Bafang, West Region:

Forces Clash with Population as PiereKwemo is Freed

Piere Kwemo Mayor of Bafang

Clashes erupted  inBafang, Upper Nkam Division, West Region of Cameroon, Sunday February 24 as security forces attempted to disperse crowds of people who streamed to the streets to welcome home  mayor PiereKwemo.

                Troops used tear gas in an attempt to disperse the hundreds of Bafang inhabitants who thronged to the roads celebrating the return of the municipal authority. Kwemo had been in detention at the  Kondengui Maximum  Security Prison in Yaounde.

                Though reports of casualties remain unclear, the atmosphere across Bafang Sunday was tensed. Troops from Bafoussam were reportedly drafted into Bafang as fears heightened that, the clashes with the population could go out of hand.

                Despite the tensed atmosphere, the municipal authority entered the city of Bafang to a joyous crowd of women, youths and bikers who flooded the major streets in celebration.

                Before now, the Divisional Officer ( DO) of Bafang  Alain MbangNdongo had refused the mayor an authorisation to stage any public meeting yesterday Sunday. The authority advanced the need to maintain public peace and order.

                He spent 32 days  in detention after his provisional detention on January 11th . He was freed on Tuesday February 12. Kwemo is leader of the United Socialist Movement(UMS)political party. His arrest had sparked protest with followers vowing to disrupt any future elections in the municipality if he was not freed. He was arrested in relation to a land matter concerning him in Yaounde but his apologists claim it was based on political motives.