The state broadcaster said 35-year-old Ashu Prisley Ojong, who was the mayor of Mamfe, was killed when his convoy came under fire.

There are reports that two government soldiers were wounded in the attack.

Conflict between the Cameroonian army and English-speaking militias began after the government violently broke up peaceful protests by lawyers and teachers in 2016.

Since then at least 3,000 people have been killed and close to 750,000 have been forced from their homes.