On Wednesday, December 24, the capital of the Southwest region was the scene of intense tensions. Exasperated by months of darkness, residents of several neighborhoods in Buea and its surrounding areas took to the streets to demand the immediate restoration of electricity.

A cry from the heart: "We want light"

From Bonduma to Mile 18 , passing through Molyko and Sandpit , the protest brought traffic to a standstill. Women and young people blocked the road with branches, chanting protest songs. Their demand is simple: to put an end to an ordeal that, for some, has lasted for almost a year.

"We have been in the dark for more than three months with children. With Christmas approaching, the pressure became too much," confides a resident.

A daily life that has become unbearable

The lack of electricity puts a heavy strain on household budgets and schedules:

1. Food losses: Freezer stocks have rotted, often ending up as livestock feed.
2. Additional costs: Daily purchase of candles and phone recharge fees in other areas.
3. Feeling of injustice: Users claim to continue paying their bills despite the lack of service.

"Blockade" as a last resort

The increasing number of protests suggests they are having an effect. In Mutengene and the Sandpit district, power was restored shortly after street actions. For the residents, blocking the city has become the only effective way to force the installation of new transformers.

An infrastructure on its last legs

The problem is structural. According to Jude Mbaku , editor-in-chief of Divine Mercy Radio Television , the network is saturated. The current transformers no longer have the capacity to meet the demand of a rapidly growing population.

Eneo's response: Between overload and lack of resources

The electricity operator, Eneo , says it is facing an accelerated degradation of its equipment. The company points to two major factors:

1. The security crisis: The influx of internally displaced persons into urban areas is overwhelming the facilities.
2. Network insecurity: The proliferation of illegal connections repeatedly damages transformers.

Despite "cash flow constraints", Eneo assures that it is replacing faulty equipment, but calls for support from authorities and law enforcement to protect the installations against fraud, otherwise the new equipment risks burning out in turn.