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                   Cameroonians Stream Home From Troubled CAR

   by Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   Cameroon has started repatriating citizens from the Central African
   Republic as the sectarian crisis continues in the neighboring country.
   This special flight taking off from the Bangui International Airport
   carries more than 300 Cameroonians. They are among about 1,000
   Cameroonians who have called on their government to save them from the
   deepening crisis in the Central African Republic.
   The country has spiraled out of control since Seleka rebels toppled
   President Francois Bozize in March. Last week, hundreds died in the
   capital in fighting between the former rebels - who are mostly Muslim -
   and mostly Christian militia groups that formed in response to a wave
   of killing and looting by the Seleka fighters.
   According to Cameroon's acting ambassador to the Central African
   African Republic, Nicolas Nzoyum, it was very difficult for the
   Cameroonians to travel home by land because of the growing violence.
   "In fact they hired trucks to take them to Garoua Boulaye [on
   Cameroon's border with CAR] and wanted me to help them by giving them
   what we call an escort [soldiers] in French to take them there," said
   Nzoyum. "It was difficult to do it and I asked them to come to the
   residence [embassy]."
   Unspeakable violence
   People like 30-year-old Baba Toukour, who said he lived in Bangui for
   five years, report seeing horrible scenes of violence as fighting
   Bangui escalated.
   "When the dead body of a Muslim was brought to the mosque," he said,
   "tension rose and they began to kill Christians, Senegalese, Malians,
   Sudanese, just all foreigners. Many Cameroonians were killed in front
   of me."
    A Cameroonian who worked as a nurse in Bangui, Agnes Limana, also
   witnessed atrocities. "They have been killing people in front of us,
   committing crimes, seizing all of our goods, raping, kidnapping."
   A miner from South West Cameroon, Divine Abada, said he decided to come
   back because he was scared the Central African African Republic was on
   the brink of ruin.
   "These crazy Seleka rebels caught me in the bush, beat us very well,
   took everything away from us," said Abada. "Those guys, when they just
   hear that you are a Cameroonian, they say you are a spy for Bozize who
   has come into the country to cause confusion. We saw so many people
   that had been killed besides us. They beat us until they took
   everything, food, money everything."
   Homeward bound
   One woman said, "Oh, we have been saved. We are safe, my brother. Oh
   God, yea."
   When the first contingent of 320 Cameroonians arrived at the Douala
   International Airport, they said they were grateful to God for bringing
   them back home safely, and sang Cameroon's national anthem.
   There are 5,000 Cameroonians in Bangui, and about 20,000 in the Central
   African African Republic.
   Some say they are being targeted by supporters of CAR President Michel
   Djotodia, because ousted president Bozize was given asylum in Cameroon
   after he was forced out of power.
   Goods destined for the landlocked country are stuck at the Douala sea
   port in Cameroon, as truck drivers refuse to transport them to Central
   African African Republic for fear they may be killed and the goods
   looted by rebels.
   Last month, Djotodia dispatched special envoys to neighboring countries
   to make a plea for assistance in stabilizing the Central African
   African Republic.
   Peacekeepers have arrived from France and African countries, such as
   Burundi, but stability in Bangui or other parts of the Central African
   African Republic so far appears to be out of reach.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/cameroonians-stream-home-from-trouble
   d-central-african-republic/1811339.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/cameroonians-stream-home-from-troubled-central-african-republic/1811339.html