Operation Bamenda Clean

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Operation Bamenda Clean
Part of the Anglophone Crisis
Ambazonian separatist hideout in Ntanka, Bamenda.jpg
Cameroonian soldiers in front of a captured rebel hideout at Bamenda in 2021[1]
Date8 September 2020[2] – present[3]
Location
Bamenda, Northwest Region, Cameroon
Status Ongoing[4]
Belligerents
 Cameroon  Ambazonia
Commanders and leaders
Brig. Gen. Valere Nka[5]
Brig. Gen. Ekongwesse Divine Nnoko[1][6]
Gousmo Emile[5]
Paul Achobang (Mayor of Bamenda)[3]		 "General Sweet Tuma" (POW)[7]
"General Lion" †[1]
"General Cobra" (POW)[8]
"General Cross and Die" †[9]
Units involved
Rapid Intervention Battalion
5th Joint Gendarmerie Region[6]
Police units[10]		 Ambazonia Defence Forces[11]
Bambalang Marine Forces[12]
Other unspecified armed groups
Casualties and losses
Over 20 surrendered (according to Cameroon)[13]

Operation Bamenda Clean is an ongoing Cameroonian special counter-insurgency operation in Bamenda, Northwest Region, aimed at preventing armed Ambazonian separatists from operating in the city.[14] By January 2021, Cameroon was gradually achieving what a security analyst at the University of Yaoundé called "relative peace" in Bamenda,[4] and the mayor of the city stated that the operation was succeeding.[3] However, as of March 2021, separatist-imposed ghost towns remained widely respected by the local population,[15] and separatists control most roads leading in and out of Bamenda.[16]

Background[]

View of Bamenda

Throughout the Anglophone Crisis, armed separatists had used motorcycles to carry out hit-and-run attacks against soldiers and police officers,[17] and the Cameroonian security forces wished to deprive them of bases of operation in the city and its vicinity.[18] On September 4, the Mayor of Bamenda outlawed motorcycles in the city, to which separatists responded by threatening to bring all traffic to a halt.[19] Three days prior to the official launch of the operations, soldiers from the Rapid Intervention Battalion had killed a prominent Ambazonian general in Bamenda named Luca Fonteh, known as the nom de guerre "General Mad Dog".[20]

The rebels in Bamenda include female fighters.[1]

The operation[]

Aims and rationale[]

The operation was officially announced on the same day as it commenced on September 8, 2020 a day before the three-year anniversary of the start of the war[21] and 23 days before the Ambazonian Independence Day.[10]

The aims were stated to be to protect civilians from "terrorists" and "criminals" and restore public security in the city.[6] The operation was consistent with Cameroon's general military strategy of focusing on retaining control over all major urban areas in the Anglophone regions, while not trying to recapture all rural areas that had come under separatist control.[22] As of September 2020, separatists openly controlled villages not far from Bamenda.[23]

Timeline of notable events[]

2020[]

  • On September 10, a Cameroonian soldier was killed during clashes with separatists.[24] Ambazonia Defence Forces deputy defense chief Daniel Caapo (based in exile) responded by imploring local civilians to rise up in opposition to Operation Bamenda Clean.[11]
  • On September 14, two people were summarily executed by soldiers.[25]
  • On September 21, soldiers summarily executed five civilians in Ngongham, outside Bamenda.[26]
  • On October 6, several teachers were abducted by alleged separatists.[27]
  • On October 16, a fire erupted in the building where the command post of the Bamenda Territorial Gendarmerie was located. According to an official statement, the cause had been an accident rather than an act by the separatists, and the fire was put out after two and a half hours.[28]
  • On November 3, Cameroon accused separatists of attacking the Longla Comprehensive College in Bamenda.[29]
  • At some point in late-December, there were armed clashes and explosions, and an eight-year-old was killed when he got caught in the crossfire between Cameroonian troops and separatist fighters.[3]

2021[]

  • On January 23, at least four civilians were killed in Bamenda.[30]
  • On February 1, Cameroonian soldiers "neutralized" two armed separatists in Bamenda, and captured a separatist commander known as "General Sweet Tuma".[31]
  • On February 3, three public employees were abducted by suspected separatists in Bamenda, allegedly for sealing shops whose owners respected separatist-imposed ghost towns.[32]
Cameroonian soldiers give interviews after the hostage rescue at Ntanka in February 2021[1]
  • On February 5, Cameroonian soldiers rescued four civilian hostages from a separatist camp at Ntanka, outside Bamenda. The Cameroonian Army reported to have suffered no casualties, and claimed that four separatist fighters were killed and four captured in the fighting. One of the dead insurgents was "General Lion". One civilian was wounded during the raid.[1]
  • On February 8, two Cameroonian soldiers were killed in a separatist ambush.[33]
  • On March 5, heavy fighting was reported in Bamenda.[34]
  • On March 10, at least two Cameroonian soldiers were killed when separatists ambushed a military control post in Bamenda. Clashes were also recorded elsewhere in the city.[35]
  • On April 4, a police officer was killed on the Bamenda-Bali road in a suspected separatist ambush.[36]
  • On April 7, the head of the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Centre in Bamenda was abducted from his home.[37]
  • On April 18, following clashes with separatists Mile 90, Bamenda, Cameroonian soldiers entered a local bar and massacred at least five civilians.[38]
  • On April 19, separatist commander "General Cobra" and four of his fighters were captured in Bamenda.[8]
  • On April 30, there were clashes in the neighborhood of Rendezvous.[39]
  • On May 8-9, soldiers freed at least four hostages in a raid on a separatist camp in Tanka, Bamenda. Neither side suffered casualties.[40]
  • On May 26, separatist fighters shot a civilian multiple times, reportedly after he had publicly criticized their activities. He died from his wounds days later.[41]
  • On July 4, Cameroonian soldiers killed a civilian at a police control post in Below Foncha, Bamenda. The killing sparked mass protests, during which civilians destroyed the control post.[42]
  • On July 6, two separatist fighters were killed in Bamenda.[43]
  • On July 19, separatist fighters were recorded dismembering a Cameroonian soldier in Bamenda.[44]
  • On August 1, Cameroonian troops rescued a soldier from an Ambazonian detention facility, hours before his scheduled execution.[45]
  • On August 7, three civilians were killed by suspected separatists in Mile 2 Nkwen, Bamenda.[46]
  • On August 12, separatists abducted a man they accused of selling products that they had banned. The man was later killed in captivity.[47]
  • On September 11, a police officer was killed in Bamenda.[48]
  • On September 12, at least four separatist fighters were killed in Bamenda.[49]
  • On October 1, the Cameroonian Army claimed to have killed a high-ranking soldier of the Bambalang Marine Forces.[12]
  • On October 29, ADF commander "General Cross and Die" was killed in Bamenda.[9]
  • On November 15, two separatists were killed during a shootout with police forces.[50]
  • On November 19, separatists blew up a military vehicle in Bamenda with an IED, causing an unknown number of casualties. The ADF claimed responsibility.[51]
  • On December 9, separatists ambushed a BIR convoy, and the ensuing gunfight saw the deaths of four separatist fighters.[52]
  • On December 22, Cameroonian soldiers killed two civilian teenagers and injured one in Ngongham, Bamenda.[53]

Alleged abuses[]

In late-September, the Cameroon Bar Association accused the army of extorsion and intimidation of civilians, arbitrary arrests, assault, torture, and denying detained persons access to lawyers.[14] Similar concerns were voiced by locals on the same day as the operation started.[6] Brig. Gen. Valere Nka denied the accusations and said that the army respected human rights.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Moki Edwin Kindzeka (7 February 2021). "Cameroon Military Says It Has Freed 4, Including 2 Students". Voice of America. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  2. ^ Cameroon: Security officials in Bamenda launch operation to protect population, Journal du Cameroun, Sep 8, 2020. Accessed Sep 9, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Cameroon's Anglophone crisis: No end in sight, Deutche Welle, Jan 4, 2021. Accessed Jan 4, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Cameroonians Displaced by Crisis Return on New Year, Voice of America, Jan 2, 2021. Accessed Jan 3, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Situation in NW/SW: Operation "Bamenda Clean" On Course, Cameroon Tribune, Sep 10, 2020. Accessed Sep 26, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d Soldiers, Police Extort Civilians In Operation Bamenda Clean, Cameroon News Agency, Sep 8, 2020. Accessed Sep 9, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Cameroun : L’Armée neutralise deux hommes armés lors d’un raid à Bamenda, Le Bled Parle, Feb 2, 2021. Accessed Feb 2, 2021. (French)
  8. ^ a b "CrisisWatch April 2021". International Crisis Group. April 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Crise anglophone: un «général» ambazonien abattu par l'armée dans le Nord-Ouest". Actu Cameroun. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  10. ^ a b Operation Bamenda Clean: Five tins you get for know about dis joint army, gendarme and police operation, BBC, Sep 25, 2020. Accessed Sep 26, 2020. (Pidgin)
  11. ^ a b Moki Edwin Kindzeka (10 September 2020). "Cameroon Military Sweeps Northwest City to Weed Out Separatists". Voice of America. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  12. ^ a b Four killed as Cameroon separatists celebrate "independence" day, Xinhua, Oct 2, 2021. Accessed Oct 2, 2021.
  13. ^ Cameroon: About 20 separatists repent since launch of operation Bamenda clean-NDDRC Cordinator, Journal du Cameroun, Sep 28, 2020. Accessed Sep 28, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Cameroon/Bamenda clean operation: Bar Council wants soldiers’ ‘abuses’ probed, Journal du Cameroun, Sep 25, 2020. Accessed Sep 26, 2020.
  15. ^ Cameroon/Bamenda: Making good use of ‘Ghost Towns’, Journal du Cameroun, Mar 3, 2021. Accessed Mar 3, 2021.
  16. ^ Cameroon separatists kill 15 soldiers in attacks using explosives, Reuters, Sep 21, 2021. Accessed Sep 21, 2021.
  17. ^ Twitter, Cameroon News Agency, Jul 11, 2020.
  18. ^ Operation Bamenda clean: Residents share tori of 'wickedness' as Cameroon army begin mop-up separatists, BBC, Sep 9, 2020. Accessed Sep 26, 2020. (Pidgin)
  19. ^ Tussle For Power Between Ambazonia Fighters And Administrators Over Who Controls Bamenda, Cameroon News Agency, Sep 4, 2020. Accessed Dec 28, 2020.
  20. ^ Cameroon: Late Amba ‘General Mad Dog’ killed over 100 in NW region – Military, Journal du Cameroun, Sep 7, 2020. Accessed Sep 7, 2020.
  21. ^ Explosions in Bamenda and Killings in Besongabang Military Base, ADF Claims Responsibility, Cameroon Journal, Sept 13, 2017. Accessed Apr 19, 2018.
  22. ^ Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis: How to Get to Talks?, Crisis Group, May 2, 2019. Accessed May 2, 2019.
  23. ^ I Traveled Deep Into Conflict to Bury My Grandfather. I Returned Slightly Charmed, Fodors Travel, Sep 23, 2020. Accessed Sep 24, 2020.
  24. ^ Cameroon: One soldier killed in Amba/military clashes in Bamenda, Journal du Cameroun, Sep 10, 2020. Accessed Sep 10, 2020.
  25. ^ Twitter, Cameroon News Agency, Sep 19, 2020.
  26. ^ NWSW region: Gov’t Forces Kill 11 Civilians In 24 Hours, Cameroon News Agency, Sep 22, 2020. Accessed Seo 24, 2020.
  27. ^ Crise anglophone : les ambazoniens kidnappent les enseignants à Bamenda, Actu Cameroun, Oct 11, 2020. Accessed Oct 11, 2020.
  28. ^ Twitter, Cameroon News Agency, Oct 20, 2020.
  29. ^ Cameroon govt accuses ‘Ambazonia’ separatists of multiple school attacks, Journal du Cameroun, Nov 5, 2020. Accessed Nov 28, 2020.
  30. ^ Twitter, Cameroon News Agency, Jan 22, 2021.
  31. ^ Cameroun : L’Armée neutralise deux hommes armés lors d’un raid à Bamenda, Le Bled Parle, Feb 2, 2021. Accessed Feb 2, 2021. (French)
  32. ^ Crise anglophone : trois agents de la commune de Bamenda 2 kidnappés, Actu Cameroun, Feb 4, 2021. Accessed Feb 4, 2021. (French)
  33. ^ https://actucameroun.com/2021/02/09/crise-anglophone-deux-soldats-tues-a-bamenda-nord-ouest/, Actu Cameroun, Feb 9, 2021. Accessed Feb 9, 2021. (French)
  34. ^ Bui: Ambazonia Fighters Launch IEDs Targeting Government Forces, Cameroon News Agency, Mar 5, 2021. Accessed Mar 5, 2021.
  35. ^ Twitter, Cameroon News Agency, Mar 10, 2021.
  36. ^ Cameroon:Police officer killed by suspected Ambazonia fighters in restive NW Region, Journal du Cameroun, Apr 5, 2021. Accessed Apr 6, 2021.
  37. ^ Twitter, Cameroon News Agency, Apr 7, 2021.
  38. ^ Twitter, Cameroon News Agency, Apr 19, 2021.
  39. ^ Twitter, Cameroon News Agency, May 1, 2021.
  40. ^ Cameroon:Soldiers free four hostages from ‘Ambazonia’ captivity, Journal du Cameroun, May 10, 2021. Accessed May 10, 2021.
  41. ^ Facebook, Cameroon News Agency, May 29, 2021.
  42. ^ Cameroon/Bamenda: Irate youths burn down police control post in protest over killing of one of theirs, Journal du Cameroun, Jul 5, 2021. Accessed Jul 5, 2021.
  43. ^ Facebook, Cameroon News Agency, Jul 7, 2021.
  44. ^ Ambazonia Forces Dismember Military Lieutenant In Bamenda, Cameroon News Agency, Jul 19, 2021. Accessed Jul 20, 2021.
  45. ^ Facebook, Cameroon News Agency, Aug 3, 2021.
  46. ^ Facebook, Cameroon News Agency, Aug 8, 2021.
  47. ^ Facebook, Cameroon News Agency, Aug 23, 2021. Accessed Aug 23, 2021.
  48. ^ Cameroon: Bloody weekend leaves dozens dead in restive Anglophone region, Journal du Cameroun, Sep 13, 2021. Accessed Sep 13, 2021.
  49. ^ Cameroon: Four Ambazonia fighters killed in Bamenda, Journal du Cameroun, Sep 13, 2021. Accessed Sep 13, 2021.
  50. ^ "Cameroonian troops kill two armed separatists in restive Anglophone region". Xinhua. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  51. ^ "Facebook". Cameroon News Agency. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  52. ^ "Crise anglophone: l'armée neutralise 4 « terroristes » à Bamenda". Actu Cameroun. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  53. ^ "Crise anglophone: l'armée accusée d'avoir tué 2 filles à Bamenda". Actu Cameroun. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
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