Big scare on Saturday February 25 in Buéa, in the English-speaking South-West of Cameroon, where the 28th edition of the ascent of Mount Cameroon took place. This sporting and cultural event this year welcomes more than 600 athletes from thirteen different countries, who set out to conquer this mountain which culminates at more than 4000m. The race for Hope almost turned tragic when three explosions sounded shortly after its kickoff.
With our correspondent in Yaoundé, Polycarp Essomba
The 2023 edition of the ascent of Mount Cameroon – also called the Race of Hope – began with misunderstanding and concern. Shortly after 7 a.m., Saturday, February 25, when the start of this running race had just been given, a first detonation sounded, followed a few minutes later by two other explosions.
These three explosions took place near the Molyko stadium in Buea, the starting and finishing point of this Race of Hope. A place that had been stormed at dawn by thousands of spectators. According to police sources, the detonations were caused by improvised explosive devices, hidden at different points of the athletes’ route.
According to the Minister of Sports, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, present in Buea, these incidents left 18 injured, including an athlete and 17 spectators. The race was nevertheless able to continue and finish without further incident. But in a city of Buea won by psychosis, a large security reinforcement was deployed, including military helicopters that flew over the city all day.
Events that came to recall the context of crisis that prevails in this part of the country, plagued by an armed conflict between English-speaking separatist fighters and the regular army since 2017.