A federal grand jury in Minnesota has indicted two naturalized U.S. citizens who prosecutors say used Minnesota as a base to plan and support kidnappings, bombings and killings in Cameroon, the Department of Justice said.
Benedict Nwana Kuah, 51, and Pascal Kikishy Wongbi, 52, were arrested Friday morning in the District of Minnesota on charges that include conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim and injure persons abroad, conspiracy to provide material support or resources, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, according to the DOJ. Kuah faces additional counts: three counts of providing material support or resources, conspiracy to commit hostage-taking and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction outside the United States. The men made initial appearances in federal court and are being held in custody pending detention hearings scheduled for Sept. 10 and Sept. 11.
The indictment alleges the attacks occurred in Cameroon, a Central African country, and that Kuah and Wongbi are naturalized U.S. citizens originally from the Republic of Cameroon. Federal prosecutors say the pair held leadership roles in the Ambazonia Defense Forces, a separatist militia that seeks independence for Cameroon's English-speaking regions and has been implicated in an armed campaign there. The DOJ said the charges stem from a scheme to conduct kidnappings, bombings and killings overseas while operating from within the United States.
Prosecutors charged the men with offenses that address both violent conduct abroad and the provision of material support to foreign terrorist or insurgent groups. The conspiracy to launder monetary instruments count alleges financial operations to facilitate those activities, while the material-support and hostage-taking charges reflect allegations of operational involvement in violent acts. Under federal law, such offenses can carry significant prison sentences if defendants are convicted.
The arrests follow an investigation by federal law enforcement into alleged transnational activity linked to the conflict in Cameroon. The DOJ statement did not disclose details of the evidence presented to the grand jury or the specific incidents tied to the indictment. Court filings and the indictment are expected to provide additional specifics as the case proceeds.
The Ambazonia conflict, which pits separatist groups in Cameroon's predominantly English-speaking regions against government forces, has drawn international attention for its civilian toll and use of irregular armed tactics, including kidnappings and targeted attacks. U.S. prosecutors have in recent years pursued cases alleging that individuals in the United States provided support to foreign insurgent movements, citing domestic statutes that criminalize material support to groups engaged in violent acts abroad.
Kuah and Wongbi remain in federal custody while their cases move through the preliminary detention process. If the government seeks to detain them, magistrate judges will hold detention hearings on the dates set in federal court. Further proceedings, including possible arraignment and motions, will follow the initial appearances and any subsequent filings by defense counsel and prosecutors.
The DOJ did not immediately release additional public comment beyond its charging announcement. The Associated Press contributed reporting to the initial news accounts of the arrests and indictment.