Cameroon: Military crushes separatist rebellion in Ambazonia English-speaking region
Cameroon’s military announces it deployed scores of troops to three districts on Monday January 2 in the central African state’s English-speaking Northwest region to deal with an increased violence by armed gangs.
The military says armed gangs in Oku, Kumbo and Kakiri districts over the weekend sealed markets, chased people and vehicles from the streets and abducted scores of civilians who did not comply with their orders. There were reports of armed men belonging to the separatists, who call themselves Ambazonians or Amba, seizing motorcycles from taxi drivers and pointing guns at them.
Battles between troops and rebels have reportedly intensified after President Paul Biya’s New Year’s Eve speech. Biya said many rebel groups have been crushed and the threat from separatists has been significantly reduced.
The president also praised the central African state’s military for protecting civilians and property during the six-year conflict and said peace would pave the way for the region’s reconstruction.