Bomb at trail race in Cameroon
A video widely shared on social media shows spectators cheering for athletes who had to rush to hide when a small explosion appeared at the run on February 25. Another video shows an explosion occurring near a group of runners elsewhere on the route.
Reports vary on who was injured, with one source stressing the explosion only affected athletes, while others said both runners and spectators were affected. However, sources agree that a total of 19 people were injured from the incident.
Martin Mokake, director of Buea Regional Hospital, told Reuters that the hospital operated on three victims among those taken to the hospital. Mokake further updated that the condition of 19 patients is stable and no deaths have been recorded.
According to Mokake, one of those being treated is a Gabon citizen. Others hospitalized include athletes from East, Central, North Africa and France.
The Ambazonian Self-Defense Forces, an armed group in Cameroon, quickly claimed responsibility for the bombings. Capo Daniel, the group's spokesman, told Reuters: "Our main target is Cameroon's elite forces who are providing security for the athletes. We will not allow Cameroon to continue its occupation. ".
The separatist insurgency began in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon in 2016, when teachers and lawyers protested being marginalized by the national government of the predominantly French-speaking population. socially. These people declared their intention to break away from the predominantly French-speaking country and establish their own English-speaking country.
A violent crackdown by security forces radicalized the movements, and the ensuing conflict left more than 3,000 people dead and nearly 1 million displaced.
The bombings took place about 30 minutes after the 42km race started. By that time, the majority of the 530 competitors had already run through the affected area and were allowed to complete the race. Adamou Issa Bouba - from Donga Mantung subdivision in the Northwest region - finished first with a record of 4 hours 39 minutes. Behind was Amadou Abdou with 4 hours 42 minutes, and Elvis Tah with 4 hours 46 minutes.
The Race of Hope is an annual televised race at Mount Cameroon in the Southwestern Region of the country in January or February. The race was first held in 1973. For many years, the race was organized and sponsored by Guinness as the Guinness Mount Cameroon Race. In 2005, 12 local committees in Buea and representatives of the Cameroon Athletics Federation (CAF) and Physical Education controlled the event.
