Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mimi Mefo Info (Editor)
Published on 2024-03-28 12:20:40
A series of military operations targeting separatist hideouts in the North West Region of Cameroon have resulted in the deaths of several Ambazonia fighters.
The Cameroonian army conducted these operations over the week, specifically targeting separatist hideouts in Bamenda and Big Babanki, where separatist activities have been particularly rampant.
In Bambui, which is located just a few kilometers from the regional headquarters of Bamenda, reports indicate that about 13 Ambazonia fighters were killed after the military launched an assault on their hideout.
Similarly, in Kedjom-Keku, also known as Big Babanki, soldiers engaged separatist forces, resulting in the deaths of several fighters.
The military intervention was a response to escalating violence and threats posed by Ambazonia fighters, who have been harassing, kidnapping for ransom, and killing students, teachers, and residents living near these camps.
In Big Babanki, separatists imposed compulsory levies on the local population and proceeded to torture and shoot at those who resisted paying them.
MMI reported how separatist fighters, on May 19, 2023, opened fire on a group of elderly women for protesting against an imposed levy.
The separatists demanded monthly dues of FCFA 10,000 for men and FCFA 5000 for women as a “liberation tax” imposed by the Ambazonia Governing Council (AGovC), a separatist faction based in the diaspora. They held these women hostage for several hours, during which they tortured them.
The recent military raids targeted not only separatist fighters but also aimed to dismantle their infrastructure and activities destabilizing the region.
In Bamenda, separatist activities have been taking a toll on the population, with frequent cases of abductions, torture, and extortion reported.
Additionally, the recent discovery of a locally fabricated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near City Chemist Roundabout in Bamenda heightened security concerns among residents. Although the device was removed by the military before it could be detonated, its presence highlights the persistent threat posed by separatist groups operating in the region.
In addition to the operations in Bamenda and Big Babanki, the Cameroonian military launched attacks in other areas of the Anglophone Regions, including Jakiri, where at least two fighters were killed.
Read the original article(French) on Mimi Mefo Info
