After the killing of security forces in Manyu:

Biya promises hard times for Ambazonia terrorists

-Says all measures will be taken to annihilate terrorists who are attacking Cameroon claiming to be struggling for secession

-Find below, the Full text of President Biya’s declaration at the Yaounde Nsimalen Airport on Thursday

President Biya cut short his sojourn in Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire Thursday and rushed home to respond to escalating acts of terrorism in the NW and SW regions of the country.

              

President Biya has promised hell for Ambazonia secessionists

  Arriving at the Yaounde Nsimalen Airport, the President read out a scripted declaration to the press, condemning the brutal assasination of four soldiers and two police agents in Agborkem and Otu, both border localities in Eyumojock subdivision in Manyu Division of the SW region.

                “It was with profound emotion that i learnt of the killing of four soldiers and two police officers in the South West Region of our country. I hereby express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the soldiers and police officers, as well as to all the valiant defence and security forces who are fighting criminality in the country,” said President Biya in French language.

                Biya said with these repeated attacks it is now clear to the wide world that Cameroon is under attack by terrorists operating under the ambit of a secessionist movement.

                Biya however reassured the public that all measures shall be taken to fish out and annihilate the secessionist terrorists. He said the acts of aggression must stop and peace and security must reign all over Cameroon territory.

                It was President Biya’s first address on the Anglophone crisis since one year. The last time the President mentioned the crisis in a speech was during his end of year address on 31 December 2016. On that occasion, the President listed some of the measures the government had taken to address the demands of striking lawyers and teachers and promised further concessions to Anglophones.

                The President also said government will pursue dialogue with the leaders of the striking professional bodies towards seeking a lasting solution to the crisis.

                But even as the government created inter-ministerial committees to dialogue with the teachers and lawyers, the later observed that the government was not sincere about dialoguing with them; she was only imposing conditions on the teachers and lawyers.

                Disappointed and frustrated, the striking teachers and lawyers, who had now constituted themselves in what they called a Consortium, pushed further their demands to include a return to a two-state federation like was the case before the reunification in 1961.

                Because government could not also heed this new demand, the dialogue was stalled sine die.

                In the course of a phoney silence that ensued, government proceeded to ban the consortium and all other secessionist organizations in the country. The leaders of the Consortium were also arrested and thrown in jail, while some others escaped and sought safe heavens abroad.

                It is believed that the escalation of violence in the two Anglophone regions is now coordinated and master-minded by these Anglophone refugees living abroad, and who say they are hell bent on fighting for the restoration of the statehood of the former Southern Cameroons which they now refer to as the Federal Republic of Ambazonia.

                However following President Biya’s declaration Thursday, one cannot immediately predict what measures the government will take to fish out the Ambazonia hit and run terrorists, who are believed to have created a base in neighboring Nigeria.

                It is however understood that the recent visit to Abuja by the minister of territorial administration, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, was with the aim to convince Nigerian authorities to help Cameroon track down the Ambazonia terrorists hiding in the West African country.

                Yet the recent killing of soldiers and police agents in localities along the Cameroon-Nigeria borders, only points to the fact that the supposed Yaounde-Abuja understanding on tracking down the Ambazonia secessionists is yet to bear the desired fruits.

                It is the hope of many therefore, that after the President has now hit his hand on the table, more appropriate measures would be taken to halt further escalation of violence.

                However, whatever plans the government may have in mind to keep the secessionists at bay, many voices both at home and abroad, have suggested that a frank, sincere and inclusive dialogue should be engaged with the Anglophone leaders as means towards ending the current crisis.

Full text of Biya‘s declaration at Nsimalen Airport

                 “I learned with emotion the murder of four Cameroonian soldiers and two policemen in the south-west of our country. Following the disappearance of these six brave military and police officers, I would like to express my condolences to the families and to our valiant defense and security forces. I think things are now perfectly clear for everyone. Cameroon is the victim of repeated attacks from a band of terrorists running a secessionist movement. In the face of these acts of aggression, I wish to reassure the Cameroonian people that all steps are being taken to hunt down the criminals and to ensure that peace and security are safeguarded throughout the country. ”