Cameroon Military Says Rebels Turning to IEDs as Numbers Fall

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON - Cameroon authorities say anglophone separatists have been increasing their use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which killed 24 people in the past two weeks. Cameroon's military held an emergency meeting on the issue Monday.

Cameroon’s Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo held two emergency meetings in the past week over the increasing use of improvised explosive devices in the country’s west. After the meeting on Monday, Assomo said IEDs planted by anglophone separatists were resulting in almost daily casualties. He says as the number of separatist fighters is reducing, the few groups of rebels remaining have resorted to IEDs to fight government troops.  Assomo says the military has destroyed many separatist camps, weapons, and fighters, while some have surrendered.  He says the military seizes or destroys IEDs on a daily basis, adding that Cameroon’s troops will never stop protecting civilians.