The Cameroonian army on Friday defended accusations of abuses during operations against separatists in the English-speaking regions, while the European Union called for a proportionate use of force, and accusations against them increased in the press and on social networks.
"These accusations of abuse are the dream, we are victims of misinformation" and "fake-news," said Colonel Didier Badjeck, spokesman for the army to AFP, contacted by phone from Libreville.
For more than a year, Cameroon's English-speaking regions of North-West and South-West have been shaken by a socio-political crisis.
Over the months, and in reaction to Yaoundé's strong deployment of troops, the independence cause has gained weight, and the crisis has gradually turned into a low-intensity armed conflict with isolated attacks against the symbols of Islam. 'State.
On Thursday, a soldier was killed in Bamenda (north-west) "with a dagger in the eye," according to Colonel Badjeck. His death brings to 23 the number of elements of security forces killed by suspected separatists in English-speaking areas since the beginning of the crisis, according to an AFP count on the basis of official declarations from Yaounde.
"Our soldiers are shot every day, we are harassed, it can happen that there are reactions on the ground, that a soldier is losing money, but it has not happened yet," said the colonel. Badjeck.
On Thursday, the European Union considered it "essential that the security forces make a proportionate use of force in the performance of their duties".
The spokesman of the army invited the partners of Cameroon to have an impartial look.
"We need organs, with whom we maintain good relations, do not listen only one camp", at the risk of being misinformed, he said, while stating that it was not not to him to bring an official reaction.
"We are reminded of what to do, but there is no need, the army is professional, we have a culture of respect for human rights," he said.
According to various sources, at least four civilians were killed in early February by security forces in the English-speaking North West after the death of two gendarmes. Witnesses also reported destroyed houses, broken windows, radios, televisions and burned computers.
"We are scandalized by the fake-news," said Colonel Badjeck, who said that "thanks to the raids, we get to get our hands on weapons".
The separatists "are strong in disinformation! People are afraid, we must win the war of hearts," he said.
AFP