A Maryland man, Erin Tano Tataw, faces charges for inciting violence in Cameroon by using social media to order secessionist fighters to maim and kill people, as announced by the Justice Department.
Tataw, referred to as the "Master of Mutilation," was indicted by a federal grand jury for instructing separatists to injure and kill Cameroonian civilians to facilitate the country's division into two parts.
Prosecutors alleged that Tataw, living in Maryland at the time, posted directives online for secessionists to carry out acts of violence, including severing limbs, under the guise of promoting the formation of a new country called Ambazonia in Cameroon.
Tataw surrendered himself on April 25, according to the Justice Department. The separatist groups in Cameroon have been engaged in violent activities to push for the regions' secession.
It was revealed that Tataw's social media accounts, with tens of thousands of followers, were used to not only issue violent orders but also to raise funds for the separatist fighters and threaten individuals perceived to be collaborating with the Cameroonian government.
In addition to inciting violence, Tataw and his co-conspirators were involved in a fundraising campaign to equip the separatist fighters with weapons, including AK-47 rifles, to further their agenda.
The unrest in Cameroon, known as the Anglophone Crisis, has its roots in historical tensions between the Anglophone and Francophone regions of the country. The conflict escalated in recent years, leading to violent confrontations and calls for secession by groups like Ambazonia.
Tataw was charged with conspiracy to provide material support and multiple counts of interstate communication of threats to harm. If convicted, he could face significant prison time for his role in promoting violence in Cameroon.
Similar cases of Americans facing charges for involvement in political unrest abroad have been reported, highlighting the global implications of such actions.
The Justice Department emphasized its commitment to holding individuals accountable for their roles in promoting violence and instability in other countries.
For more information, contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com. Follow her on X @KrystalRNurse, and on BlueSky @krystalrnuse.bsky.social.