President Paul Biya Thursday convened a cabinet meeting
and vowed to push ahead with a military crackdown on English-speaking
separatists in the majority francophone country.
Cameroon
has had a tortuous colonial history that saw it pass from German rule to French
and British hands and the Anglophone minority complain of being marginalised by
the French-speaking elite.
“The
efforts (of the security forces) must be continued, especially to ensure a
return of normal economic and social activity,” Biya told the first cabinet
meeting held since 2015.
On
October 1, separatists declared two regions as the self-proclaimed republic of
“Ambazonia”, marking a turning point for the country’s English-speaking
minority, which makes up around a fifth of the population.
Biya
dispatched troops, combat helicopters and armoured vehicles to root out the
dissidents, forcing tens of thousands to flee to neighbouring Nigeria.
At least
28 soldiers have been killed in the violence, according to an AFP tally, and
two state employees have been kidnapped.
The
civilian death toll remains unclear, as non-governmental organisations and
independent media are barred from the area.
Though
the original Ambazonia leaders have dissociated themselves from militant
offshoots — they claim their struggle is peaceful — there are a growing number
of attacks against the government.
The
government early this month created a ministry of decentralisation and local
development during a cabinet reshuffle. Decentralisation has been one of the
key demands of separatist moderates, while more radical.
Biya
said this was a “rapid response to recurring demands” and added that “necessary
measures” would be taken to ensure that peaceful and fair elections will be
held this year.
The
85-year-old Biya, in power since 1982, has not yet said whether he will stand
for re-election, though his party regards him as “the natural candidate”.
Source: www.busines-standard.com
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