[1] Following the beginning of an armed rebellion in the Anglophone areas of Cameroon, Bafut quickly became a battleground between separatist forces and the Cameroonian military.

Local taxi operators who lost their livelihood due to the conflict organized the "Seven Karta" militia around 2017/18, and occupied parts of the region.

[6] Government troops raided the Bafut Royal Palace at least twice in 2018 and 2019, both times claiming to search for armed separatists.

Though no rebels were found in either raid, the soldiers used the occasions to burn part of the palace, loot its museum, and injured the Fon's brother.

[8] One of the main aims of the operation was to secure Saddle Ranch hotel, a tourist site which armed separatists had turned into a base.