Seven Cameroonian soldiers killed in Buea IED blast

Explosion tears through convoy

The soldiers were travelling in a pickup truck when the vehicle ran over the hidden device, triggering a powerful blast that flipped the vehicle and ripped it apart. Eyewitnesses reported seeing flames and debris scattered across the road while reinforcements rushed to the scene. “It was devastating, the entire vehicle was torn to pieces,” a local source in Buea confirmed.

Unity Warriors claim responsibility

A video circulating on social media purportedly shows fighters of the Fako Unity Warriors, an Ambazonia separatist unit, claiming responsibility for the attack. In the footage, one combatant is heard mocking the fallen soldiers, warning security forces not to defy separatist lockdown calls. The group has pledged more “operations” in the days ahead, insisting that elections will not be allowed in Ambazonia territory.

Conflict’s bloody toll mounts

According to Cameroon Concord News tallies, at least 1,770 Cameroonian soldiers have been killed since the conflict erupted in 2017. Government forces continue to suffer ambushes, raids and bombings across the North West and South West, while separatist fighters also sustain losses in retaliatory operations. Civilians are caught in the crossfire, with displacement, kidnappings and extortion deepening the humanitarian crisis.

Yaoundé silent

Authorities in Yaoundé have not issued an official statement on the Buea blast. The military often downplays casualties, but images of destroyed vehicles and fighters boasting online paint a grim picture of escalating insecurity. Calls for dialogue remain ignored, as both sides escalate a war that shows no sign of abating.

More on the war in Southern Cameroons can be found in the Southern Cameroons section.