After being held hostage by separatists for 18 months, a prominent traditional leader in Cameroon’s turbulent northwest region has been released. Government representatives claim that Fon Kevin Shumitang was saved by the Cameroonian military during fights with separatist rebels, but the fighters insist that they freed the traditional leader.
According to representatives of the Cameroonian government, on Thursday morning, the country’s troops liberated Shumitang from a separatist camp in Bui, in the Northwest region.
Officials from the government claim that a number of fighters were killed in the clash but provided no other information.
The release of the traditional leader, according to the region’s governor Deben Tchoffo, is evidence that law enforcement is progressively reestablishing order following years of separatist unrest.
“I would like to congratulate military men that carried out the operation, said Tchoffo. “They have been able to take back the Fon of Bambalang. Indeed, it is coming to confirm that things are coming back bit by bit normally in almost all the major parts on the Northwest region.”
According to Tchoffo, Shumitang will be examined by a doctor before being shown to the general public at his palace.
Shumitang was untidy in photos posted on social media and carried by regional TV stations, but she did not appear underweight or unwell.
According to the military, on December 7, 2021, separatist rebels under the command of self-declared General No Pity abducted Shumitang from his palace in the town of Bambalang.
Shumitang’s release allegedly delayed a while because the government wanted to keep him alive, according to the military.
One of the separatist organisations in Cameroon, the Ambazonia Peoples Rights Advocacy Platform, is led by Capo Daniel.
“The Cameroon government arrested 15 family members of No Pity and transferred them to Yaounde,” said Daniel. “Both of them were used to pressurise No Pity to come to a compromise to release the Fon of Bambalang. That is exactly what happened. There was no military operation. The Fon was released and then handed over to the Cameroon authorities.
According to the military of Cameroon, the claim that Shumitang’s release was discussed is untrue.
No Pity’s relatives may have been detained in an effort to persuade the self-declared general to free Shumitang, but the government has not confirmed this.
Shumitang serves as vice president of the Northwest Regional Assembly and as president of the House of Chiefs for the northwest area. Both organisations are democratic bodies that talk about community development.
In 2020, Cameroon had its first-ever regional elections, during which Shumitang was chosen. Separatists claim he was kidnapped because he participated in the House of Chiefs, a government body they claim does not adequately reflect the interests of English-speaking people.
The conflict has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced more than 760,000 others, according to the International Crisis Group.