During the night from Sunday to Monday, the village of Egbekaw, located in the southwest of Cameroon, was the scene of an attack perpetrated by English-speaking separatists. Unfortunately, this attack caused the death of at least 20 people, including women and children. In addition, seven people were seriously injured and around ten houses were reduced to ashes, according to state media.
This new drama comes on top of a conflict which has pitted armed independence groups against security forces for seven years in the English-speaking regions of the country. These regions, mainly populated by Cameroon’s English-speaking minority, feel marginalized by the central power, which has led to separatist demands. Since the end of 2016, violence has intensified, plunging the population into a constant cycle of violence and insecurity.
The separatists, grouped under the name “Ambazonians”, carry out recurring attacks against civilians whom they accuse of collaborating with the government. They also carry out kidnappings, often demanding ransoms for the release of their victims. For their part, the security forces are regularly accused of “blunders”, crimes against civilians and abuses towards populations suspected of supporting the rebels.
This conflict has already killed more than 6,000 people and forced more than a million people to flee, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG). Amnesty International, for its part, has repeatedly denounced the atrocities committed by all parties to the conflict, calling for an end to this violence and for thorough investigations to bring justice to the victims.
In this context, it is essential that the international community mobilizes to support a peaceful resolution of this conflict and to come to the aid of innocent populations taken hostage by the violence. Cameroon, a country rich in diversity, needs to find lasting solutions to restore peace in its English-speaking regions and allow all its citizens to live in security and stability. It is time to act to end this cycle of violence and bring real justice to all victims.