Gunmen Kill 20 People in Cameroon

A local government official in Cameroon revealed that gunmen opened fire early Monday morning on residents while they were sleeping in a town located in the west of the country, resulting in at least 20 deaths. Residents suspect that the attack was aimed at disrupting celebrations for the 41st anniversary of Paul Biya's presidency, which was scheduled to take place in Mamfe and other urban centers on Monday. The administrative head of the area neighboring Mamfe noted that the assailants carried out the attack before dawn and set fire to homes in Mamfe, which is located in the southwest region of Cameroon, less than 50 kilometers from the border with Nigeria. Mikala told Reuters that seven people were hospitalized and security forces are combing the area. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Separatists in the English-speaking minority regions of Cameroon have been fighting since 2017 for an independent state called Ambazonia.