the Cameroonian city of Limbe woke up to a shooting incident that lasted for an hour and a half, according to local sources, which also added that two people were killed and five injured. According to Bein Sports Channel, the Organizing Committee of the Africa Cup of Nations has urged the teams residing in the city of Limbe to be cautious against the backdrop of some “serious” terrorist threats.
THE CITY OF LIMBE Putting things in context, the city of Limbe, located in the southwest of Cameroon, is one of the host cities for the Africa Cup of Nations 2021. And to be exact, it will host the meetings of Group F, which includes: Tunisia, Mauritania, Mali and Gambia. It is an Anglophone (English speaking) region that has witnessed a 6-year armed conflict between the regular forces and a group of separatists ‘Les Ambazoniens’.
CULTURAL MARGINALIZATION The separatist conflict in the English-speaking northwest and southwest provinces began in 2016, when teachers and lawyers protested over what they described as their “marginalization” by the national government, which uses French as its primary language, according to Reuters. The official spokesperson for the separatists has stated that the African Cup will not be held in the city of Limbe, and they will react if the organizing committee does not comply.
SAFETY MEASURES TAKEN What happened yesterday morning made the organizing committee take the threats seriously by deploying military and security forces throughout the city. According to the correspondent of the Algerian Al-Nahar channel, Mr. Kamal Mahwi, the situation is now under control and the main road from the city of Douala to Limbe, estimated at a distance of about 75 km, has intense presence of the Cameroonian army, police and gendarmerie.
NOT TO WORRY Cameroonian newspapers discussed the incident in great detail, but advised against intimidation, adding that the progress of the largest football event in the African continent will not be affected as life is going on normally.
Story by Omar Boudi- ALPS Member- Algeria
