The bustling atmosphere at Bamenda’s Commercial Avenue on May 20, 2024, contrasted with the tense and silent streets of the North West Region, as military and police officers, students, and political groups participated in the National Day march past.
The event was chaired by Governor Adolphe Lele L’Afrique.
General Bouba Dobekreo, the Commander of the 5th Joint Military Sector, who recently issued a stern warning of defeat to Ambazonia separatists, was among the key figures present at the march.
The celebrations began with an impressive military parade, showcasing the different units of Cameroon’s armed services, including the Gendarmerie, Police, Army, Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR), and Penitentiary Department.
Following the military display, a civilian march past featured a number of primary and secondary schools, youth groups, and political movements, though their representation was notably timid.
While the festivities at Commercial Avenue demonstrated a sense of national pride and unity, they occurred under the shadow of a separatist-imposed lockdown that brought much of Bamenda and its surrounding areas to a standstill.
This lockdown has been enforced by Ambazonia separatists since 2017, when they took up armed to fight for independence in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon.
Adding to the day’s tensions was the tragic news of the killing of the Mayor of Belo in Boyo Division.
The Mayor, en route to the grandstand to participate in the National Day celebrations, was ambushed and killed by armed separatists, alongside two others.
This brutal act cast a pall over the celebrations and underscored the continuing threat posed by separatist fighters, despite claims by military and civil authorities of significant progress in defeating them.
The death of the Mayor was widely condemned, yet it starkly contradicted reports from officials who have touted the defeat of separatist fighters in the region.
These fighters, however, have continued to pose a persistent threat, lurking in the shadows and targeting both military personnel and civilians.
In Pictures: National Day In Bamenda
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