Separatist Attack on Civilian Bus Sparks Outrage and Escalates Tensions in Ambazonia
By Andre Momo, BaretaNews | April 10, 2024
The fragile fabric of life in Cameroon’s war-torn Anglophone regions was further torn on April 3, 2024, when a civilian passenger bus was ambushed by suspected Ambazonian separatist fighters near Mundemba in the South-West Region. The bus, en route from Kumba to Douala, came under gunfire as it passed through a rural stretch, reportedly for failing to comply with a separatist-enforced lockdown. The attack left two passengers dead and seven others seriously injured, drawing widespread condemnation from across the region.
Eyewitnesses described chaos as bullets tore through the vehicle, shattering windows and injuring innocent travelers. Survivors, many of them small traders and families, say the attackers appeared out of the bush and demanded that the driver stop. When he didn’t comply quickly enough, they opened fire without warning.
Community leaders in Mundemba have denounced the violence. “This is unacceptable,” said a local elder who helped organize a vigil for the victims. “Even in conflict, there must be lines we do not cross. Civilians must not be targets.”
The attack has reignited a critical and painful debate over the tactics employed by some factions of the Ambazonian separatist movement. While the broader struggle for self-determination continues to garner sympathy, particularly in light of state abuses, incidents like this risk eroding the moral legitimacy of the movement.
BaretaNews unequivocally condemns this act of terror. The fight for Ambazonia’s freedom must never come at the expense of innocent lives. It is imperative that separatist leadership rein in rogue factions and recommit to the principle that civilians are not enemies, but the very people the struggle is meant to protect.
Meanwhile, Cameroonian government forces swiftly exploited the tragedy to justify new crackdowns. In the days following the attack, at least 15 young men were reportedly arrested in Mundemba, with no evidence linking them to the ambush. Families of the detainees say they have not been informed of their whereabouts or charges. Human rights observers fear a new wave of arbitrary detention, a pattern long criticized by local and international watchdogs.
This tragic incident illustrates once again the vicious cycle of violence plaguing the Anglophone regions: separatist attacks provoke state retaliation, which in turn fuels more radicalization and resentment. Caught in the middle are ordinary civilians, suffering from all sides and with no recourse to justice or security.
As the conflict drags into its eighth year, the urgent need for ceasefire, dialogue, and accountability grows louder with each life lost. The bloodshed on April 3 is a chilling reminder of what happens when armed groups lose sight of the humanity of those they claim to defend.
For Ambazonia’s people — weary, displaced, and grieving — the path forward must prioritize peace over pride, and protection over provocation.
