At least seven Cameroonian soldiers were killed on Friday after a military pickup hit an improvised explosive device (IED) in Malende, a village roughly 30 kilometres from Buea, the capital of the South West region.
The pickup, reportedly carrying eight soldiers who were on a routine patrol in an area inundated by Separatist armed groups, was shattered by the blast, killing almost all on board.
Only one soldier survived, according to security sources. Reports suggest all eight soldiers who were on board died, but MMI could not independently verify this.
The IED is believed to have been planted by Ambazonia separatist fighters, who have frequently targeted Cameroonian forces in the English-speaking regions with locally-made explosives.
A group identifying itself as the Unity Warriors of Fako claimed responsibility for the attack in a video shared online on Friday evening. In the video, the fighters displayed weapons, including five AK-47 rifles, a chain cutter, bullets, and bulletproof vests, which they claimed to have taken from the soldiers.
The ambush was part of a long-running conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, which escalated from protests by teachers and lawyers in 2017 into a full-fledged armed struggle between separatists and security forces.
In 2019, the United Nations estimated that over 6,000 people had been killed and more than 700,000 displaced because of the conflict.
The government has yet to issue an official statement on Friday’s attack, which comes just days before schools are set to resume in Cameroon.
Reactions from Leaders
Cameroonian lawyer and activist Michèle Ndoki condemned the attack, describing the deaths as “heartbreaking” and calling for national unity and political will to end the violence. “Our future cannot be built on the graves of our youth,” she said. “Cameroonian youths are killing each other in a conflict that could be resolved with dialogue and accountability.”
Meanwhile, Presidential candidate Cabral Libii mourned the soldiers in a statement from Kousserie, where he was holding a campaign rally.
“Seven of our brave soldiers lost their lives today in Buea in an ambush. Our sincere condolences to their families. Strength and courage to our defense forces. This is a priority! The Anglophone crisis must be brought to an end,” he wrote, reiterating the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the long-standing conflict.
The Malende ambush underscores the persistent security challenges in Cameroon’s South West region and highlights the ongoing human toll of the Anglophone Crisis, which has left communities vulnerable and strained government resources.
