Abdul Karim Ali, a detainee at the Kondengui Central Prison, has filed an appeal against a life sentence handed down by the Yaoundé Military Tribunal, his legal team announced Thursday. Convicted of charges including secession and terrorism, Ali has consistently rejected the tribunal’s authority, maintaining that he is not a citizen of “La Republique du Cameroun.”
The appeal was formally lodged on April 24, 2025, by his lead counsel, Joseph Awah Fru of Frulaw Chambers. The case now moves to the Court of Appeal of the Center Region in Yaoundé, with the defense team preparing to submit a memorandum and detailed grounds of appeal.
Question of Jurisdiction
During the initial proceedings, Abdul Karim Ali refused to physically appear before the military court, challenging its right to try him.
“He said simply, listen, I am not a citizen of La Republique du Cameroon. And because I am not a citizen of La Republique du Cameroon, La Republique du Cameroon as represented by its military tribunals has no jurisdiction over me. They cannot try me because I am not their citizen. This was his line of argument and I was his attorney. The most that I could do was to give voice to what my client wanted to say,” Fru told Exclusive Africa managing Editor, Elvis Boh.
Ali’s stance forms the backbone of his appeal, which questions the legal standing of the military tribunal in judging him.
Legal Paradox
Fru addressed the apparent contradiction between refusing the court’s jurisdiction and filing an appeal.
“It’s a paradox and every paradox has a reason,” he said. “The paradox is, one, you are not surrendering yourself to the jurisdiction of the military tribunal in Yaoundé, yet you are appealing. An appeal does not mean that he has per se surrendered himself to that jurisdiction. An appeal is only going to reiterate that lack of jurisdictional element that the Court has over him.”
Fru added, “In fact, our major thrust of the appeal is going to be that this guy has told you, ‘I am not your citizen.’ And the nationality law says send him back to the place where he originates from and from there they would decide whether he was born as a citizen of La Republique du Cameroun or not. If that is done, then we would come back here, and I am a lawyer, this is what I do. I will enjoy coming back to restart the case. We are appealing the fact that he has denied jurisdiction over La Republique du Cameroun. And that jurisdictional issue has not been settled.”
Spirit of Resilience
Despite facing life imprisonment, Fru described Ali as remaining calm, strong, and resolute in his beliefs.
“Abdul Karim is standing tall and strong,” Fru said. “I don’t know if you heard the message that came from his mother? His mother who is bedridden has sent him a message. Citizens of the world are sending in messages. I have never seen him, I won’t say upbeat but I would say confident, strong and very resilient in his beliefs.”
Ali’s morale, fueled by support from family and sympathizers worldwide, has reportedly remained unshaken, even after the sentencing delivered by Colonel Misse Njone Jacques B. on April 16, 2025.
Next Steps
The case, officially titled Abdul Karim Ali vs. The Commissaire du Gouvernement (The People of Cameroon), is now awaiting the Court of Appeal’s deliberations.
No official comment has yet been made by the Military Prosecutor or other government authorities regarding the appeal. Meanwhile, legal observers and human rights groups are closely watching the proceedings, as the appeal raises fundamental questions about nationality, jurisdiction, and due process in Cameroon’s military judicial system.