Distant machine gun fire interrupted a speech by Cameroonian Prime Minister Dion Ngute on Tuesday during a visit to the capital of the restive North West region that Anglophone separatists had vowed to disrupt.

A video on social media shows Ngute trailing off mid-speech as the crowd turns and exclaims at a burst of far-off shots. In other footage, a suited man in a flak jacket puts his arms protectively around the premier as they are escorted away by security forces.

It was not clear who was responsible, but the incident underscores the insecurity plaguing Cameroon’s two English-speaking regions since insurgents seeking to form a breakaway state first took up arms against the military in 2017.

There was no immediate comment from the prime minister’s office.

A source at the office of North West’s governor said the shots were fired in the mountains outside Bamenda, the regional capital, and the prime minister was unharmed

“The situation was brought under control,” the source said on condition of anonymity.

Before the shots rang out, Ngute told a cheering crowd that he was there to help resolve the crisis. “It is time that this suffering ends for us all. This is what brought me here,” he said in pidgin English.

North West is one of two regions where English-speaking secessionists seeking to form a state called Ambazonia have been battling government forces over perceived marginalisation by Cameroon’s French-speaking majority.

Both sides have committed atrocities in a conflict that has killed over 3,000 and forced hundreds of thousands to flee.

Ahead of Ngute’s visit to Bamenda, the so-called Ambazonian Defence Forces ordered residents to stay at home, saying that anyone participating in meetings with Ngute did so at their own risk.

“There will be planned military operations to challenge the colonial prime minister’s visit,” they said on Monday.

The separatists were not reachable for comment.

Last week, the U.N. humanitarian agency (OCHA) said it had been obliged to halt its activities due to a lockdown imposed in both regions by a non-state armed group banning all movement, work, or social activity between Sept. 15 and Oct. 2.

There had been a notable increase in violence, kidnappings and attacks against those defying the lockdown, including teachers and students, it said.

Source: WSAU

In recent weeks, Cameroon’s anglophone separatists have carried out a series of deadly ambushes against the Cameroonian army which have been on a bigger scale than anything yet seen since the start of the conflict five years ago. The army high command wants to change strategy but has yet to say how it intends to proceed.

At least three Cameroonian soldiers were killed on Thursday in an ambush by separatist fighters in the country’s restive Anglophone region of Northwest, according to local and security sources.

Separatist fighters ambushed soldiers who were on patrol in Bamali village of the region and opened fire on them, according to a military official who asked not to be named.

A video of the ambush filmed by separatist fighters went viral on social media in the Central African nation.

Clashes between government forces and separatist fighters were also reported early Thursday in at least seven parts of the region, according to security reports.

Reported by Africa Intelligence and Cameroon Concord News

Southern Cameroons Interim Government Secretary of the Treasury Tabenyang Brado says French Cameroun prime minister ’s presence in the Ambazonian homeland is a cause for serious concern, stressing the importance of continued resistance without interference from Amba surrogates.

Speaking exclusively to Cameroon Concord News Hon. Tabenyang Brado on Tuesady, added that the people of Southern Cameroons are already suffering from a series of problems created by the  more than four year old war, “the presence of the so-called prime minister Dion Ngute is a matter of serious concern for the Ambazonia Interim Government and the great people of Southern Cameroons.”

“Vice President Dabney Yerima announced it loudly that Ambazonia Restoration Forces will not allow certain pro French Cameroun actors to have any influence on the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, the actors include Dion Ngute,” Tabenyang added.

“Southern Cameroons cannot tolerate any new French Cameroun teleguided innitiative. The people of Southern Cameroons have reach a consensus that Yaounde no longer have legitimate authority over Ambazonia affairs,” the top Southern Cameroons front line leader pointed out.

In his October 1 message, the exiled Ambazonian Leader Dabney Yerima said the interference of Southern Cameroons pro Yaounde agents in Ambazonia is a source of discord and damage, warning that all those Southern Cameroonians who suffer from the illusion of trusting in the one and indivisible Cameroon and a military solution to establish security in Ambazonia are already getting slapped.

By Chi Prudence Asong

The Prime Minister, who was in the region to promote CPDM-made peace, was hauled away like a piece of luggage by his body guards when Southern Cameroonian Defense Forces came to arrest him for preaching heresy in a foreign country.

Though Joseph Dion Ngute hails from Southern Cameroons, he has been living in East Cameroon in exile where he is serving the East Cameroonian government as a Prime Minister Consultant.

It should be underscored that Joseph Dion Ngute is being looked for in Southern Cameroons and there is a death sentence hovering over his head like a Sword of Damocles for the multiple crimes he has committed against his own people, including treason and murder.

After two years as Cameroon’s Prime Minister, Dion Ngute has worked very hard to achieve one major thing – marrying a very young Beti woman who is carefully sedating him with sex and spying on him at will.

It should be recalled that Dion Ngute is a chief in his village, Ilouani, in Ndian Division but like most South West chiefs, he is seeking asylum in East Cameroon and he is among the thousands of internally displaced Southwesterners.

By Fon Lawrence in Bamenda

INTERIM GOVERNMENT STATEMENT on DION NGUTE’S VISIT TO THE NORTHERN ZONE FROM 5TH–8TH OCTOBER 2021

Yesterday, 03 October 2021, Adolphe Lele Lafrique communicated that Joseph Dion Ngute, the Prime Minister of La Republique du Cameroun, will be “undertaking a peacebuilding visit” to the Northern Zone of Ambazonia from Tuesday, the 05 to Friday 08 October 2021.

The Interim Government of Ambazonia considers this scam an act of utter contempt and disrespect to the people of Southern Cameroons and a flagrant violation of our sovereignty. It is particularly cruel that this visit takes place a few days after the monstrous regime in Yaoundé released hundreds of army and gendarme officers to the Northern zone with the exclusive order to rape our women and kill our people.

This action from Dion Ngute and his master in Yaoundé confirms what the opinion of all Ambazonians is, that La Republic du Cameroun has a disregard for the lives of our people. This move is proof of Yaoundé’s steadfast commitment to deception.

After consultation with Generals and Commanders in Ground Zero, major military operations have been planned in the Northern zone over the next few days. Consequently, our military leaders cannot guarantee the safety of anyone who ventures outside their home.

Because the safety of our people is of paramount importance, your Interim Government now wants to counsel that all law-abiding Southern Cameroonians in the Northern Zone must stay at home during these four days. All emergency activities within this zone of Ambazonia must be assumed with extreme caution.

Fellow Ambazonians, this is a difficult journey we have embarked upon. No one can say with utmost certainty what the outcome will be, but we must remain focus and keep our eyes on the prize despite the games from the murderous regime in Yaoundé. We shall not accept anything less than total independence.

God Bless Ambazonia. It’s Total Independence or Resistance forever.

Thank You, and God Bless You

Dabney Yerima

At least three Cameroonian soldiers were killed on Thursday in an ambush by separatist fighters in the country’s restive Anglophone region of Northwest, according to local and security sources.

Separatist fighters ambushed soldiers who were on patrol in Bamali village of the region and opened fire on them, according to a military official who asked not to be named.

A video of the ambush filmed by separatist fighters went viral on social media in the Central African nation.

Clashes between government forces and separatist fighters were also reported early Thursday in at least seven parts of the region, according to security reports.

Separatist leaders declared the “independence” of the two Anglophone regions of the country in 2017 and have since been battling with government forces.

Source: Xinhuanet

In Cameroon, scores of seniors marked Friday’s International Day of Older Persons by calling on authorities to do more to support the elderly in the country’s conflict areas.

Many of those demonstrating in Yaounde fled from Boko Haram terrorism in the north or Cameroon’s separatist conflict in the west. They say hundreds of seniors remaining in those regions have been left to fend for themselves.

Sixty-seven-year-old Veronica Ngum, an activist for the elderly in Cameroon, said a majority of protesting seniors are suffering.

She said they lack energy to work, are frail, and lack the financial means to buy healthy food or be treated in hospitals.

The Cameroon Association of Elderly Persons organized the 30-minute walk to raise awareness of what they said is the plight of older persons in the country. Similar protests took place Friday in the cities of Bafoussam and Douala.

The Timely Performance Care Center for disabled children and older persons helped organize the protest.

The manager of the Yaounde-based center, Betty Nancy Fonyuy, said older persons suffer neglect from their families and communities.

“Most of them that are here are the elderly that have been abandoned by their families,” she said. “Some of them are already visually impaired. The center gives them ambulatory materials, medications and reading glasses, with food supplies, bathing supplies, and their basic needs.”

Fonyuy said her center has received at least 120 older persons displaced from Cameroon’s English-speaking regions since January. Some have no relatives in Yaounde. She said her center is finding it difficult to help all elderly in need, and pleaded with donors to help.

Pauline Irene Nguene, Cameroon’s minister of social affairs, said Cameroon has a national solidarity plan that includes the treatment and resettling of people, especially vulnerable civilians like older persons affected by Boko Haram terrorism and separatist conflicts.

Nguene said the government is inviting older persons who have been displaced to report to social affairs offices of their choice for medical assistance.

The United Nations General Assembly instituted the International Day of Older Persons in 1990 to examine issues and challenges faced by the elderly. The day is marked every year on October 1.

A 2020 government report indicates there are about two million people older than 60 among Cameroon’s 25 million population. The report says most of them are poor and need lodging, food and health care.

Source: VOA

Cameroon staged its biggest ever anti-terrorism exercise Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare against any terrorist attacks during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which will be hosted by the Central African nation next year.

Sirens wailed as 100 personnel drawn from the army, navy as well as police and rescue services gave a carefully orchestrated demonstration of how they would deal with a terrorist attack during a football match.

During the mock exercises held at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, the capital, policemen and soldiers overpowered a group of gunmen who took some important personalities and other football spectators hostage.

“The objective of this exercise was to make sure that every (security) unit understands what to do. We also wanted to see if there is synchronisation of action and understanding of each other in order to be able to get to the solution which is bringing back peace and security. We wanted to prove that Cameroon is ready for any eventuality during AFCON,” Colonel Franics Ekosso, one of the organizers of the event, told reporters during the simulation exercise staged.

“Although it is an exercise, it gives us an opportunity to show how we can interact with defense forces in situations like this,” said Leonard Ntuntu, commander of 10th Fire and Rescue Battalion.

The army said the exercises were not held in response to a specific threat but noted that an armed separatist movement in the country’s Anglophone regions, Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North region, and some security challenges in other parts of the Central African nation were reasons enough for the army to prepare for any eventuality.

AFCON, a biennial competition involving 24 African countries, is scheduled to take place in Cameroon from Jan. 9 to Feb. 6 next year.

Source: Xinhuanet