Separatists Claim Responsibility for Deadly IED Attack in Malende, Cameroon

Reported by Suzan Daniel | Sele Media Africa

Armed separatists under the group Fako Unity Warriors, fighting for the secession of Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, have claimed responsibility for a deadly Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack that killed seven government soldiers on Friday in Malende, a locality in Muyuka Subdivision, Southwest Cameroon.

In a video obtained by MMI and widely circulated on social media, masked fighters from the group stated that the attack was in direct response to recent comments made by the Divisional Officer (DO) of Muyuka, who had reportedly claimed that only five separatist fighters were still active in the area.

“This is to tell the DO that the revolution is far from over. We are not five — we are many and strong,” one of the fighters declared in the video.

The separatist group further claimed that, in addition to inflicting casualties on the Cameroonian military, they also seized five AK47 rifles, a chain cutter, and other military gear during the ambush.

The attack has reignited concerns over the intensifying security crisis in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, where armed separatists have been battling government forces since 2017 to establish an independent state called Ambazonia.

The Cameroonian government has yet to issue an official statement on the incident. However, residents of Muyuka reported heavy military presence and ongoing patrols in the aftermath of the attack.

Human rights groups have repeatedly expressed concerns over the rising toll on both civilians and security forces in the prolonged conflict, urging both parties to embrace dialogue.

As tensions remain high, Sele Media Africa will continue to follow developments in the region.