Separatists Allegedly Kill 20 Villagers In Cameroon Attack

Yaoundé, Cameroon–  Suspected Separatist rebels have attacked the village of Egbekaw in western Cameroon, and killed at least 20 people, including women and children.

The attack occurred overnight and is the latest in a series of deadly clashes that have plagued the region for the past seven years.

Cameroonian authorities expressed their outrage and condemnation of the attack, with Minister at the Presidency, Mengot Victor Arrey-Nkongho, describing the situation as “intolerable.” He confirmed the grim toll, saying, “There were men, women, and children, more than 20 killed.”

The village of Egbekaw has been at the epicentre of the conflict between separatist rebels and government forces. The ongoing unrest in Cameroon’s primarily English-speaking northwest and southwest regions began in 2017 when separatists declared independence following decades of grievances over perceived discrimination by the Francophone majority.

The attackers reportedly used a combination of firearms and traditional weapons during the assault. According to Manyu department prefect Viang Mekala, around 20 people lost their lives, and seven others sustained serious injuries. In addition to the casualties, several houses in the village were set ablaze during the violence.

No specific group has claimed responsibility for the attack, leaving authorities to launch investigations aimed at identifying the perpetrators. The situation in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions has been a long-standing and complex issue, marked by sporadic outbreaks of violence, protests, and government responses.

Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, who celebrated his 41-year rule over the country just days ago, has adopted a firm stance in response to the separatist movement, implementing crackdowns and national dialogues. These measures have faced criticism for their effectiveness in resolving the conflict.

The ongoing crisis in Cameroon has had devastating consequences, with more than 6,000 lives lost and over a million people forced to flee their homes, as reported by the International Crisis Group.

Population suffering atrocities

“At 4:00 am, a group of armed youths arrived and opened fire on residents while they were asleep in their homes, setting an entire block of houses ablaze,” stated an anonymous resident in a telephone conversation with AFP, citing safety concerns.

“Twenty-three individuals have already been rescued from the rubble, with some of them rendered unrecognizable due to the fire,” the resident further commented.

He said that there was cause to suspect a link to the November 6 anniversary of (Paul) Biya’s assumption of the presidency in 1982.

He added that there was a planned meeting of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC) in the vicinity.

In the ongoing conflict, allegations of atrocities have been directed at both the separatist groups and government forces. Armed factions are consistently accused of the abduction, killing, or injury of civilians whom they suspect of collaborating with Cameroonian authorities.

International NGOs and the United Nations often accuse security forces of committing killings and torture against civilians suspected of sympathizing with the rebel groups.

In the northwest region last month, rebels “summarily executed” two villagers in a public setting, claiming that they had collaborated with the army.

In July, Amnesty International reported that security forces, separatist rebels, and ethnic militiamen had committed “atrocities” in the northwest region, which included acts such as executions, torture, and rape.