The Prime Minister of Cameroon, Philemon Yang has called for peace during his visit to the English Speaking region where protests have been ongoing to demand a breakaway.
Mr. Yang’s visit on Monday to the troubled region was to initiate a process of dialogue towards resolving ongoing agitations.
Local media reported that Yang while in Bamenda, in Cameroon’s Northwest Region, met the heads of trade unions in the transport, education and shopping sectors, as well as with bankers and other business figures.
Last week human rights group, Amnesty International said that over 500 people from Cameroon’s Anglophone regions have been arrested by the government for protesting.
The protests held on October 1, 2017 turned violent when security forces attempted to crackdown on protesters resulting in over 20 deaths.
Amnesty said in a statement that hundreds of people were detained in Buea, the capital of Southwest region while walking from church as part of the crackdown.
The state has charged some of those arrested with secession, possessing identity papers, destruction of public property or failing to respect a directive banning protests and other public activities.
Those living in the English speaking areas in Cameroon have accused the Francophone majority of discrimination.
Their concerns ranges from not getting jobs opportunities and having legal systems in French language imposed on them.
Those claims have been rejected by the government. There has been a crackdown on such dissents as well in the past months.
Cameroon was colonised by Germany but was split into British and French areas after World War One.
Source: Africafeeds.com
