2022 Buea clashes

armed clashes in the town of Buea, Southwest Region, Cameroon

The 2022 Buea clashes were armed clashes that took place on 12 January 2022 in Buea in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. The fighting was between the Cameroon Armed Forces and Ambazonian separatists. Three people were killed and many others were injured.[1][2]

2022 Buea clashes
Part of the Anglophone Crisis

View of Buea
Date12 January 2022
Location
Belligerents
 Cameroon Ambazonia
Casualties and losses
1 Unknown

Context change

After the crackdown of the 2016-17 Cameroonian protests and the separatist insurgency that followed, armed separatists and the military of Cameroon have had many battles. This fighting has caused people to die. International NGOs and the UN say that both sides are guilty of war crimes. The conflict has caused the deaths of thousand of people. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced since the beginning of 2017.[3]

This fighting took place during the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) football in Cameroon. The separatists had said that they would disrupt the competition.[4] This caused Cameroon to deployed more troops to the areas.

Clashes change

Clashes began around 7 a.m. on the road between the neighborhoods of Molyko and Muea. The fighting lasted about 1 hour and was heard in the near by areas. This road is located not far from the Molyko stadium. The stadium is used as a training site for the teams of group F of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The mayor of the town, David Mafani Namange, said that people with guns attacked the town's central market. He said that they were firing bullets into the air to make the traders leave the market. The army was then deployed into the area, and clashes started.

Consequences change

Three people, including a soldier, were killed in the clashes. Reports say that the Mali football team would suspend their training sessions because of the fighting.[5]

References change

  1. "Cameroun/CAN 2022 : Trois morts dans des affrontements entre l'armée et les séparatistes à Buea". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2022-03-14.
  2. "CAN 2022 : plusieurs blessés dans des échanges de tirs dans l'ouest du Cameroun". Franceinfo (in French). 2022-01-13. Retrieved 2022-03-14.
  3. "CAN 2022: une fusillade fait plusieurs blessés dans une ville qui héberge des sélections". RMC SPORT (in French). Retrieved 2022-03-14.
  4. "CAN: une ONG inquiète pour la sécurité des joueurs au Cameroun". RMC SPORT (in French). Retrieved 2022-03-14.
  5. "Afcon chaos as 'gun battle breaks out close to stadium hosting Mali vs Tunisia'". The Sun. 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2022-03-14.