Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Trade Picks Up on Cameroon-Nigeria Border, Despite Boko Haram

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   AMCHIDE, CAMEROON - Officials in Cameroon and Nigeria say economic
   activity has gradually resumed along their border, despite the
   continued presence of the terrorist group Boko Haram. Markets have
   re-opened and border merchants say traveling near the border is safer
   thanks to a heavy presence of troops.

   Gasoline seller Oumarou Fouman, 40, said life is gradually returning to
   the town of Amchide on Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria. He said
   many merchants have been crossing into Cameroon from Nigeria with
   electronic appliances, auto parts and food to sell.

   Fouman said he is one of eight men who have resumed buying gasoline
   from Nigeria and selling it in Cameroon. He said before he crosses over
   from Cameroon, he calls his suppliers in the Nigerian town of Banki to
   find out if it is safe to travel.

   Seini Lamin Boukar is the traditional ruler and mayor of Kolofata, a
   Cameroonian town on the border with Nigeria. Boukar and five of his
   family members were abducted by Boko Haram fighters in 2014 and
   released after a week.

   Boukar said business is picking up in Kolofata and cattle ranchers from
   African countries have begun visiting the cattle market.

   He notes there is still a security problem. On April 7, Boko Haram
   fighters attacked merchants in Kolofata for food and money, just five
   days after the cattle market reopened.

   "The first thing to do is to help us to finalize the security actions
   and also to boost the commercial activities. Amchide is a strong
   commercial city, we have people coming from the Central African
   Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and so on," said Boukar.

   Rights groups are also concerned about the safety of civilians on the
   Cameroon Nigeria border. Illaria Allegrozi is senior central African
   researcher for Human Rights Watch. She said there has been a resurgence
   of Boko Haram atrocities in the region with serious consequences for
   civilians.

   "The security situation in this region remains extremely volatile and
   violence continues to push people out of their homes. We as HRW but
   also U.N. agencies have documented how hundreds of families across the
   regions move daily to safer areas to avoid Boko Haram attacks. For
   example, following the January 8 Boko Haram attack in Mozogo, hundreds
   of people did not spend the night at home for over a month," she said.

   Allegrozi said conditions in Cameroon northern administrative units
   like Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga and Mayo Moskota do not appear conducive
   for displaced people to safely return to their homes.

   "More needs to be done to effectively protect civilians in the Far
   North region including by boosting the military presence and patrols
   and also ensuring that the soldiers uphold human rights standards," she
   said.

   Boko Haram has been fighting for 11 years to create an Islamic
   caliphate in northeast Nigeria. The fighting has spread to Cameroon,
   Chad, Niger and Benin.

   The United Nations reports that Boko Haram violence has cost the lives
   of at least 30,000 people and displaced about 2 million in Nigeria,
   Cameroon, Niger and Chad.