Three Police Officers Killed in Buea as Ambazonia Conflict Intensifies

The officers who lost their lives were Second Grade Police Constable Laoumanga from the Molyko District, Second Grade Police Constable Tabe from the Muea District, and First Grade Police Constable Beng from the Central Police Station.

This latest attack brings the number of police officers killed in the region to eight in just three weeks, highlighting the ongoing volatility and escalating violence in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon. The conflict, which began in 2017, has claimed the lives of over 1,500 soldiers and continues to take a devastating toll on both sides.

The Ambazonia separatists, who are fighting for independence from Cameroon, have intensified their attacks on government forces. In July alone, the Ambazonia People's Liberation Council militias ambushed and killed soldiers in multiple attacks across the South-West and North-West regions.

The conflict is rooted in long-standing grievances among the Anglophone minority in Cameroon, who feel marginalized in the predominantly Francophone country. The separatists' demands include greater political representation, improved infrastructure, and a fairer share of the region's economic resources, particularly oil.

Despite the ongoing violence, the conflict receives limited attention in Cameroon's mainstream media, which often focuses on other issues such as football. Meanwhile, the disparity between the lives of the country's elite and the suffering of ordinary citizens continues to fuel resentment. While the children of the wealthy enjoy luxury abroad, the sons and daughters of the poor are sent to the frontlines, where they face the grim realities of war.

As the conflict rages on, the prospects for peace remain uncertain, with both sides showing little willingness to compromise. The international community has called for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the crisis, but so far, efforts to broker a ceasefire have been unsuccessful.