South West: Relative Calm Reigns

The South West Region is witnessing calm and serenity with all activities going on normally in Fako, Meme, Ndian, Manyu, Kupe Muanenguba and Lebialem Divisions. Prior to October 12 presidential election, armed separatist fighters declared a six-week lockdown in the crisis-hit North West and South West Regions beginning from September 8, 2025. With attacks on military personnel that led to the death of at least five elements of the defence and security forces, the population heeded to the call that was widely circulated on social media out of fear and panic. Though the population in the six Divisions went to the polls on October 12 to vote for the President of the Republic, activities were generally paralysed during the period. Economic and school activities were timid in most parts of the Region until last Tuesday October 14. Schools, markets, shops are now functioning fully across the Region. Albeit the tension in the air as the outcome of the presidential polls is still awaited, denizens in the region have resumed their routine activities. According to the Senior Divisional Officer of Meme Division, Chamberlin Ntou’ou Ndong, his administrative unit is calm as inhabitants have gone back to their various activities. “After the election, Meme Division is calm. People have gone back to their various activities after the long lock down which was largely not observed because activities were about 80 per cent normal. People could not only travel between Kumba and Buea but inside Kumba, everything was normal. We are trying everything possible to ensure that activities go on hitch-free even on Mondays. After the election, farming and commercial activities have seriously been re...