In a tragic incident in Bamenda, Cameroon, unidentified gunmen carried out a deadly attack, resulting in the loss of nine lives, including a recently married couple.

The victims, Simplice Lontsi Tsomene, 37, and his wife Hélène Raisa Tanga, 25, were known as loving parents to three children and proud owners of a phone shop.

Authorities are attributing the attack to separatist rebels, who targeted a busy junction. The assailants arrived in two unmarked vehicles and immediately ordered people to lie down.

According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen accused the victims of being “black legs,” insinuating that they were either colluding with the government or not complying with the separatists’ directives.

The separatist rebels are part of a movement aiming to create a separate country known as Ambazonia for Cameroon’s English-speaking regions.

The conflict between the rebels and the government has been ongoing since 2017, with Bamenda being one of the hotspots of violence.

The situation has been rapidly deteriorating, with reports of horrendous human rights abuses and atrocities being committed.

A day before these latest shootings, troops attacked a residence in the Nacho neighborhood, killing five young men.

Amnesty International has recently published a report detailing alleged murders and rapes by both sides in the Anglophone armed conflict, calling on the government to investigate these grave violations.

Though no group has officially claimed responsibility for the recent killings, some separatist Ambazonia leaders in the diaspora have been urging their fighters to mercilessly go after those they label as “black legs.”

The attack in Bamenda has sparked outrage and deep concern for the safety of civilians caught in the crossfire of this conflict.

The loss of innocent lives, including that of a young couple with children, highlights the devastating toll that this violence is taking on families and communities.

As the violence escalates and the humanitarian crisis worsens, there is a pressing need for all parties involved to prioritize the protection of civilians and find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

International organizations and the global community must stand in solidarity with the people of Cameroon and exert pressure on all sides to end the bloodshed and bring about lasting peace and stability in the region.

Cameroon commemorated its 51st National Unity Day with a grand military and civilian parade in the capital city of Yaounde.

The occasion aimed to celebrate the nation’s unity, despite the deepening divisions that have plagued the country in recent years.

President Paul Biya, who has ruled for all but 10 of those years, now holds the title of the world’s oldest head of state at the age of 91.

While some citizens expressed optimism and hope for the future, acknowledging the importance of unity in building and developing the nation, others viewed the unity as a mere façade.

The ongoing conflict between Anglophone separatists and the Francophone government has left thousands dead and displaced over a million people since 2016.

These tensions have fueled growing hatred within the country, according to journalist and director of Soleil d’Afrique newspaper, Pierre Youte.

“I think it’s a happy day, and what I’ve seen today shows that Cameroon’s democracy is actually in the right direction,” said Enobi Akepe, an Anglophone Cameroonian and university lecturer, reflecting a sense of optimism shared by some attendees.

However, Youte described the unity as superficial, citing the secessionist movement in the North-West and South-West regions, where unrest continues to disrupt daily life.

The challenges facing Cameroon extend beyond internal conflicts, as the country is currently grappling with a cholera epidemic that has spread across all regions.

With an estimated 20,000 reported cases, the true number is likely higher due to limited access to healthcare facilities and underreporting.

As a preventive measure against the spread of the deadly bacterial disease, authorities took the decision to close some food markets in Yaounde on the eve of National Unity Day. The closure aims to mitigate the risk of further cholera infections during the rainy season.

While the parade sought to showcase a united Cameroon, the realities on the ground demonstrate a nation grappling with deep-rooted challenges.

As the country reflects on its 51-year journey of unity, the path ahead remains uncertain, and the pressing issues of conflict and public health demand urgent attention from the government and international community.

Separatists opened fire on a public bus in southwest Cameroon on Tuesday, according to authorities and the head of a local hospital, resulting in at least six civilian deaths and eight injuries.

The North West and South West of Cameroon, which both speak English, have seen an increase in attacks, killings, and kidnappings this year from anglophone insurgents seeking to establish an independent state.

According to a transport syndicate official who did not want to be identified for security reasons, the bus, which was travelling from Douala, the country’s capital, to Kumba, came under fire close to the town of Ekona.

Findi Stanley Mokondo, a member of parliament representing Ekona’s district, confirmed the attack but did not provide a death toll.

Six dead bodies and eight injured patients had been brought to the facility, according to Dr. Martin Mokaka, director of the main hospital in the regional capital Buea.

We have had a busy day, working diligently with the forces of law and order to identify some of the victims and notify their families, he said over the phone.

Unverified video of the aftermath was posted on Twitter and featured bleeding bus passengers lying still on seats with shattered glass all around them.

The government and the separatists, who identify as “Amba Boys,” weren’t immediately available for comment.

After peaceful civil protests demanding more representation for the English-speaking minority in the Francophone nation of Cameroon were violently suppressed in 2017, insurgents started engaging the military.

Their attacks frequently target schools, which has severely disrupted the educational system.

On September 5, two weeks of lockdown were imposed by separatists in the North West and South West regions. Day schools were set to reopen after the holiday break.