Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country situated in Central Africa. Knowing Where Is Cameroon geographically is crucial to understanding the ongoing crisis that has plagued the Anglophone regions of this nation. Since 2016, Cameroon has been grappling with a violent conflict between government forces and armed separatists, primarily in its North-West and South-West regions. These regions, home to the country’s Anglophone minority, have become the epicentre of a brutal conflict, while the Far North region faces a persistent threat from extremist groups.
The roots of the Anglophone crisis trace back to 2016 when English-speaking lawyers, students, and teachers began protesting against perceived cultural marginalization by the Francophone-dominated government. These peaceful protests were met with a harsh crackdown by Cameroonian security forces in the North-West and South-West regions. The situation escalated dramatically in October 2017 when Anglophone separatists declared independence and proclaimed the self-styled state of “Ambazonia” in these regions. This declaration ignited an armed conflict between separatist groups and government forces, plunging the civilian population into a spiral of violence. Tragically, over 6,000 lives have been lost since 2016, and the actual death toll is feared to be even higher.
Both Cameroonian security forces and armed separatists have been implicated in widespread atrocities against civilians. Government forces have been accused of extrajudicial killings, sexual and gender-based violence, burning villages, and subjecting individuals suspected of separatist sympathies to arbitrary detention and torture. Separatist groups, on the other hand, have engaged in killings, kidnappings, and terrorizing communities as they seek to assert control over Anglophone regions. Disturbingly, both sides have targeted health facilities and humanitarian workers, severely hindering the delivery of essential aid. Separatists have also systematically disrupted education by banning government schools, attacking educational institutions, and threatening students and teachers. Human rights organizations, both Cameroonian and international, reported a surge in violence and human rights abuses in 2023. Un Monde Avenir, a non-governmental organization, documented over 400 killings, at least 160 kidnappings, and 869 arbitrary arrests in the North-West and South-West regions in 2023 alone.
The humanitarian consequences of the conflict are dire. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that over 1.8 million people in the Anglophone regions require humanitarian assistance. Violence has internally displaced at least 583,112 people within these regions, and over 73,481 Cameroonians have sought refuge in neighboring Nigeria.
Despite the escalating crisis, the Cameroonian government has consistently downplayed its severity and has shown little willingness to engage in meaningful efforts to resolve the conflict or address its underlying causes. The international community’s response has also been largely muted. While bodies like the Council of the European Union and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination have called for an end to the violence, and some actors have offered mediation, concrete action remains limited. The UN Security Council (UNSC) has held only one meeting on Cameroon in 2019, an informal Arria-formula meeting focused on the humanitarian situation.
Beyond the Anglophone regions, the Far North of Cameroon faces a distinct but equally grave threat from the Boko Haram extremist group. Boko Haram intensified its attacks throughout 2023, prompting Cameroonian authorities to request reinforcements from the regional Multinational Joint Task Force. Un Monde Avenir reported 169 killings in the Far North region in 2023, highlighting the widespread insecurity across different parts of where is Cameroon.
Recent developments indicate no improvement in the security situation. Armed clashes between government forces and separatist groups, along with infighting among separatist factions, persist in the Anglophone North-West and South-West regions. OCHA reports ongoing abductions for ransom, loss of life and property, roadblocks, extortion, and civilians caught in the crossfire as defining characteristics of the current environment.
Separatist groups continue to exploit education as a tool, targeting students, teachers, and schools. The start of the new school year was severely disrupted by separatist-imposed lockdowns and threats against those who defied them. In September alone, OCHA documented four attacks on education, including the arson of a secondary school and the planting of an explosive device at another. The US Embassy in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, has expressed deep concern over these incidents and called for the safe resumption of education.
In a significant development, Norwegian police arrested Lucas Ayaba Cho, a key separatist leader, in September. Cho, head of the Ambazonia Governing Council (AGovC) and commander of the Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF), is accused of inciting crimes against humanity in the Anglophone regions. Simultaneously, reports emerged of raids on homes of individuals linked to AGovC/ADF in the US, though no arrests were made.
While often simplified internationally as a separatist insurgency, the conflict in Anglophone Cameroon is far more complex. Historical grievances over the distribution of government resources between the Anglophone minority and Francophone majority underpin the crisis. Civilian populations, particularly women and children, disproportionately suffer the consequences of this violence. The targeting of individuals based on their cultural identity raises serious concerns of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ethnic communities are also vulnerable to attacks based on alleged collaboration with either side.
The conflict’s dynamics have shifted, becoming increasingly driven by financial gains, with kidnapping and extortion becoming significant revenue sources for separatist groups. The growing disorganization and competition among separatist factions further complicate the situation and any potential path towards peace.
The risk of continued atrocities in where is Cameroon remains high unless the root causes of the conflict are addressed. These include inadequate government services, weak governance, and the marginalization of segments of the population by a highly centralized state.
Risk Assessment:
- Discriminatory practices against minority groups.
- Politicization of identity and historical grievances.
- Fragmentation of armed groups.
- Impunity for human rights violations.
- Lack of security sector professionalism and human rights protection.
Necessary Actions:
To mitigate the risks and address the crisis in where is Cameroon, several actions are imperative:
- Security forces must cease extrajudicial killings and uphold the human rights of all Cameroonians, regardless of their cultural identity. Accountability for human rights violations is essential.
- Armed separatist groups must stop attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
- Unfettered humanitarian access must be restored and guaranteed.
- Foreign governments and regional organizations should suspend military assistance to Cameroon until demonstrable progress is made in human rights protection.
- Civilian protection must be enhanced in the Far North region.
- The government should engage in inclusive dialogue with all parties to the Anglophone crisis, mediated by a neutral entity on neutral ground.
- The African Union and Economic Community of Central African States should actively work with the Cameroonian government to prevent further conflict escalation.
- The UN’s Regional Office for Central Africa must prioritize political solutions and inclusive dialogue.
- The UNSC should address the situation in Cameroon and urge all parties to end hostilities and pursue a peaceful resolution to this multifaceted crisis.
