Southern Cameroons: Houses have been burned as inter-tribal conflict erupts in Ngoketunjia division

Breaking

It wouldn't be an over statement to affirm that Ngoketunjia division in the north west region, is a fertile ground for inter-tribal violence.Babessi village and Mambim ( a small quarter within the Babessi village which harbours some Bamoun minority) both in the said division, have been in a fierce battle over a peace of farm land since the morning of June 10th 2017. Eye witness account hinted Cameroon Concord that, even though no casualty in human live has been recorded, houses, cars and lots of other valuable properties have been set ablaze in Mambim as inhabitants took to their heels to seek refuge in Fon Chafah's palace in Bangolan. Sources close to Fon Chafah confirmed to us that, the senior magistrate and alternate senator has enjoined his notables in Bangolan to give proper care to all who fled from the confrontation and took refuge in his palace. Our informant also made it known to us that fon Chafah and the fon of Babessi have engaged peaceful negotiations while waiting for the administration of la Republique to open investigations.

The brouhaha broke up when indigenes of Babessi and Mambim clashed over a farm land which the Babessi people claim belongs to them. Mambim is a small quarter inside of Babessi which was given to a few Bamoun family some years back who fled from tribal conflicts in the noun division. The family has grown big and expanded with the passage of time and wants to become and independent village, an idea which seems a utopia to the people of Babessi who are bent on preserving their sovereignty.

At press time, local administrative authorities are expected to hold a crisis meeting to seek lasting solutions to the stalemate. It should be recalled, Babessi is just from another inter-tribal war with Bangolan still over farm land and has been in conflicts with other villages lately.