Ramadan 2015: Cameroonian muslims uphold piety and fight against terrorism

Security measures have been considerably strengthened during the fasting month of Ramadan in the Cameroonian region of the far North, border with Nigeria facing the atrocities of the Islamist sect Boko Haram, APA learned from Government sources on Sunday.

In the mosques, the Governor of the area, Midjiyawa Bakary, indicated that sermons "will be censored" and new monitoring provisions have been adopted at the borders with Nigeria and Chad. Similarly, joint patrols have been multiplied in sensitive areas and around places of worship.

At travel points, passengers have to duly identify themselves by presentation of proof of identity and their luggages will be systematically checked and bear labels before boarding.

In the political metropolis of Yaoundé, the spirits of the muslims during this fasting month which began last Thursday, are also riveted to Boko Haram-affected areas.

'The mosque preachers constantly call for utmost vigilance against the extremists', noted Musa Njoya, a trader in the city who claims to have, in recent weeks, been approached by "so-called Imams" preaching a philosophy close to that of the jihadists.

In Yaounde, the period of fasting, intense prayer and piety was preceded by the Organization of the Cameroon Muslim Exhibition (CAMEX), a trade fair intended to propose to the believers low-priced consumer products.

As a reminder, by 1 January 2010 and according to official figures, Cameroon had nearly 19.5 million to 21.3 per cent of Muslim inhabitants.