(Business in Cameroon) - Herders in Adamaoua, a major beef production zone in Cameroon, are facing difficulties relating to the insecurity in this part of the country. Some figures are presented by the Mboscuda Association within which are the Mbororos, a nomadic community of big cattle farmers.   

“An investigation by Mboscuda revealed that from 2015 to 2018, 311 people have been taken hostage, 29 of whom were released following the intervention of the defense forces and vigilance committees. Other 212 people were released only after ransoms of a total of XAF2.1 billion have been paid,” revealed Oumarou Sanda, the association’s national secretary general, during a meeting held in Ngaoundéré January 12, 2019, according to comments relayed by L'œil du Sahel.

For several months, people in this northern region have been taken hostage by kidnappers who mainly target herder families. The latter are thus forced to pay ransoms to get their captive relatives freed.

According to the Association for the Promotion of Livestock Production in the Sahel and Savannah (Apess), kidnappings are primarily due to the incursions into this part of Cameroon by Central African Seleka and anti-Balaka rebels, who operate along Cameroon’s borders with the Central African Republic.

Brice R. Mbodiam