From Guns to Explosives: Changing phase of the Anglophone Crisis

The tides are changing fast and might further degenerate in the two anglophone regions of Cameroon. The current crisis that saw separatist fighters picking up arms against the Yaounde regime as defense mechanism to check the excesses of the military is now gradually sliding into a new phase – Improvised Explosive Devices, IED.

Frequent gun battles and and confrontations between fighters, paramilitary and the military have given way to explosives. The first explosive was used at the Hospital Roundabout in Bamenda that wounded more than five police officers. Recently, there has been the increasing use of explosives in Bui Division where a current military raid is ongoing with heavy fatalities on both sides. In most parts of Mezam, Momo and in the South West, explosives have become a new normal as it easily takes off military vehicles, at times shattering them into pieces.

The Cameroon government is now taken aback as the new strategy employed by the separatists seems to have no match with the military. They seem helpless as the lack of detection devices appears to have made the military helpless. Soldiers in Bui this week have parked cars and now do patrols on foot. Few military cars that dare to move end up shattered or blown down valleys and cliffs.

It is feared that should the new startegy be used by all separatist fighters across the North West and South West regions, the crisis in the region shall witness a new twist as the military shall be restricted to their barracks or unable to operate.

The Ambazonia- Biafra alliance

The recent outing of Ayaba Cho and the Leader of the Indegenous People of Biafra, all leaders of armed separatist groups in Cameroon and Nigeria have flagged in darker clouds in the crisis. Many now hold their breath as it’s feared the new alliance might promote intelligence sharing, arms deals and even exchange or mercenaries.