Grief and anger are spreading across the Anglophone regions of Cameroon after security forces opened fire on demonstrators in several towns and villages. Many people are feared dead and many more injured, according to residents, local leaders and church sources, as crowds took to the streets to make a symbolic declaration of independence for Southern Cameroons.
A day of marches and gunfire
The demonstrations had been announced well in advance by separatist leaders, and the government had deployed large numbers of troops and imposed restrictions on movement and gatherings. Despite the curfews, crowds marched in towns and villages across the North West and South West regions, many carrying branches of peace plants and the blue and white flag of Southern Cameroons.
Witnesses say security forces used tear gas and then live ammunition in a number of places. Some of the dead were reportedly shot while marching, others in their compounds or as they ran from the scene. Helicopters were seen flying over several towns.
A toll that is hard to establish
Establishing the exact number of victims has proven difficult. Internet restrictions, the curfew and the fear of reprisals have slowed the flow of information, and some families say bodies were taken away before they could be identified. The government has given its own figures, which are lower than those circulated by local sources and rights activists. Human rights organisations have called for an independent investigation to establish the facts.
Hospitals overwhelmed
Health workers in affected towns describe emergency wards struggling with gunshot wounds, a shortage of blood and medicines, and injured people afraid to come to hospital for fear of arrest. Church-run health facilities have played a crucial role in treating the wounded.
Reactions
Religious leaders, opposition politicians and Anglophone parliamentarians have condemned the use of lethal force against unarmed civilians. International partners have urged restraint and called on all sides to avoid violence and open a dialogue. The government maintains that it acted to defend the territorial integrity of the country against a secessionist threat.
What this means for the crisis
For many observers, the killings mark a turning point in the Anglophone crisis. A movement that began with peaceful protests by lawyers and teachers is now confronted with deaths on a scale that will be hard to forget. Analysts warn that without accountability and genuine dialogue, the anger generated by these events risks pushing more young people towards armed groups.
Families in mourning want the truth about what happened to their loved ones, the return of bodies for burial and assurance that those responsible will be held to account. Those demands will remain at the centre of the crisis in the weeks and months ahead.