Cameroon Condemns Violent Attacks on Minister and Ambassador in Belgium

Minister of Youth and Civic Education, Mounouna Foutsou, and Cameroon’s Ambassador to Belgium, Daniel Evina Abe’e, were targeted by demonstrators claiming to be members of the Brigade Anti-Sardinards (BAS).

Incident Details

The attacks occurred on two separate occasions:

1. February 28, 2025 – While presiding over the closing ceremony of Youth Month at the Claridge Hotel in Brussels, Minister Foutsou was violently interrupted by a group of individuals claiming to be BAS militants. The attackers stormed the venue, disrupting the event in a display of aggression that the government described as “barbaric and senseless.”

2. March 3, 2025 – As both officials were preparing to leave their residence to return to Cameroon, they were once again assaulted by the same group. The government called this “intolerable behavior on foreign soil, targeting officials of the state.”

Government's Official Statement

The government of Cameroon issued a strong communiqué through the Ministry of Communication, denouncing the attacks:

"We have all seen the shocking images circulating on social media showing acts of aggression against Minister Mounouna Foutsou and Ambassador Daniel Evina Abe’e. These individuals, acting as a violent mob, disrupted a formal event meant to engage with young Cameroonians in the diaspora."

The government equated the attacks to an attack on the entire nation, stating:

"Assaulting government representatives, including a Minister and an Ambassador, is nothing short of an attack on Cameroon as a whole."

The statement further reaffirmed that Cameroon is a democratic state governed by the rule of law and that political changes must come through the ballot box, not violence.

Appeal to Cameroonians and International Community

• The government urged all Cameroonians, especially those in the diaspora, to respect the country’s institutions and trust in the democratic process.
• It also called on foreign governments to uphold international agreements that protect diplomatic representatives.
• Measures will be taken to identify and prosecute those responsible for these acts of violence.

The government concluded by vowing to take appropriate actions to hold the perpetrators accountable and prevent such incidents from happening again.