Chad’s military has deployed several hundred troops along the border with Cameroon in an effort to combat rebel groups that have been abducting civilians. This comes after armed men kidnapped a dozen Cameroonians, including a well-known traditional ruler, earlier this week. The Chadian forces managed to free the kidnapped victims but emphasized the need for civilian cooperation to address the broader issue of intercommunal violence in the region.
The violence, which erupted in late November between the Moussey and Massa communities along the border, has caused widespread fear. Many civilians in Cameroon, particularly in the Gobo district near the border with Chad, have fled their homes, seeking safety in neighboring towns and villages. Local authorities report that several hundred people remain reluctant to return to the area due to ongoing security concerns.
One such displaced individual is 43-year-old cattle rancher Timothe Woundai, who, along with his wife and three children, sought refuge in the village of Yakreo within the Gobo district. The situation remains tense, with local communities caught between the violence and the efforts of both the Chadian military and humanitarian groups to restore security and stability to the region.Â
The ongoing violence between the Moussey and Massa communities along the Cameroon-Chad border escalated after a member of the Moussey community was killed and his goats were stolen. In retaliation, members of the Moussey community launched violent attacks on their Massa neighbors, using weapons such as guns, machetes, and bows and arrows. The Moussey community has accused the Massa community of regularly stealing cattle, further fueling the conflict.
Military officials in Cameroon report that at least five people have been killed and many others wounded in the clashes, though local accounts suggest that as many as 13 people have died in total, and dozens of homes have been burned. The violence has displaced many civilians, including 43-year-old cattle rancher Timothe Woundai, who fled with his family to the village of Yakreo for safety.
During the conflict, Voutsou Tairia, the traditional ruler of Bougoudoum village, along with a dozen other civilians, was abducted and taken across the border into Chad. However, Chadian military forces later rescued Voutsou and the other captives. According to Chadian officials, Voutsou was transported back to Cameroon in a Chadian military helicopter and handed over to Cameroonian authorities. While the specifics of the rescue operation have not been disclosed, it is known that Voutsou and the freed civilians received medical care after their release.
In response to the growing instability and threats of further abductions, Chadian authorities have deployed additional troops along the border. Governor Abdelkerim Seid Bauche of Mayo-Kebbi East in Chad confirmed the troop deployment, aiming to prevent rebel and armed gangs from crossing into Chad with civilians and weapons, contributing to the regional security crisis.
Governor Abdelkerim Seid Bauche of Mayo-Kebbi East in Chad has made a passionate appeal to civilians on both sides of the Chad-Cameroon border to assist in restoring peace. He urged local residents to report armed individuals and strangers who may be hiding among civilians in towns and villages. His call for cooperation came after the successful rescue of traditional ruler Voutsou Tairia and other kidnapped civilians, which was part of Chad’s broader efforts to curb violence in the region.
Abdelkerim expressed deep concern about the ongoing violence, noting that illegal weapons are circulating across the porous border between Chad and Cameroon. These weapons are being used by armed gangs, further destabilizing communities and fueling the violence between the Moussey and Massa communities. The governor emphasized the critical need for both government troops and local officials to work with civilians to identify and neutralize these threats in order to prevent further bloodshed and restore peace to the border region.
Midjiyawa Bakari, the governor of Cameroon’s Far North Region, confirmed that Cameroon has also deployed troops along its side of the border to prevent armed gangs and criminals fleeing Chad’s military actions from finding refuge on Cameroonian territory. He emphasized that those responsible for the recent wave of violence along the border, particularly the kidnappings and attacks between the Massa and Moussey communities, would face severe punishment.
Relations between the Massa and Moussey communities have been strained for years, primarily due to longstanding accusations of cattle theft and intercommunal violence. In response to the escalating conflict, Cameroon’s government has taken steps to facilitate peace. Governor Bakari revealed that President Paul Biya has sent a special delegation to mediate and negotiate a peace agreement between the two communities, aiming to bring stability to the region and address the root causes of the violence.
About The Author
