A Cameroonian corporal was killed in an ambush by suspected Boko Haram fighters this Saturday in Gassama, in the Far North region. Corporal Danga Guy Merlin was a member of the 42nd Motorized Infantry Battalion (BIM) and was seconded to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
According to reports, the soldier was suffering from a health problem and was seeking to reach another military post in Dabanga, located about 15 kilometers away, to obtain treatment. With no medication available at his post, he set out to go to the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) post in the hope of finding help there.
Unfortunately, during his journey, he was spotted and attacked by Boko Haram terrorist elements, succumbing to his injuries before reaching his destination.
Cameroon's defense forces have for several years been engaged in a struggle against incursions by armed terrorist groups active around the Lake Chad Basin. The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), created in 1994 and reactivated in 2014, includes troops from Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin, with the mission of fighting Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the region.
The death of Corporal Danga Guy Merlin is an additional loss for the Cameroonian army, which also lost a gendarme in an ambush in the Northwest last week while he was on his way to his mother's funeral.
Boko Haram attacks in the Far North of Cameroon have increased in recent years, with frequent targeting of civilians. In 2020, there was a 90% increase in attacks linked to Islamist militant groups in the region. These attacks have led to significant population displacements, with more than 322,000 people displaced since 2014.
Faced with this persistent threat, the Cameroonian army has deployed thousands of soldiers to the Far North region. However, some observers believe that their presence is insufficient to ensure effective protection of civilians.
The security situation in the Far North remains worrying, with significant humanitarian challenges related to population displacement and difficulties in access for humanitarian organizations.
The fight against Boko Haram requires a multi-dimensional approach, combining military operations with socio-economic development initiatives and the fight against religious radicalization.
