Cameroon: Government security officers killed in ambush

According to BBC News reporting on 16 June 2021, four security personnel were ambushed and killed by armed men believed to be separatist fighters in Cameroon"s troubled South-West Province. Four other soldiers were also reported missing. World Watch Research analyst Yonas Dembele comments: "Cameroon"s English-speaking regions have been embroiled in a violent conflict with government forces since 2017. More than 3,500 lives have been lost and 700,000 people have been displaced so far due to the conflict. Although there have been efforts between the government and the separatists to broker peace through dialogue, these have not yet been successful. In 2020, there was an escalation of violence as the separatists became more assertive and the government deployed additional forces. The recent killing of security officers shows that separatist groups will continue to fight for what they believe is due to them, and violence is likely to continue unabated. Meanwhile, the rippling effects of the instability will make life difficult for civilians. With Boko Haram still carrying out attacks in the northern part of the country, the continued instability in the Anglophone region could give them a chance to further extend their operations, potentially targeting an increased number of Christian communities."