Cameroon: Soldier killed in Southwest province November 10

Event

Unidentified militants reportedly killed a Cameroonian soldier on Friday, November 10, in Southwest province. The attack occurred near Ekok Bridge, which connects Nigeria and Cameroon. Authorities have not yet identified the motive for the attack.

An increased security presence is likely throughout the area as large-scale separatist protests and anti-military attacks continue.

Context

Simmering resentment that dates back to the period of independence has resurfaced within the minority Anglophone community in Cameroon over the past year, sparked by the central government's decision in November 2016 to not translate a law into English. The period since November 2016 has been marked by the closure of all English-speaking schools, strikes, unrest, and sporadic violence. Tensions between English and French-speaking communities have escalated considerably since October 1, 2017, when secessionists unilaterally proclaimed independence in the region. Others protesters, conversely, have demanded better integration into mainstream Cameroonian society and politics and an end to the political and economic marginalization of the regions.

The government has responded with a heightened security presence and the implementation of curfews with little warning.

The recent unrest has prompted the US Embassy in Yaoundé to advise its citizens and embassy staff to defer all nonessential travel to the Southwest and Northwest regions. Similarly, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has released a travel warning advising against all travel to the Southeast region's Bakassi Peninsula and all nonessential travel to Bamenda (Northwest region) and Buea (Southwest region).

Advice

Individuals in Cameroon are advised to closely monitor the situation, adhere to advice issued by local authorities or their home governments, and avoid protests or large gatherings due to the risk of associated violence.