Inter-ethnic conflict in Bum, Kimbi another time bomb in the worsening Anglophone crisis

The over three-year worsening Anglophone crisis in Cameroon is gradually creating fierce and deadlier inter ethic conflicts in several localities in the restive North West and South West regions.

The most recent of such clashes has caused the death of at least 15 persons and the razing to chars of tens of houses in Bum Subdivision, Boyo Division of the North West region.

According to local sources, Buabua, Konene, Dumbo, Bum, Fonfuka, Kimbi and Subum have been hotspots of violent clashes between armed Mbororos (fulanis), Ambazonian fighters, and the local indigenous people.

Writing to Mimi Mefo info from the area, a source said the clashes between and Fulanis and Amba boys intensified two weeks ago over the control of the Subum market road. The two opposing camps emerged since the Fonfuka gendarmerie was abandoned by elements of the Cameroonian military in 2017.

“Two weeks ago, the Fulani’s attacked the Konene-Fonfuka road and one of them was identified as a guy from Kimbi village, as they escaped. Last Thursday the Amba boys came to Kimbi to pick the fulani guy to their camp. As he tried running away, he was gunned down,” a source in Bum who refused to be named said.

The killing of this guy, according to local inhabitants, provoked an outrage from armed Fulanis who under the ‘Command’ of a certain Musa Bala stormed Kimbi and Buabua Friday December 13, 2019, to confront those they suspect are having links with Amba boys (Southern Cameroon restoration fighters).

The Buabua incident, Mimi Mefo info is told, led to the killing of at least seven persons and the burning of several homes.
“These atrocities started because Amba boys killed a suspected thief who was a Muslim and his gun was taken including some weapons,” narrated another source that we preferred to name Ali Ndi for security reasons.

According to Ndi, “that was not right because everyone needs a chance. They should have handed him over to the population to take him to their chief or the gendarmes. In retaliation, the Muslims came down on the civilians. This happened in Kimbi on the 12th of December”.

Since Monday December 16, 2019, our editorial team has been overwhelmed by tons of messages on how the escalating violence between the two communities is becoming unbearable.

Ambazonian fighters reportedly stormed Buabua to avenge the killings, which later led to the attack of Bum by the armed Fulani’s according to our source.

Bum villagers have been forced to flee for safety, women and children rendered homeless after properties were looted, destroyed and people killed.

“Some of those killed like Pa Pius Luka could not escape due to old age, Pa Fang Johnson and Pa Roger were seriously wounded and many others… but this morning, Pa Roger finally gave up in the hospital,” the source said Tuesday afternoon.

A surge in inter-community violence has left villages in the restive English speaking regions divided. The Anglophone regions have been in turmoil since 2016 after peaceful protesters were molested and arrested by government soldiers.

Pro independence activists emerged, seeking to form a breakaway state called Ambazonia. Government has multiplied crackdowns on the communities resulting to over 3.000 deaths and the displacement of close to a million persons.