Highlights: Bamenda, the capital of Cameroon's North-West region, continues to see residents of "Big Babanki" fleeing the area. At the end of May, about thirty women were abducted and ill-treated by an armed group. Since the deployment of military forces, residents have fled and recounted scenes of violence. The displaced are scattered and it is not yet possible to accurately estimate their number. There is currently no official communication on the situation at "Big babanki", says an activist.

Bamenda, the capital of Cameroon's North-West region, continues to see residents of "Big Babanki", the other name for the town of Kedjom Keku, fleeing the area. At the end of May, about thirty...

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Cameroon: Refugees flock to Bamenda after violence in north-west

Bamenda, the capital of Cameroon's North-West region, continues to see residents of "Big Babanki", the other name for the town of Kedjom Keku, fleeing the area. At the end of May, about thirty women were abducted and ill-treated by an armed group in this locality about thirty kilometers north of Bamenda. Since the deployment of military forces, residents have fled and recounted scenes of violence.

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A view of the city of Bamenda in November 2013 (Illustration image). © Flickr CC BY NC 2.0 jbdodane

Text by: RFI Follow

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From our correspondent in Bamenda, Alphonse Tebeck, translated by Amélie Tulet

A group of displaced people sing a song to thank God for allowing them to reach Bamenda safely. Franklin, 32, fled "Big Babanki" with his family in late June. "Every day we saw people killed, that's why we fled. We could no longer bear to see brothers dead on the ground in the street every day.

A resident hastily abandoned everything one morning, carrying only her child on her back. "It was not easy, to wear it from 'Big Babanki' to Bambui, we were so tired, without anyone to help us carry the child," says the young woman.

The killings in Big Babanki and Belo are terrible. We need to up our game and be proactive in this war rather than to be reactive. Should we have a united front with a monthly levy, funds will be readily available, and we can be proactive to push #Cameroon. The situation whereby...

— Mark Bareta (@MarkBareta) June 21, 2023

Road blocked

Dr Eilean Akwo Manka is in charge of communications for a coalition of women-led organisations, the Southwest and Northwest Women's Task Force: "The latest information we have is that young men have been searched for or arrested in their homes. People are scared and fleeing. But the road is blocked. Those fleeing cannot take vehicles. So imagine what women go through, with their children, walking to a community where they sometimes don't know anyone to greet them.

Eilean Akwo Manka adds that the displaced are scattered and that it is not yet possible to accurately estimate their number. There is currently no official communication on the situation at "Big Babanki".

" READ ALSO Cameroon: thirty women kidnapped in the North-West were released

Serious ethnic cleansing in Babanki #Ambazonia. Human beings burn to ashes in homes by #Cameroun military. #StopCameroonViolations @UNHumanRights @POTUS @CyrilRamaphosa @ayuk_dr @NRC pic.twitter.com/yulBQ2WdQK

Cameroon: Refugees flock to Bamenda after violence in north-west

Cameroon: Refugees flock to Bamenda after violence in north-west

Road blocked

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