More than 100 Cameroonians are hostages in the Central African Republic amid speculation Biya is investigating Minister Amadou Ali

More than 100 Cameroonians were kidnapped over the last three months by rebels in the Central African Republic, CAR. Armed militias have regularly invaded Cameroon territory from CAR and have kidnapped more than 100 people in villages in the districts of Touboro and Mayo-Rey in northern Cameroon. Cameroon Concord has gathered that more than 100 of our compatriots are hostages in CAR.  These Cameroonian nationals were abducted by armed men and it has been almost impossible for the government of Cameroon to establish whether it is the Seleka or anti Balaka rebel group carrying out the kidnappings.

The CAR rebels abduct only Cameroonians who are able to pay ransoms.  Among the abductees are breeders, traders and farmers including men, women, and sometimes young people with affluent parents.  The hostage-taking has been regular in the villages such as Ouro Djodi, Barkari, Salama Ouro, Ouro Seyo, Flay, Butcher, Sri, and Karang Pandjama all sharing a long border of 300 km with the CAR.  During their raids, the rebels make away with livestock such as goats, sheep, cattle, and food.

On March 20, more than a dozen people including the Mayor of Lagdo, were abducted in the village of Babio in Garoua-Boulaï . The last time Cameroon Concord intelligence officers in Yaoundé raised the issue of the kidnapped Mayor of Lagdo, a highly placed government official revealed that President Biya was fed up with the idea of paying ransoms and that the presidency believes and fervently too, that the Nordist leaders were faking the kidnappings and collecting money from government. Our source added that Minister Amadou Ali is under investigation and risk being arrested.