Rep Chris Smith, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa subcommittee, released the following statement about the slaying of an American missionary in the Republic of Cameroon:

“Our hearts go out to the family of the American missionary, Charles Trumann Wesco, who was murdered in the Southern Cameroons region. I call upon the government of Cameroon to hold accountable those who perpetrated this callous murder. I am concerned with the deteriorating human rights situation in the English-speaking portion of the Republic of Cameroon — which the Africa Subcommittee addressed in a June hearing — and call upon President Paul Biya to implement reforms that protect the rights of all Cameroonian citizens, including those from the Anglophone minority.”