Amnesty International says over 17 people have been killed by security forces in clashes following Cameroon’s anglophone minority declaration of independence.

The NGO also repeated its call for an investigation into all deaths related to protests on Sunday across Cameroon’s two English-speaking regions.

”The use of excessive force to silence protests in the west and south-west regions of Cameroon is not the solution,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, Amnesty’s Lake Chad researcher.

The group said the violence by security forces and the blocking of communication platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp are an ”extremely worrying” escalation in the government’s crackdown on agitation.

”In order to avoid further bloodshed, the security forces must cease unnecessary and excessive use of force, and protesters should be peaceful if they want to make their voices heard,” said Allegrozzi in a statement.

English speakers have long complained that they are treated like second-class citizens in the central African country and that the government makes less money available to them.

On Sunday, the secessionist movement declared independence – although the move has no basis in law.

Protesters tore down Cameroonian flags and raised the banner of their would-be state, called Ambazonia.

There was a heavy police presence in the region as the government looked to stem the demonstrations.

Cameroon was a German colony until World War I, when it was split between Britain and France. The two sides were reunited in 1961.

About one-fifth of Cameroon’s population of 23 million live in the English-speaking area.