Cameroon: Separatists abduct Catholic priest

Agenzia Fides reported on 31 August 2021 that the Vicar General of the diocese of Mamfe was kidnapped by separatists in the South-West region of the country. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 20 million CFA francs (approximately 36,000 USD), but released him after three days. Previously, in May 2021, a Catholic priest (also from the Mamfe diocese) was kidnapped by Anglophone separatists and held incommunicado for ten days (International Christian Concern, 5 June 2021). Yonas Dembele, World Watch Research (WWR) analyst comments: "Since October 2017, fighting between government security forces and separatist militants from Cameroon"s English-speaking minority has continued unabated. In this ongoing civil war, Christians have been impacted both indirectly and directly: For example, clashes between government armed forces and separatists have disrupted church activities, and leaders have faced intimidation and attacks for speaking out against the atrocities going on in the country (perpetrated both by government and separatist forces). Kidnapping for ransom appears to have become a popular tactic with an increasing number of incidents being recorded."