Death toll in French Cameroun war on Southern Cameroons hits 20,500 ⁰

The French Cameroun-led war on Southern Cameroons has killed more than 20,500 people since the Francophone leader Paul Biya declared war on the 30^th of November 2017, an Ambazonia Interim Government (IG) database project that tracks La Republique du Cameroun violence in the Federal Republique of Ambazonia has revealed.

The Ambazonia leader President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe earlier made a similar revelation during a conversation with the Paris-based Jeune Afrique, saying that as a result of the on-going genocide in the Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia), an estimated 20,000 people have been killed, over 280 towns and villages have been burnt down, over 120,000 people are seeking refuge in Nigeria and further afield, over 1million people are  internally displaced or living in bushes and over 3,000 persons incarcerated in prisons and detention facilities.

The Southern Cameroons Interim Government also noted that over 4.5. Million Southern Cameroonians are at risk of famine.  The IG report said the well documented statistic has made the Southern Cameroons conflict the deadliest ever since the genocide in Rwanda.

A spokesperson for the exiled Ambazonia Vice President Dabney Yerima was quoted as saying that the post Major National Dialogue period remains the most lethal month, with over 500 reported killed in Menchum, Bui and Bali.

Immediately after his meeting with French President Macron in Lyon, France, French Cameroun head of state President Biya ordered the Francophone dominated army to carryout raids in Mezam, Manyu and Ndian counties.

The Ambazonia Interim Government also said French Cameroun soldiers from Beti-Ewondo and Bulu extractions were directly responsible for more than 19, 000 Southern Cameroons civilian deaths over the past three years.

The IG data which was handed to Vice President Dabney Yerima by the department for Homeland Security last week, covers everything from shelling and ground battles involving elements of the French Cameroun’s Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) and the French Cameroun gendarmerie.

Cameroon Intelligence Report understands that the figures do not include Southern Cameroonians who have died in the humanitarian disasters caused by the Biya war, particularly those living in the bushes.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday wrote to congress about his decision in accordance with section 506A(a)(3)(B) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3)(B)) to terminate the designation of La Republique du Cameroun as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

“I am taking this step because I have determined that the Government of Cameroon currently engages in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, contravening the eligibility requirements of section 104 of the AGOA” President Trump said.

The Biya war has also taken a heavy toll on Southern Cameroons infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and agro-industrial plants.

France and the Buhari administration in the Federal Republic of Nigeria are the main supporters of the Biya regime with the French government providing Yaounde with money, training and logistical support.

By Asu Isong with additional reporting from Chi Prudence Asong