The ongoing crisis in the north-west of Cameroon in the anglophone region, coupled with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has pushed the price of stable foods beyond the reach of many.

In response, the government has designated the anglophone region an economic disaster zone.

At the busy Bamenda food market, hawkers position themselves at the market gate, selling basic home products like washing soap, while shop owners serve customers inside their shops.

Shoppers come here in the hope of buying local produce cheaper.  But for more than three months the prices of local produce like plantains and tomatoes as well as basic household commodities have skyrocketed.

Food prices rise

The rise in food prices started late last year, when groundnut oil prices rose from 25,000CFA (38 euros)/gallon to 27,000CFA (40 euros), says shopper Dorothy Ngu, adding that the prices were higher than neighbouring Douala or Bafoussam.

“When we ask why, they say it is our road, especially the road to reach here –  it is horrible,” says Ngu.

“Palm oil is a local product. It used to be cheap, but they say they have to increase their own prices because if they don’t sell it at a higher price how will they buy their own things in the market?” she adds.

For one transporter who uses the Bamenda-Ekok-Enugu highway, the frequent road blocks imposed by both security services and separatist fighters adds to the costs of the goods he transports. This prevents Nigerian goods from entering the city.

Elsewhere on the Bafoussam-Bamenda highway, where staples from other towns come in, the roads are in terrible condition and have not been maintained, Elvis Muluh tells Africa Calling podcast, pointing to his tyres.

“These are vehicle tyres. We buy them for up to 50,000CFA (45 euros) but it doesn’t last for one month because of deplorable state of the road,” says Muluh.

“The bad state of the road and numerous military checkpoints accounts for the increase in the prices of commodities, since we have to charge higher for transporting the goods,” he says, adding that he wished there were fewer checkpoints.

Anglophone crisis

Most businesses in Bamenda, the north-west’s capital, have been shut down and relocated to safer areas after the kidnapping of many business people. Some have also had their places of business burnt down.

Peaceful protests calling out discrimination in municipal jobs five years ago led to a brutal crackdown by security forces, resulting in separatists taking up arms against the central government.

Within the context of the crisis, many city dwellers now host internally displaced persons, who have fled their towns and villages and have come to the regional capital.

Residents have more mouths to feed, but with the current increase in prices, even the most basic food staples are out of reach.

“We are facing price hikes in the market which is not backed by much money in our pockets. For example, I will start with magi beef cubes. They have gone from €1.23 (800CFA) to €1.50 (900CFA) a packet,” says market-goer Laura Ngwa.

“We are actually facing difficulties preparing a decent meal for the family.”

Ukrainian wheat ban

The situation is worsening with the recent increase in the price of flour, meaning people can’t afford to buy much bread.

“Bread is very expensive; if you don’t have 1000CFA (1.50 euros) now you can’t afford breakfast for your family. From every indication it’s high time we go back to our farms and cultivate sweet potatoes to serve for breakfast,” says Thomas Mbah, a resident of Bamenda.

“Even the local product from cassava known as garri is now more expensive than rice.”

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced prices up as has the impact of Covid-19 says Abel Ghogomu, a local government representative in charge of trade in the region. Ukraine and Russia are large-scale producers of wheat flour.

Before the war, they had a huge market in Africa, including Cameroon. In order to reduce costs of these imported commodities, Ghogomu says measures have been taken to help Cameroonian consumers.

“There is a tax exemption on products that are imported, wheat and other things so that it should reflect on our prices,” he says.

He met with the North West Bakers association, who deal with wheat and bread-making.

“We were in the field disguised as consumers, and we went to shops to check on this. Bread which should cost 125CFA that is 200g has been raised up to 250CF,” he adds.

Source: RFI

A spokesman for the Cameroon government army on Tuesday confirmed two soldiers were killed following an attack by Amba fighters in Eyumojock Sub Division in Manyu.

In a communiqué issued in the French language, the Cameroon government army spokesman said Ambazonia forces attacked a military checkpoint at Mkpot Village, a community in Eyumojock Sub Division, engaging them in a gunfight.

The troops were deployed to Mkpot at the request of the village corrupt traditional ruler who recently donated some of his blood money for the installation ceremony of the Bishop of Mamfe.

Sadly, during the firefight that ensued, two Cameroon government soldiers- one identified as Master Sergeant Owono Etienne, license number 11/15690 paid the supreme price.

Ambazonia Revolutionary Guards is the paramilitary wing of the Southern Cameroons Interim Government led by Vice President Dabney Yerima, seeking to make a state in English speaking Cameroon and form the independent nation of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia.

By Kingsley Betek in Mamfe

The Southern Cameroons Interim Government says all Southern Cameroonians in the diaspora must mobilize to confront the French Cameroun occupation and colonial settlers and to head to all international organizations in their host countries in droves to raise awareness of French Cameroun’s intensified assaults on Southern Cameroonians.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Vice President Dabney Yerima said the Southern Cameroons diaspora population should be ready to begin massive protests in various capitals in the West.

“Southern Cameroons unity and resistance in confronting the Biya French Cameroun occupation will deter the Francophone political elites from implementing their malicious schemes targeting the people of Southern Cameroons” the statement read.

Earlier on Monday, Francophone army soldiers once again attacked Southern Cameroonians in Batibo, Awom, and Guzang. Seven civilians were reportedly killed by Cameroon government troops and several others were arrested with some summarily executed.  

Cameroon Concord News correspondent in Widikum said homes were ransacked, money, food stuff and other valuables taken away. He also affirmed that bullets injured 19 people, including one cleric while a dozen suffered from tear gas inhalation.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

A senior Ambazonian official has hit out at CPDM Southern Cameroons elite for fraternizing President Biya and his Francophone regime in Yaoundé.

“There are two approaches among the people of Southern Cameroons. The majority resists the occupying French Cameroun regime, but the other front, namely the CPDM Southern Cameroons elites and AGOVC, are La Republique du Cameroun’s mercenaries” Dr. Patrick Ayuk, a member of the Dabney Yerima-led Ambazonia Interim Government told Cameroon Concord News on Monday.

The first front, Dr. Patrick Ayuk said, is ready to make all sacrifices to expel the occupying Biya French Cameroun regime from the entire Federal Republic of Ambazonia, but the latter does not believe in the liberation of Southern Cameroons.

The senior Dabney Yerima adviser said the current situation in Southern Cameroons is similar to the lead-up to the KNDP crisis of 1963 after French Cameroun secret agents had murdered the Secretary General Zacharia Abendong.

The French Cameroun anti KNDP operation saw the emergence of ST Muna and his group that eventually auctioned Southern Cameroons.

The occupying French Cameroun regime says it is committed to the status quo of a one and indivisible Cameroon and nothing will change about it.

Dr. Patrick Ayuk furthered that the Southern Cameroons diaspora failure to back up Ground Zero in the face of the French Cameroun military onslaught is delaying the mission to Buea.

By Isong Asu