US Army major charged with plotting to aid Cameroon separatists

U.S. Army Major Charged with Supporting Cameroon Separatists

Federal authorities have arrested a U.S. Army major working as a nurse at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on charges of conspiring to provide support to separatist fighters in his native Cameroon, according to court records unsealed this week.

Maj. Kenneth Chungag, 50, a naturalized U.S. citizen, allegedly used his military training and experience to assist the Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF), a separatist organization fighting for independence in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions. Chungag’s attorney, Robert Jenkins, stated that his client is “greatly dismayed by these charges and looks forward to a timely and just resolution of the matter.”

Chungag was arrested Monday alongside co-defendant Mercy Akwi Ombaku, 38, of New Carrollton, Maryland. Both appeared in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, where a magistrate judge ordered their release pending trial. Prosecutors did not request pretrial detention for either defendant.

According to the FBI affidavit, Chungag first expressed interest in assisting ADF members while stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, in 2020. Investigators allege he falsely claimed combat experience in Iraq during online conversations with ADF members, apparently embellishing his military background to elevate his status within the group.

The charges stem from Chungag and Ombaku allegedly plotting to transfer money from the United States to Cameroon to purchase AK-47 assault rifles. Investigators believe Chungag eventually became disillusioned with the organization and withdrew his support earlier this year. When FBI agents questioned him about his ADF activities, he reportedly attempted to destroy evidence by deleting ADF-related messages from his phone.

The Cameroon conflict has deep historical roots. The country has been ruled by President Paul Biya since 1982, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. The separatist movement can be traced to the early 1960s when the British Southern Cameroons, previously governed as part of Nigeria’s eastern region, was joined with Cameroon following a United Nations trust territory arrangement.

The current armed rebellion began in 2017 when English-speaking separatists launched a campaign to establish an independent state in the Anglophone regions. This ongoing conflict has resulted in at least 6,500 deaths and displaced more than 600,000 people, according to the Belgium-based International Crisis Group.

The conflict recently received international attention when Pope Francis visited the region last week and presided over a peace meeting with community leaders in one of the Anglophone regions. During the papal visit, separatist groups announced a temporary three-day pause in fighting.

Chungag has been employed as a nurse at Fort Belvoir’s community hospital, though his current employment status remains unclear. Fort Belvoir, located approximately 20 miles south of Washington, D.C. along the Potomac River, is a major U.S. Army installation housing various defense agencies and military commands.

Ombaku, also a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Cameroon, works in healthcare. She is charged with conspiring with Chungag to provide financial support to the ADF. When questioned by the FBI last July, she denied any affiliation with the separatist group. Her attorney has not yet responded to requests for comment.

The case highlights the complex dynamics of diaspora involvement in homeland conflicts, where immigrants may maintain connections to political causes in their countries of origin while building new lives as American citizens. It also raises questions about security vetting within the U.S. military, particularly for personnel with ties to regions experiencing political instability.

If convicted, both defendants could face significant federal penalties for conspiracy charges related to providing material support to foreign organizations involved in armed conflict, though specific sentencing details have not been released.

The investigation appears to be ongoing, with federal authorities likely examining whether others may have been involved in the alleged conspiracy or if similar networks exist among diaspora communities connected to the Cameroon conflict.