DO Of Bali Nyonga In Mezam Division, Northwest Region, Chairs Ceremony To Inaugurate Newly Constructed BIR Camp

 The structure which is the first ever BIR Camp to be set up in Bali Sub – division, will not only serve the Sub-division, but neighbouring localities as well.

Dolingo Djongo, the DO of Bali Nyonga, Mezam Division in the Northwest Region of Cameroon, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, presided over the inauguration ceremony of the newly constructed camp of the Rapid Intervention Battalion of the Cameroon military, commonly known by the French acronym, BIR.  The structure which is the first ever BIR Camp to be set up in Bali Sub-division, is located at an area known as Gwan, which is the entrance into Bali town from Bamenda, or better still, the new administrative quarter in Bali.  The BIR Camp in Bali will serve not only the Bali Sub –division, but neighbouring localities as well.

Also present at the July 9 ceremony was the Mayor of Bali, Ernest Wandum, traditional authorities and of course military authorities from Bamenda, the Northwest Regional Headquarters. The occasion was graced by traditional dances.

The Return Of Relative Peace To Bali

It should be noted that Bali Nyonga was one of the main centers in the Northwest Region, of frequent bloody clashes between government troops and separatist fighters commonly known as Amba Boys, following the escalation of the Anglophone Crisis. The group of separatist fighters in Bali was known as Buffalos.

But interestingly enough, Bali Sub – division has known relative peace or calm for over a year now. Dozens of separatist fighters have formally laid down their weapons, while some, including the leader of the Buffalos who was known as Grand Pa, had since disappeared from Bali. Some sources allege that Grand Pa is now in Ghana.

Change Of Strategy By Military Command

Meanwhile, this change in the situation in Bali was due to a number of reasons or factors, one of which was the brilliant change of strategy by the Ministry of Defense or the military command. All the soldiers that were earlier sent to Bali following the escalation of the Anglophone Crisis, and who the population considered as enemies because of the atrocities that they were allegedly committing, were at one point in 2023 all withdrawn, and replaced by a group of real professional and population or people – friendly soldiers. It did not take long for the Bali population that had also been suffering from increasing atrocities committed by Amba Boys to realize the change, and the newly deployed people – friendly government troops and the population soon embraced each other.  And the friendly co – existence has continued since then.

Thanks to the return of relative peace, schools and businesses have since reopened their doors in Bali, roads in Bali town have been tarred, many activities have since resumed, and many developed projects have been taking place. A big rehabilitation work is currently going on at the Bali Fon’s Palace, with funds raised by sons and daughters of Bali Nyonga, especially those in the Diaspora, and particularly the United States of America.

It would be recalled that last December, many sons and daughters of Bali Nyonga in the Diaspora, were able to come home for the first time since the escalation of the Anglophone Crisis, for the end of year celebration.

    Pictures of the inauguration of the BIR Camp Used In This Article, Is Courtesy Of TAFREY KINGSLY Official.