Gov’t
Deploys More Troops to Fight Armed Separatists
Cameroon
government has deployed more troops to it's English speaking regions after
another wave of attacks on public buildings and the kidnapping of military and
government officials by suspected armed separatists.
A Cameroon military band plays as
hundreds of their colleagues are deployed to the troubled English speaking
regions of the central African state. Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo says
they should be very professional in executing their duties.
He says although many soldiers have
been killed, the military remains determined to fight and defeat armed
separatists who are bent on destroying Cameroon. He says the troops are out to
ensure security, public order and the respect of state institutions.
Assomo did not give the total number
of government troops in the English speaking regions, but local media says
there are thousands.
Assomo says the troops were deployed
following repeated attacks on government officials, public buildings and
schools by suspected armed separatists fighting for what they call the
independence of the English from the French speaking regions of Cameroon.
Cameroon's government says at least
30 soldiers have been killed since armed attacks began in November 2017.
Several government officials and soldiers have been kidnapped and their
whereabouts are not known.
Traditional ruler Nangea Mbile, from
the southwestern town of Mundemba, says the population is awaiting the arrival
of the troops.
"The southwest has suffered so
much," said Mbile. "It is on our land that we have the greatest
victims. I expect that they will do all they can to make sure [those kidnapped
are] found alive."
Mbile however says the military
should not illegally search homes and indiscriminately arrest people suspected
of belonging to the resistance group as has been the case.
Cameroon President Paul Biya
declared war on the separatists last November.
The unrest began when
English-speaking teachers and lawyers in the Northwest and Southwest regions,
frustrated with having to work in French, took to the streets calling for
reforms and greater autonomy. It degenerated with separatist calls for independence.
On October 1, the secessionists
groups declared the independence of Ambazonia saying Julius Ayuk Tabe, who was
in exile in Nigeria, was their president. Armed conflicts erupted, prompting a
military crackdown.
Ayuk Tabe and forty seven other separatist
leaders were arrested January 5 in Nigeria and have not been seen since.
The separatists have announced on
social media they will continue fighting until their leaders are released and
they gain independence.
In a February 10 address, Biya said
calm had returned to the English speaking regions, even though the conflict
continued. He went on to reorganize the army, creating new military regions in
the troubled NW and SW.
The UNHCR reports that tens of
thousands of English speaking Cameroonians have crossed into Nigeria and their
humanitarian needs are increasing.
No comments:
Post a Comment