Threats from English-speaking armed separatists on one side, risks of attacks from jihadists from Boko Haram and the Islamic State (IS) group on the other, the African Cup of Nations (CAN) will open on Sunday January 9 in Cameroon in a tense security context. In addition to the Covid-19 pandemic and the new wave of the Omicron variant, which have sparked intense speculation about a postponement of the flagship football competition on the continent, safety is the other big challenge for organizers in this country in a situation of war on part of its territory.
Disrupt the competition
For four years, the South-West and North-West regions, inhabited mainly by the English-speaking minority, have been in the throes of a bloody conflict between armed groups who demand independence by increasing the deadly attacks and the security forces who lead a ruthless crackdown. The violence has left more than 3,500 dead and more than 700,000 displaced in the West and civilians caught in pincers are the main victims of crimes and abuses on both sides, according to international NGOs and the UN. Some armed groups have promised to disrupt the competition and sent threat letters to the teams of group F (Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Gambia) who will play in Limbé and train in Buéa, respectively seaside resort and capital of the Southwest region.
“Very serious threats”
“The threats are very serious”, estimates Blaise Chamango, head of the NGO Human IS Right, based in Buea. “Wednesday, December 29, there was an explosion in Limbé in a take-away sale, it is a strong message”, he assures AFP on the phone.
“The government has deployed heavily armed soldiers on almost all the crossroads of Buea and Limbé in particular. The defense and security forces are carrying out systematic arrests and searches in several neighborhoods.”
Blaise Chamango, head of the NGO Human IS Rightto AFP
Nothing says either that the separatists will not try to act in Yaoundé or Douala, the economic capital, where they have already carried out small attacks in the past.
“Security will be assured”
Friday, December 31 in his televised greetings, President Paul Biya, who has led Cameroon at 88 with an iron fist for 39 years, mentioned “several cases of surrender” in armed groups. But they “continue to engage in criminal activities, increasing attacks with improvised explosive devices and the killings of unarmed civilians”, warned the Head of State, who the NGOs criticize for being absolutely inflexible on the issue of English-speaking regions. Faced with the threat, the government insists on “security will be assured”. Asked by AFP, neither the power nor the African Football Confederation (CAF) wanted to give details on the planned security system.
“Exceptional device”
In the capital Yaoundé, some 250 kilometers east of the border of the English-speaking areas, the atmosphere on Monday January 3 was much more relaxed and only a few security agents watched with a distracted eye the last preparations around the brand new stadium. d’Olembé, built for the CAN and home of the national team, the Indomitable Lions. “The security situation is only really causing concern in the North West and South West, but I think our defense forces have enough experience to respond to it,” wants to believe James Mouangué Kobila, president of the Commission of Human Rights and professor of public law.
“The security system is exceptional in terms of the stakes and we had the African Nations Championship (CHAN), in January 2021, without incident.”
James Mouangué Kobila, President of the Human Rights Commissionto AFP
Jihadist threat
Cameroon also faces another threat in the far north, with jihadist attacks that have, however, declined in intensity since the death last May of Abubakar Shekau, the head of Boko Haram. The rival group Islamic State in West Africa (Iswap) has, however, consolidated its territory in the Lake Chad region and is leading sporadic incursions into Cameroon. The two could well take advantage of the windfall effect of the CAN for actions that would strike the spirits, some fear, in the North or in Yaoundé and Douala.
“I do not think that the jihadists can disrupt the CAN, unless they want to strike a big blow, which is always possible.”
Guibaï Gatama, publication director of “L’œil du Sahel”
“The stadium in the North region which will host group D (Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan, Guinea Bissau) in Garoua, is located very far from their scope of activities”, more than 300 kilometers away, tempers the boss of The eye of the Sahel, bi-weekly benchmark newspaper in northern Cameroon.