Cameroonian leader Paul Biya has warned of tough action against the Anglophone separatists, who are accused of kidnapping of close to 80 children from a school in the country’s Bamenda region on Monday.
Those children have since been released.
Speaking during his inauguration on Tuesday, President Biya did not mention the kidnapping, but warned separatists to lay down their arms or face the full force of the law.
“They need to know that they will face the rigour of the law and the determination of our defence and security forces,” he said in the national assembly. “I appeal to them to lay down their arms.”
An army spokesman blamed separatists for the abduction, but a separatist spokesman denied involvement and instead blamed government soldiers of a carrying it out as a ploy to discredit the insurgents.
Clashes between a secessionist movement and the army began more than a year ago in west Cameroon, killing over 400 civilians and forcing thousands out of their homes.
The secessionists have imposed curfews and closed schools as part of their rebellion against the French-speaking government, which they say has marginalised the Anglophone minority.
Samuel Fonki, a minister of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, said he had been mediating with the kidnappers for the children’s release, and said separatists were responsible.
The search for the children continued on Tuesday as about 200 parents gathered outside the school, waiting to hear if their children were among those who had been abducted.
