The Southern Cameroons Defense Force has said that it will stage attacks during the African Cup of Nations in 2019. Tens of thousands of football fans are expected to attend the AFCON 2019 in Cameroon over the month-long games.

Cameroon government troops will tighten security in the wake of the warning of terror threats. Southern Cameroons largest constituency, the Manyu has been subjected to deadly military operations by the Francophone dominated army.

The Southern Cameroons militants have reportedly killed more than a hundred Cameroon government forces in retaliation for Biya regime’s helicopter strikes in what is now known as the Federal Republic of Ambazonia.

Last week the Southern Cameroons militants released a statement saying the security of the 84 year old Cameroonian dictator cannot be guaranteed “if he visits the Bamenda State in Southern Cameroons.” We understand the visit was cancelled. The Southern Cameroons Defense Force has called on its loyalists to attack every French Cameroun government security apparatus in the country.

Mean while, the African Football Confederation, CAF has announced its first inspection mission of Cameroon’s infrastructures for the 2019 AFCON from the 11^th to 23^rd of January 2018. Cameroon Intelligence Report has been reliably informed that the inspection will now be conducted by a German firm Roland Berger. Roland Berger was assigned the task in November 2017, by the CAF after a call for tenders. The competition will be held from June 7th to July 7th.

5 cities have been designated to host the competition. Group A & C, Yaoundé (Center region), Group B Douala (Littoral), Group D in Bafoussam (West region), Group E Limbé (South West) and Group F Garoua (North).

Six stadiums will accommodate the games which for the first time will bring together 24 African National teams namely Limbé stadium (20,000 capacity), completed in 2014, Bafoussam 20,000 delivered in 2016, the Yaoundé Ahmadou Ahidjo 40 000 seats) renovated, Roumdé Adjia Garoua (25 000 seats) still under renovation, Olembé sports complex – or so-called Paul Biya Stadium – in Yaoundé (60 000) is also still under construction just like that of Japoma in Douala, with seating capacity of 50 000. The Francophone dominated Cameroon government says both stadiums will be delivered by the end of 2018.

In a related development, the Interim Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia has also warned the African football governing body not to stage the tournament in Cameroon particularly in Southern Cameroons territory. In a document addressed to CAF and FIFA, the Ambazonian leader, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe noted that the Interim Government cannot guarantee the security of the players and various delegations.

Report by Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai, Rita Akana and Sama Ernest