah, Lebialem. In the

Ambazonian leadership crisis The Ambazonian leadership crisis is an ongoing internal conflict within the Interim Government of Ambazonia (IG). The crisis started on 2 May 2019, when a document signed by the first president of Ambazonia, Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe, acting from ...

, the Red Dragons sided with the faction loyal to Samuel Ikome Sako. The Restoration Council, the legislative arm of the Interim Government, split from Sako's faction in early 2022 and later declared that Marianta Njomia had replaced Sako as president. The Red Dragons now appear to be loyal to Marianta's faction. Cameroonian security forces including the

Rapid Intervention Battalion The Rapid Intervention Battalion (''Bataillon d'Intervention Rapide'', or BIR) is an elite military force and an army combat unit of the Cameroonian Armed Forces. The unit is supported by the United States, reports directly to the president of Cam ...

reportedly located Oliver in

Menji Menji is a town and commune in Cameroon. It is also the capital of Lebialem division. Geographical information See also *Communes of Cameroon The Arrondissements of Cameroon are the third-level units of administration in Cameroon. The ...

, and organized a raid on 12 July 2022. According to the Cameroonian government, Oliver and one of his guards were killed during the attack, while the remaining Red Dragons fled. The Interim Government of Ambazonia confirmed his death days later, but disputed the events leading to his demise; according to his brother Chris Anu, Oliver was killed by an insider who had then tipped off Cameroonian forces about the location of the corpse.

References

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