Cameroonians demonstrate against attacks by Boko Haram

Thousands of
Cameroonian youths marched
through the capital Saturday to
show support for the military's
battle against attacks by
neighboring Islamic extremists. Boko Haram rebels have crossed
over from Nigeria to attack
towns in northern Cameroon.
About 200 Cameroonian soldiers
have been killed in the fighting,
according to the demonstration's organizers, Cameroonian
journalists who have reported
on the fighting.

The demonstrators marched
through Yaounde's streets,
carrying the flags of Cameroon
and Chad, two of the African
countries that have deployed
troops to help the army to fight Boko Haram.

The march was a sign of
solidarity for the millions of
people suffering in Nigeria and
neighboring countries as a result of Boko Haram's violence, Guibal Gatama, a journalist and the event's main organizer, told The Associated Press. "It was very important for Cameroonians to come out as a sign of solidarity for the 150 000
internally displaced people, for
the 200,000 Nigerian refugees
and the 170 schools that have been closed," said Gatama. "I am
optimistic that the military will be
galvanized and I am sure Boko
Haram has got the message that
the people are united against
them." The solidarity march was also to
discourage Cameroonian youths
from joining the extremist group,
said journalist Ndi Eugene Ndi.

Buma Yvonne who lost his
younger brother in the battle
against Boko Haram said the
march showed how much Cameroonians stand by those
who are sacrificing their lives: "Our children, our brothers, our
parents giving their lives up
there (in northern Cameroon),
giving their lives for our sake, it
is important, very, very important to come out to show our support for them."