The Governor of the North West region, Adolphe Lele L’Afrique, blamed the attack on separatist groups and said that security forces were deployed to pursue the assailants. Three of them have already been captured and are under arrest.

The Mimi Mefo Info news portal reported that many of the injured are in serious condition, mostly women and children who were enjoying the celebration.

Armed rebels from the Anglophone minority operate in Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions, which have been clashing with security forces and have been demanding independence for those areas since 2017, in a country where the majority is French-speaking. As part of the claims, they demand from the central authorities a greater representation in the Government and the equal use of the English language, in relation to the French language in public establishments and in schools.

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