Prominent Cameroonian human rights activist Beatrice Titanji leapt for joy when a major secessionist group declared a ceasefire on 29 March to protect people from the “fury” of coronavirus in the central African state's English-speaking heartlands, but her hopes have since been dashed as fighting continues to rage.
“It's a scary situation. Thousands are trapped in the bushes,” Dr Titanji told the BBC.
“How do we tell them about Covid-19?” she added.
The Southern Cameroons Defence Forces (SCDF) unilaterally declared the ceasefire, following an appeal by UN chief António Guterres for conflict to end across the world.
“The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war,” he said.
“It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives,” Mr Guterres added.
However, none of Cameroon's other secessionist groups, estimated to number at least 15, have heeded the appeal.
The Ambazonia Governing Council, which is one of the biggest groups, said a unilateral ceasefire would open the way for government troops to march unopposed…
