Cameroon’s Prime Minister Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute’s address to the people in Matazem, Santa, gateway into the North West region of the country this Tuesday afternoon was greeted by gunshots allegedly fired by separatist fighters from a distance. He is in the restive Anglophone region on a four-day working visit to evaluate the level of implementation of resolutions of the two-year-old Major National Dialogue convened to seek solutions to the Anglophone crisis.
After the South West region where he was given a hero’s welcome, the Prime Minister Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute is in Bamenda, Chief town of the North West region of Cameroon on a four-day working visit.
During his stay in the region, the Head of Government is expected to hold a series of meetings and consultations with the population and different groups in the region to seek ways for a return to normalcy, as well as evaluate the level of implementation of the Major National Dialogue two years after.
Before he got to Bamenda, PM Dion Ngute made a stopover at Matazem in Santa, gateway into the North West region where hundreds had converged to welcome him, including administrative authorities and students.
Known for his down to earth nature, the Head of Government went to the people and thanked them for the warm welcome. Before he could end up his speech, it was saluted by gunshots fired from a distance by suspected separatist fighters.
PM Dion Ngute was hurriedly led back into his car and the convoy drove out of Santa, en route to Bamenda where the situation was much different. When he got to Up station, Bamenda, the Head of Government was greeted by hundreds singing messages of peace.
This visit is expected to culminate in a recommitment of all to the restoration of peace in the region that has suffered so much losses in the course of the five-year-old Anglophone crisis.
Ariane Foguem
The President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya has indicated that the Major National Dialogue convened two years ago to seek solutions to the close to five-year-old Anglophone crisis rocking the North West and South West regions of the country has been yielding tangible fruits.
The declaration was made last September 25 by External Relations Minister, Lejeune Mbella Mbella on behalf of President Paul Biya, at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, America.
Speaking at the session, Minister Lejeune Mbella Mbella outlined some of the implemented recommendations of the Major National Dialogue convened two years ago to seek solutions to the crisis which have contributed a long way to reduce tension in the crisis-hit regions and is making way for peace.
Among others, he cited; the creation of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration centres; the humanitarian assistance plan; the reconstruction plan of the two regions; the special status conferring on the North West and South West regions a regional assembly, a House of Chiefs, a regional executive board and Public Independent Conciliators.
After outlining these implemented recommendations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella said actions on the ground have been yielding tangible fruits with a “gradual return to peace.”
He nevertheless mentioned that some sporadic acts of banditry are still being perpetrated by armed gangs but defence and security forces deployed to the regions are determined to ensure the protection of people and their property in total respect of human rights.
It is worth mentioning that recently, the Anglophone regions, especially the North West was the theatre of despicable violence perpetrated by separatist fighters on security forces. After losing at least 15 men in less than a week, the military announced a change in strategy.
More sophisticated weapons have been dispatched to the regions to reduce the rate at which soldiers fall during Ambazonia ambushes.
The Anglophone crisis which started as a street protest by teachers trade unions and lawyers associations will enter its fifth year this November. As the conflict continue to rage on, calls for a genuine dialogue as the only way out of the situation intensify.
Attacks between Government forces and armed separatists have displaced more than 700,000 civilians and forced more than 60,000 across the border to Nigeria with thousands of deaths according to the United Nations report of April 2021.
Ariane Foguem
The Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung in the North West region of Cameroon has banned all undeclared public meetings and manifestations in his area of command till further notice ahead of October 1, celebrated as Independence Day of former British Southern Cameroons.
According to a prefectural order signed Tuesday September 28, 2021 by Nkwenti Simon Ndoh, Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung, one of the most hard-hit Divisions by the Anglophone crisis in the North West region, all undeclared public gatherings in that part of the country have been banned from holding till further notice.
The local administrator advances the need to maintain peace and order in his area of command as the reason behind the ban.
In the prefectural order, he says violators of this decision shall be prosecuted in accordance with the legal instruments in force. He has nevertheless charged Divisional Officers and forces of law and order with the implementation of the order in their respective spheres of competences.
This order comes few days ahead of October 1, celebrated as Independence Day of former British Southern Cameroons, which is usually marked by violence in the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon since the advent of the Anglophone crisis.
Over in the South West region, precisely in Manyu Division, The Senior Divisional Officer panicked by what may happen has outlined a number of measures to be respected by all to ensure peace and order are maintained in his area of command.
In an announcement sent to the Station Manager of a Mamfe-based radio channel, the SDO says following threats of disturbances of public order by separatist fighters, partisans of the October 1, 2021;
The above-mentioned measures according to the Manyu SDO might be lifted by Monday October 4.
Ambazonia fighters who want separation usually exchange gunshots with Government forces on October 1, forcing the population to remain indoors.
The former say they had independence on this day 60 years ago, a widely held view contradicted by renowned University don and historian, Prof Julius Victor Ngoh. According to him, British Southern Cameroons was never an independent State before it joined La Republique du Cameroun. He says Southern Cameroons had independence only upon joining the Republic of Cameroon.
Ariane Foguem
The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo has announced a change in the military strategy against separatist armed groups who now make use of more sophisticated weapons to multiply deadly attacks on soldiers in the North West and South West regions.
This was during an unannounced visit to the North West region of Cameroon Wednesday September 22, barely a week after some 15 soldiers perished in a gruesome attack on their convoy in the Ngoketunjia Division, claimed by separatist group led by dreaded General No Pity.
As part of his visit agenda to the region, Joseph Beti Assomo held a security meeting with top military and administrative officials of the region during which he rolled out the new military strategy to crush the non-State armed groups.
He recommended a solid morale, serenity, action and determination to all the troops whose army heads attended the meeting.
The change of military strategy is a response to a number of attacks perpetrated by separatist fighters with the help of sophisticated and heavily armed weapons reportedly acquired thanks to their collaboration with external fundamentalist groups.
Reacting to the two recent attacks that left soldiers and civilians death, the army spokesperson said intelligence services established with certainty that the increased rate of violence by use of quality and firepower they have at their disposal is a result of them joining terrorist entities operating outside the country.
He equally noted a change in strategy by Ambazonia fighters and stated clearly that Cameroon’s security and defence forces will stop at nothing to ensure peace returns to the restive regions.
It is alleged that as part of this announced change in military strategy, the Government has dispatched Stryker combat vehicles to the North West region to reinforce the fighting capacity of the troops. Stryker vehicles have robust armor protection, can sustain speeds of 60 miles-per hour, have parts commonality and self-recovery abilities and have a central tire inflation system. The Infantry Carrier Vehicle carries a nine-man infantry squad and a crew of two and has a Remote Weapon Station with an M2 .50 calibre machine gun or MK-19, 40mm grenade launcher.
The crisis that started in 2016 will enter its fifth year in the month of November. This new developments comes up amid calls for the Government to give up the military solution and engage talks for a genuine dialogue.
Ariane Foguem
Former US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Tibor Nagy, well known for his stance against the use of violence to end the Anglophone crisis has reiterated that a military option cannot stop the armed conflict that is gradually taking a disturbing twist.
In the space of a week, Cameroon lost at least fifty soldiers in two targeted attacks perpetrated by suspected separatist fighters, one of which has been described as one of the most gruesome on the military since the Anglophone crisis went violent.
Confirming the deadly attacks, Cameroon’s army revealed that the “terrorist” armed separatists are cooperating with external violent fundamentalist groups thanks to which they have been able to acquire sophisticated weapons such as anti-tank rocket launchers that they used in one of the attacks to immobilize the soldiers’ convoy.
The army spokesperson said these attacks and many others suffered by the military recently will in no case stop the soldiers from accomplishing their mission in the two troubled regions, that is do everything possible to restore peace and guarantee the free movement of people and goods, an opinion not shared by the former US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Tibor Nagy.
The American Diplomat who has on several occasions warned against the use of violence to solve the crisis in a fresh outing Tuesday September 21 on the situation reiterated that the military option will fail the Government.
“So sorry to see increased violence in Cameroon Anglophone conflict. I’ve warned for years that if not resolved conflict will get deadlier and spread. There is no military solution…” Tibor Nagy wrote on his twitter page.
“What’s in the human spirit cannot be extinguished with force.” He added.
Tibor Nagy has always advocated for a genuine dialogue between both parties to see an end to the armed conflict. In one of his outings, he cited the US-Vietnam war and advised that only dialogue would end the sufferings of the people in the regions.
As far as dialogue is concerned, in 2019 the President of the Republic, Paul Biya convened a Major National Dialogue that aimed at looking for solutions to the crisis. Recommendations to see into that were adopted, some of which have been implemented.
That notwithstanding, two years after, the prospect of peace in the two English-speaking regions is still distant.
Ariane Foguem
Cameroon’s Prime Minister Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute is in Buea, chief town of the country’s South West region to evaluate the extent to which the recommendations of the Major National Dialogue held two years ago have been implemented.
Ahead of the evaluation meeting that holds this Wednesday, the Head of Government arrived Buea Tuesday September 21 and was given a hero’s welcome by the population who defied the two-week lockdown imposed by separatist fighters and turned out in their numbers, including administrative and traditional authorities and students.
He will chair the second session of the committee to charged with the follow-up of the implementation of recommendations arrived at at the Major National Dialogue convened by president Paul Biya two years ago.
A good number of issues will be on the PM’s table, including the level of implementation of the special status granted the two English-speaking regions whose process officially kicked on with the appointment of the pioneer Public Independent Conciliators for the two regions in June.
Apart from evaluating the recommendations of the Major National Dialogue, the population equally expects the Head of Government to address the current wave of violence targeting security officers as well as the situation of the Ndian Divisional Officers abducted months ago by suspected separatist fighters whose whereabouts is still unknown.
PM Dion Ngute upon arriving Buea
Before today’s gathering, PM Dion Ngute had a word with pressmen upon arriving Buea Tuesday September 21 at the Conference hall of the Buea Mountain Hotel. The Head of Government challenged the men and women of the press to change their narratives on the crisis and begin reporting on Government’s efforts in bringing the situation back to normal in the regions.
The Anglophone crisis that started as a street protest staged by Teachers trade unions and Lawyers associations enters its fifth year this November. Confrontations between separatists fighting for an independent State of Ambazonia and Government forces have led to thousands of deaths, displaced more than 700,000 and forced some 63,000 across the border to Nigeria, according to a United Nations report of April 2021.
Fresh violence targeting soldiers with the use of sophisticated weapons acquired thanks to their alliance with violent fundamentalist groups operating out of the Cameroonian borders according to the Government have contributed in intensifying the climate of insecurity that reigns in the regions. The military in return has promised not to relent efforts aimed at crushing down the armed groups.
Cameroonians seek to see an end to the violent hostilities and have prescribed a genuine dialogue as a way out of the current situation, which according to many is going out of control.
Ariane Foguem
The Government of Cameroon has made a fresh appeal for finances to fully implement the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West regions, PPRD-NW/SW.
The appeal was made by the Chairman of the steering Committee of the Presidential plan, Balungeli Confiance Ebune during the 3rd session of the committee last Thursday September 16 at the auditorium of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Speaking at the come together, Balungeli Confiance Ebune said the implementation of the reconstruction plan in the war-torn North West and South West regions of Cameroon is suffering from insufficient financial resources.
He revealed that out of an estimated FCFA 89 billion required for the project, only FCFA 10.4 billion has been mobilized so far, meaning about FCFA 78.6 billion is left for the plan to be fully implemented.
Balungeli Confiance Ebune however mentioned some progress have been made since their last session in 2020, including initiatives to promote social cohesion, rehabilitation of schools and health facilities belonging to churches and the financial agreement signed with the Japanese Government worth FCFA 1.5 billion and the commitment of the private sector to support the implementation of the plan.
On his part, the National Coordinator of the PPRD-NW/SW, Paul Tasong said trends now show a net improvement of the socio-economic welfare of the two regions since 2020 as compared to 2019 that was according to him the most disastrous.
“In 2016, the South West exported 136,000 tons of banana. In 2019, this same region barely exported 16,000 tons and this was mainly from the Boh Banana plantation. On the other hand, the agro-industrial giant, the CDC did not export a single ton that year…” Paul Tasong explained to the press, indicating that the situation rendered many jobless.
On the contrary, the PPRD-NW/SW stated that as from 2020, the CDC started back production though could only export 6,000 tons of banana. By June 2021, it had exported 12,000 tons.
As far as education is concerned, Paul Tasong said the number of pupils in primary and secondary schools in the two regions dropped from 1.1 million in 2016 to 225,000 in 2019. The figure he remarked rose to 427,000 in 2020.
The National Coordinator added that despite the recent attacks recorded with destruction of property in the regions, life was gradually returning to normal in many communities where sports and cultural activities are organized.
He made a fresh appeal to Cameroon’s development partners to support the reconstruction plan with financial resources for an effective outcome.
Ariane Foguem
The military has accused separatist fighters of cooperating with violent fundamentalist groups operating outside the country in exchange for sophisticated weapons that enable them successfully carry out deadly attacks on security forces and the civilian population in the restive North West and South West regions.
Four days after an attack by separatist fighters on a convoy of the 6th Rapid Intervention Battalion in Bamessing, Ndop sub-division, Ngoketunjia Division in the North West left a dozen of soldiers dead, the army finally made a statement on the incident.
In the statement issued Monday September 20 in the evening, the army spokesperson, Navy Captain Cyrille Serge Atonfack says the soldiers were on a reconnaissance mission to the above-mentioned locality when heavily armed separatist fighters who now deal with violent fundamentalist groups operating outside the borders ambushed them.
“Using an improvised explosive device, (IED) and an anti-tank rocket launcher (ATRL), the insurgents immobilized the vehicles of the Defence Forces before opening fire on the latter, who were seriously incapacitated by the detonation of the explosive charges…” Part of the statement reads.
Cyrille Atonfack adds that a similar attack few days before on the Kumbo-Tatum axis, Kikaikom locality, Kumbo subdivision, Bui Division of the North West left some other soldiers stripped life off some other soldiers.
Condemning the attacks carried out in “contempt of the International Humanitarian Law”, the army spokesperson discloses that the quality of weapons used resulting from their collaboration with other “terrorist entities” operating outside the country clearly indicates a change of operating style.
“Intelligence services have established with certainty that the resurgence of these terrorist groups by means of the quality of fire-power they have at their disposal and are systematically using is largely the result of their joining forces with other terrorist entities operating outside the country’s borders…”
“In any event, the Cameroonian army remains determined to eradicate all forms of violence in the North West, South West and Far North regions, areas in which it is now clearly established that there exist sophisticated arm links and exchanges between secessionist terrorists from the North West and South West regions with external violent fundamentalist groups.”
It is worth mentioning that the army seized this opportunity to convey the Head of State’s sincere condolences to the families of the departed soldiers.
Ariane Foguem
About four days after some 15 soldiers were brutally sent to the land of no return in an attack claimed by two groups of separatist fighters led by dreaded Amba General No Pity in Ndop, Ngoketunjia Division of the restive North West region, no communication has been made by the army spokesperson.
In what has been qualified by observers as a disturbing silence, the Cameroonian army is yet to react to the killing of 15 of its members last Thursday September 16 in an attack described as one of the most gruesome on the army since the crisis went violent.
The soldiers from the Rapid Intervention Battalion were on board two armoured vehicles when they were ambushed by two dreadful groups of Ambazonia fighters – the Jaguars of Bamessing, commanded by General Sagard, and the Marines of Bambalang, led by General No Pity along the Bamessing-Sabga stretch of road in the Ngoketunjia Division, North West region.
After torturing and finally killing those that were still alive, the fighters took videos of their victims naked, soaked in their own blood, some with body parts off and others burning and posted them on social media, shocking the entire nation.
It was a complete outrage on social media with many condemning the barbaric act on soldiers on duty and calling on the Government of Cameroon to respond appropriately to the five-year long crisis that is taking a “bitter twist.”
Surprising enough is the silence of the army since the act was perpetrated. Cameroonians in general and families of the victims in particular are still expecting the army’s spokesperson to give clear details on what happened to the soldiers.
For some time now, Ambazonia fighters have been successfully launching deadly attacks on soldiers. Five days before the Ndop incident, seven soldiers of the same Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR perished after their vehicle exploded upon stepping on an improvised explosive device in Kumbo in the Bui Division, one of the most hard-hit areas by the Anglophone crisis.
Ariane Foguem
In what has been considered as one of the most gruesome attack by separatist fighters on soldiers lately, about 15 of them are reported to have lost their lives after they were ambushed Thursday September 16, along the Bamessing - Sabga road in the North West region of Cameroon.
Barely a week after seven soldiers of the Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR perished after their vehicle exploded upon stepping on an improvised explosive device in Kumbo in the Bui Division, one of the most hard-hit areas by the Anglophone crisis, the military is again mourning.
On Thursday September 16, BIR soldiers who were on board two armoured vehicles fell in another ambush by suspected Ambazonia fighters along the Bamessing-Sabga stretch of road in the Ngoketunjia Division, North West region.
Separatists claimed responsibility for the attack considered as one of the most gruesome on the military since the crisis began. In videos posted on social media that Agence Cameroun Presse cannot independently confirm, the fighters can be seen posing in front of the burnt-out military armoured vehicles, rejoicing over the successful attack, others wearing uniforms and weapons taken from soldiers. In other videos, the bodies of mutilated or burned soldiers are displaced.
“This is the most gruesome attack of the military I’ve seen since this crisis began. God help Bamenda. Things are about to get much worse. Ordinary civilians will suffer most. This is so heart breaking. » An internet user wrote on her Twitter account.
Reports have it that two pro-independence militias groups are behind the attack, the Jaguars of Bamessing, commanded by General Sagard, and the Marines of Bambalang, one of the most dreadful rebel groups in the North West region, led by General No Pity. The latter even appears in photos of the attack, jubilating among his men or posing in front of one of the burning armoured vehicle.
Reacting to the ‘gruesome’ attack Thursday evening, Serge Espoir Matomba, 1st Secretary General of the PURS party on his Facebook page described it as a shameful attack on Cameroon’s democracy.
According to the 2018 unfortunate Presidential candidate, the State has the obligation to henceforth use force to save lives of the population as well as that of soldiers deployed in the restive regions to combat separatists fighters and restore peace.
Ariane Foguem
