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Cameroon Separatists Kidnap Candidates to Protest Election

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   YAOUNDE - Separatist fighters in western Cameroon have abducted at
   least 40 candidates for parliament and local councils, in an effort to
   derail elections set for February. The government is promising to free
   the hostages and protect candidates and election officials for what it
   says must be successful polls.

   In an audio shared by separatist fighters,Samuel Nforba, a candidate
   for the February 9, 2020 local council election, says he is being
   punished by separatists for defying their warning that no one should
   vote or be a candidate in the joint local council and parliamentary
   elections.

   Among those listening to the audio is 51-year-old teacher Wilson Bate.
   He says the separatists should free innocent Cameroonians who simply
   want to carry out their civic duties.

   "It's embarrassing. I feel very bad that politicians should be
   kidnapped for simply wanting to perform their fundamental rights," he
   said. "Government should do all what it can to make sure that there is
   a safe ground for all political events, make sure that they provide the
   necessary security for these upcoming elections."

   Separatists have been fighting since 2017 to detach English-speaking
   Northwest and Southwest Cameroon from the rest of the country and its
   French-speaking majority.

   Cameroon's government declared the regions were peaceful enough to hold
   the elections; but, last week, nearly 40 people running for council
   seats were abducted in the Northwest town of Jakiri.

   Another three were kidnapped in the Northwest town of Bamenda for being
   in possession of voter cards.

   Prince Ngwese Ekosso, chairman of the opposition United Socialist
   Democratic Party, says conditions are not peaceful enough to hold the
   ballot.

   "There is need for the resolution of the conflict before we can be able
   to venture into elections in Cameroon," he said. "The country is going
   through one of the worst crises and the separatists have made their
   point the tension is going to continue."