Cameroon urban nub of Buea deserted ahead of 'independence' declaration

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The main metropolis inwards a restive English-speaking percentage of Republic of Cameroon was a virtual ghost town Saturday, alongside armed police describe patrolled the streets on the evening of an expected -- only symbolic -- proclamation of independence from the French-speaking province yesteryear anglophone separatists.

In Buea, the primary metropolis inwards Cameroon's Southwest Region, shops were closed, streets were almost deserted too the usually bustling academy campus was lifeless after residents left, obviously fearing violence.

On Thursday, the authorities announced a temporary curb on go too populace meetings across the Southwest Region, adding to a curfew inwards the neighbouring Northwest Region, also English-speaking.

The bulk of Cameroon's 22 1000000 people are French-speaking, piece almost a 5th is English-speaking.

The legacy dates dorsum to 1961, when a formerly British entity, Southern Cameroons, united alongside Republic of Cameroon after its independence from French Republic inwards 1960.

The anglophone minority has long complained almost disparities inwards sharing out Cameroon's petroleum wealth.

They are also angry almost perceived discrimination, particularly inwards teaching too the judicial system, where they tell the French linguistic communication too traditions are beingness imposed on them, fifty-fifty though English linguistic communication is ane of the country's ii official language.

Tensions convey surged, leading to marches too a clampdown ahead of what is expected to last a symbolic proclamation of independence on Oct 1 -- the anniversary of the 1961 amalgamation.

University dormitories inwards the district of Molyko were empty too armed police describe patrolled the avenues.

"I am renting a room inwards a dormitory where in that place are 130 rooms, only correct immediately I'm the alone mortal here," said Benoit, a French-speaking baker.

"There's nobody here, there's non a unmarried student," he said. "They are the lifeblood of Buea. When in that place are no students here, the metropolis is dead."

The clampdown inwards Southwest Region runs from Fri morning time to Mon morning.

It entails a curfew, the closure of bounding main too terra firma borders -- western Republic of Cameroon abuts Nigeria, a reputed sanctuary for unopen to separatists -- every bit good every bit the intermission of carry too a ban on go betwixt towns too on populace meetings of to a greater extent than than 4 people.

The authorities convey also warned that military machine reinforcements are on hand, too called on the population to "stay calm".

Late Friday, v 70-seat military machine buses sped through Molyko, heading for Buea Town -- the spot of local government, where the separatists convey said they volition rally on Sunday.

"If the dogs transcend away along to become into the street to seize alongside teeth people, they volition encounter the safety forces," the region's governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai, said on province radio on September 22, when pro-independence marches took house inwards anglophone regions.

Local residents tell safety forces convey been carrying out raids almost every hateful solar daytime inwards Mile 17, a rundown expanse inwards Buea that is idea to last a haven for separatists.

'Pray to God'

In Molyko on Fri night, people queued exterior the alone supermarket that was open, seeking to brand essential purchases earlier the curfew took resultant at nine pm.

In less than one-half an hour, the shop's provide of staff of life was sold out, too it hauled downwards the blinds.

"I am going dwelling line of piece of job solid to last alongside my family," said Iya, an English-speaking shopper. "I came to purchase a few supplies because nosotros won't last able to become out inwards the adjacent ii days. We are going to pray for God's intervention. We withdraw peace."

The crisis is having an touching on the city's economical life.

Victor Ndisang, the managing director of a figurer schoolhouse alongside thirteen teachers too a capacity of 150 students, said he had non had a unmarried enrolment since the origin of the academic yr inwards early on September.

"I convey had to permit the teachers go. There's no money," he said. "If this crisis persists, I am going to convey sell all my assets too leave."

Tensions are also high inwards the Northwest Region, where several schools convey been torched, prompting the authorities to denote a 10 pm to 5 am curfew. Internet access in that place too inwards the Southwest has been reduced, making it harder to access social media.

Most anglophone campaigners desire the province to resume a federalist organisation -- an approach that followed the 1961 unification only was after scrapped inwards favour of a centralised authorities run from the uppercase Yaounde. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 hardline minority is calling for secession.

Both measures are opposed yesteryear the country's long-ruling president, 84-year-old Paul Biya.

AFP

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