Cameroon

Overview

Cameroon has been experiencing an interplay of protracted crisis situations which continues to define political, economic and social developments in the country. Longstanding grievances in the anglophone community in Northwest and Southwest regions due to marginalisation of the minority English-speaking regions by the francophone-dominated government escalated into widespread protests and strikes in late 2016.?This has resulted in the emergence of different separatist groups clamouring for the creation of a self-proclaimed Ambazonian Republic in the northwest and southwest. Clashes between the military and the separatist forces has intensified insecurity in the regions, leaving over 650,000 people internally displaced and about 60,000 people seeking refuge in Neighbouring Nigeria.?

Boko Haram's insurgency in Nigeria's  northeast has also spilled over into Cameroon's Far North region, mainly due to the proximity and porosity of borders between the two countries. After Nigeria, Cameroon is the second most-affected country by the violence and insecurity linked to BH in Lake Chad basin.?The number of Nigerian refugees fleeing to Cameroon's far north has surpassed the 100,000 mark, while violence by Boko Haram has also internally displaced more than 290,000 people in the same area.?

Apart from the above, Cameroon is also host to over 290,000 refugees from CAR mainly due to conflict.? The CAR refugees are predominately located in the Est and Adamaoua regions.

Latest Developments

31/03/2020: In response to UN Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire, the Southern Cameroon Defence Forces (SOCADEF) announced they would cease hostilities from 29 March. The biggest separatist armed group, Ambazonian Defence Forces (ADF), said they will not participate in the ceasefire because it would mean giving Cameroonian state forces access to their communities. The Cameroon government has not commented on the ceasefire.?

18/03/2020: On 17 March the Cameroonian government announced closure of land, sea and air borders with immediate effect and till further notice in attempt to contain Covid-19. The GoC also closed all public and private educational institutions at all levels and banned any gathering of more than 50 persons.? The 22 March scheduled rerun of parliamentary elections in 11 constituencies of the northwest and southwest is thus no longer feasible.?The closure of borders will prevent the population of the Anglophone region from seeking refuge in neighboring Nigeria. The planned voluntary repatriation of 700 refugees from Nigeria back to Cameroon will also not be able to go ahead.

ACAPS' team is daily monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information related to the outbreak in Cameroon, see our special report below.