LIVE Report May 20 : Follow CNA Live Reporting on This Special Day With Updates From The Ground
Welcome to our live reports as they unfold from the ground where the news breaks!!
Before we start, just to note that the Mayor of Bangem Council, Ekuh Simon and his deputy, Enongene Epie Manga are still under captivity. The two men are accused by tAmbazonia fighters of trying to convince youths in Kupe Muanenguba Division to take part in May 20 celebrations. They were arrested Saturday.
8 AM – Ekona Police Station allegedly visited by Amabozonia fighters.
9 AM Batibo-Bali – Heavy exchanges of gun shots between Ambazonia fighters and the Military around the Bridge separating the two towns.
9: 30 AM – Shootings reported in Belo and Batibo Subdivisions.
9 : 30 AM-Serious control around Mile 17 Buea with Soldiers checking messages and pictures in phones of denizens.
10: AM-Military Parade accompanied by Civilian March past started in Yaounde with President Paul Biya presiding at the Yaounde May 20 Grandstand.
10: 17 AM- March Past in Buea, Limbe, Bamenda beginning with Military and timid turn out in civilian population with mostly civil servants attending according to sources, workers of different Regional Delegations constitute majority.
In Buea, supporters of Cameroon Renaissance Movement of Professor Maurice Kamto marched with their hands on their heads, an indication that suffering has taken centre stage.
It is ghost towns in major cities in the two English speaking regions of Cameroon. Markets in Bamenda are wide open but no trader is around to do business.
12:43 PM- Gun shots have been heard in Tombel Subdivision, Kupe Muaneguba Division, South West Region. Since morning. Several persons have been in hiding indoors since morning.
12:53 PM- Serious gun exchange between Ambazonia fighters and Soldiers in Mabanda, Kumba 3 Subdivision, South West region.
We are on break, we will be back for the afternoon session!!!
2: 00 PM- Welcome back to our May 20 updates especially in the two English speaking regions.
Tombel witnessed one of the worst May 20 March Past as no civilian, nor Political party took part in the event. Only Military was able to partake in the parade under tight security and in an empty Grandstand. Before the event, Ambazonia fighters met face-t0-face with Soldiers in a shootout that lasted for six hours.The entire population of Tombel went into hiding.The event only started in Tombel by 2 PM, with the DO Leonard Nyam promising hell on “Amba” fighters.
In Loum, Moungo division, the fighters are reported to have attacked the area while in Mundemba, Ndian Division, the event was hitch-free though timid.
The March past took place in Kumbo Bui Division, North West region and lasted for less than 30 minutes with only one political party, CPDM on the list. No civilian took part.
In the North West regional capital Bamenda, SDF and CPP boycotted while UDP, CRM and CPDM marched after Military parade. CRM members marched with their hands on their heads, mourning deaths in the two regions.Only public schools took part with dozens of civil servants compelled to march.
The case of Buea was not different, only one primary school took part while few secondary schools and NGOs answered present.
In all, it was a massive boycott of May 20 in most parts of the two English speaking regions with mostly military taking part. The low turn out preceded threats by Ambazonia fighters who promised backlash on anyone who dares take part in the event.
