14 Arrested After Youth Gang Attack in Yaoundé's Mokolo District

The attack occurred around the "Afrique du Sud" area of Mokolo and lasted only five minutes, according to local officials. The sub-prefect of Yaoundé III told Equinoxe Radio and TV that the aggression was “spontaneous” and was swiftly contained by security forces.

The Mfoundi Territorial Gendarmerie responded rapidly, arresting 14 suspects and seizing two machetes, a penknife, and one kitchen knife. The detainees are being held in custody as investigations continue to identify additional members of the group, the gendarmerie said in a statement.

Authorities confirmed that some of the arrested individuals had traveled from Douala, raising concerns over intercity gang coordination.

The incident marks a worrying resurgence of youth gang violence in the capital. The term “microbes” is widely used in parts of Central and West Africa to refer to loosely organized, often armed, urban youth gangs involved in street crime.

The National Gendarmerie has urged residents to remain calm and report suspicious activity by dialing the emergency number 113 or visiting the nearest gendarmerie post.

There were no reported fatalities or serious injuries.