There was a riot near the Douala International Airport in Cameroon on Saturday. The police suspected a group of young people of demolishing their homes and a mosque. They managed to disperse them eventually with tear gas.
The violence in the case has been preceded by arrests, but the ongoing process has continued regardless. The operation is not over, however. The authorities have warned that the airport will be opened in the coming days.
Story of an inhabitant:
“Yassu Anne, an inhabitant of the airport area has lived here for 37 years. She admits to losing everything. “We came today to protest this because the airport was said to be dirty. They stole us, they’re going to fix the airport, hence the operation. But they come to demolish without warning. They come one morning to surprise us. I mean, surprise us and our children. My things are buried there…. you cannot die for your possessions, my things are over there, the pots all buried” Anne lamented.
According to sources, the “clearance operation” started at around 5 am. The authorities say it’s to make sure the rights of way for Douala International Airport. Kolanya Doko is another resident of the airport area affected by the demolitions.
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Data source: Africa news