YAOUNDE, Cameroon — A separatist group on Friday claimed responsibility for a roadside bomb that killed seven Cameroonian soldiers in the country’s southwest, local media and the group said.
The improvised explosive device detonated Friday morning near the town of Malende, according to reports from the Cameroon News Agency. The Fako Unity Warriors, an English-speaking separatist group, posted a claim of responsibility late Friday.
The Cameroon News Agency reported seven soldiers were killed. Government forces had been conducting patrols in the area in recent weeks, searching for improvised explosive devices, the agency said. The Cameroonian military did not issue an official comment on the attack and did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
The strike is the latest deadly incident in a conflict that has affected Cameroon's western regions since 2017, when English-speaking separatists launched a rebellion seeking to carve out an independent English-speaking state. The unrest has produced recurring clashes between separatist fighters and government forces, and has contributed to cycles of violence, displacement and security operations across the Anglophone areas.
Local authorities and humanitarian groups have previously reported that military patrols and separatist-made explosive devices pose ongoing risks to civilians and security forces. The area around Malende has seen intermittent fighting and security sweeps as troops attempt to locate and dismantle explosive devices and separatist positions.
The Fako Unity Warriors are one of several armed groups active in the Anglophone crisis. Claims of responsibility for attacks are often posted by separatist factions on social media or distributed through local channels; independent verification on the ground is frequently limited by security restrictions and access constraints.
The government has repeatedly said it is working to restore order in the west and northwest regions, while critics and rights groups have urged measures to protect civilians and address underlying grievances fueling the separatist movement. The military’s silence about the Malende incident delayed official casualty confirmation beyond the initial local media reports.
Further details about the circumstances of the blast, any injuries among civilians, and subsequent military operations were not immediately available. Journalists and aid organizations often face restricted movement in the conflict zones, complicating efforts to independently document incidents and provide timely humanitarian assistance.