In a significant development, thirty elderly women who were kidnapped by separatists in Cameroon’s anglophone region and held captive for a week have been released, according to a government official. The women were abducted on May 20 in the predominantly English-speaking Northwest region, shortly after participating in protests against monthly taxes imposed by the separatist group known as “thecla.” The release occurred on the evening of May 23, as confirmed by Denis Omgba Bomba, the head of the communication ministry’s National Media Observatory.
Local officials, who reported the incident earlier this week, stated that the women were seized by heavily-armed terrorists in the village of Kedjom Keku. Furthermore, they disclosed that the victims had endured severe torture during their captivity. It is worth noting that the government often refers to armed insurgents from the English-speaking minority as “terrorists,” as these groups strive to establish an independent homeland within the primarily francophone country.
An anonymous mayor in the region corroborated the hostages’ release to AFP. Omgba Bomba, while acknowledging the women’s liberation, refrained from providing additional details or disclosing their condition, except for mentioning that one of the women had suffered a broken leg. He also revealed that approximately 50 women had initially been kidnapped and subjected to severe beatings but were subsequently released on the same day. However, the rebels returned the following morning and abducted 30 of the women once again.
The women had participated in demonstrations against the imposition of monthly taxes by the insurgents, specifically targeting men with a fee of 10,000 CFA francs ($17) and women with 5,000 CFA francs. The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa reported this information. The rebels claim that the levied taxes contribute to their “war effort for independence.”
Violent clashes initially erupted in late 2016, leading to the self-proclamation of an independent state in the Northwest and Southwest regions by militant groups identifying themselves as “Amba boys.” These areas are predominantly inhabited by the anglophone minority. The conflict, which has persisted since then, has resulted in over 6,000 fatalities and displaced more than a million individuals from their homes, as stated by the International Crisis Group.
Both separatist forces and government troops have faced accusations of committing atrocities during the conflict. Armed groups frequently stand accused of kidnapping, killing, or injuring civilians whom they accuse of collaborating with Cameroonian authorities. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the United Nations have also accused the government of suppressing dissent in the English-speaking regions and adopting stringent measures against political opponents.
Image Credit: AP Photo/Grace Ekpu
