YAOUNDE, Cameroon – At least four police officers were on Monday murdered in cold blood in an attack by suspected separatists in Yaounde, Cameroon’s English-speaking region, a government minister said.
Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma sent his condolences to the families of the deceased and highly condemned people who are fueling violence in the country.
“Unfortunately an attack took the lives of four of our police officers, coldly murdered this Monday in Kembong,” said Tchiroma.
Cameroon has been battling a separatist insurgency in a new wave of Anglophone and Francophone crisis that has further divided the country into two.
According to authorities, at least ten officers and soldiers have been killed this month alone following the emergency of a seperatist group have begun an armed campaign targeting law enforcers.
English-speakers, who account to about 20% of the country’s population have been long protesting on what the perceive to be “bias and discrimination” in favour of the French speaking majority.
Anglophone members are calling for 84-year-old president Paul Biya to step down, saying he has failed to unite the nation ever since he was appointed president of the country in November 6, 1982.
Since November 2016, Anglophones have been demanding an autonomy or a separate state away from the majority francophone, saying they are tired of being discriminated in all tiers of society.
According to international monitors, between 20 and 40 people have been killed since late September.
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