At least four separatist fighters were killed early Monday during a military operation in Bamenda, the capital of Cameroon’s conflict-stricken Northwest region, according to security officials in Yaoundé.
The attack occurred in the Below Foncha neighborhood following intelligence that the fighters had emerged from their hideouts to allegedly harass civilians. A senior security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated: “They (separatist fighters) had come out from their hiding to terrorize civilians.
Having received a tip-off, our brave soldiers launched an attack on them. We will continue to clear the city of these threats.”
The offensive is part of a broader government crackdown aimed at securing the restive English-speaking regions ahead of the country’s presidential election scheduled for October.
Security sources have confirmed that additional troops are being deployed across the Northwest and Southwest regions, where violence between separatists and government forces has intensified.
The conflict, which began in 2017, stems from longstanding grievances among Cameroon’s Anglophone minority, who have accused the predominantly Francophone central government of political and economic marginalization.
Armed separatist groups, often referred to as “Amba fighters,” have since sought to establish an independent nation called Ambazonia.
Over the years, the violence has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians. Efforts at mediation—both internal and international—have so far failed to bring a lasting resolution to the crisis.
The recent operation in Bamenda underscores the continued volatility in the region. With tensions rising ahead of the national vote, observers warn that the political and humanitarian stakes in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions remain critically high.
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