Following a widely circulated video showing two Cameroonian gendarmes armed with Kalashnikov rifles in the Central African village of Gasol, authorities in Bangui acted swiftly to defuse tensions along the shared border.

Local residents filmed the officers, who were accused of extortion as they moved through the area. A Central African Republic military unit deployed in the zone intervened immediately, halting their advance and disarming the gendarmes before escorting them to the Beloko police station near the Cameroon border.

Authorities in the Central African Republic viewed the incursion as a violation of national sovereignty. The seized weapons were later returned to Cameroonian gendarmerie officials, and a joint oversight committee was formed to address the incident.

High-level diplomatic response

A senior-level meeting between officials from both nations on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to mutual respect and border integrity. The discussions concluded with an agreement to maintain stability and strengthen cooperation along the frontier.

This latest episode highlights long-standing grievances from Central African communities who claim parts of the border region have been illegally occupied by Cameroon. Yaoundé has consistently denied these allegations, emphasizing adherence to existing bilateral agreements.