Anglophone Crisis: Administrative officials in Mezam ban public gatherings as October 1 nears

By David Atangana

Authorities of Division in the restive North West region have banned public gatherings.

MMI has gathered that the decision emerged in the wake of October 1, 2022.

October 1st is celebrated every year by Separatist fighters as the independence day of the self-styled state called Ambazonia.

Separatists have been fighting for an independent state of Ambazonia since 2016. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and millions displaced.

In a prefectoral order signed by the Senior Divisional Officer of Mezam on Tuesday September 27, 2022, all public manifestations are prohibited ’till further notice.’

“That with effect from the date of signature of this order, undeclared meetings and manifestations in Mezam division are hereby prohibited till further notice,” the order signed by Simon Emile Mooh, SDO for Mezam reads.

The order obliging administrative collaborators to implement, threatened sanctions against those who violate.

“That any person or group of persons who violate the provisions of the present order shall be punished in accordance with the rules and regulations in force,” a section of the prefectoral order further reads.

It is likely that order administrative units in the region will follow suits in the days or hours ahead.

It should however be recalled that, government had before the advent the Anglophone crisis 2016, been skeptical of October 1 following sustained attempts by activists to declare a separate state from the rest of the country.

The day is however, defiantly celebrated by armed separatists.

Proponents and activists of Ambazonia movement have so far been calling it’s celebrations as a symbol in their fight for independence.