02 Feb 2018 | 09:59 AM UTC
Cameroon: Three police officers killed in Northwest region Feb. 1
Three police officers killed in an attack in Bingo, Northwest region, February 1
Event
Suspected separatist militants attacked a checkpoint in the village of Bingo, Northwest region, on Thursday, February 1; three policemen were killed and two others wounded. In a separate incident, gunmen killed a soldier in Bamenda, Northwest region, on the same day. One civilian also died following a military operation in Santa.
Context
Anglophone separatists have launched several attacks on Cameroonian soldiers over the past year, killing at least 22 soldiers since November 2016. An increased military presence has been established in the restive English-speaking Southwest and Northwest regions.
Simmering resentment dating back to the period of independence has resurfaced within the minority English-speaking community in Cameroon's Northwest and Southwest regions in recent years. 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 2017, when secessionists unilaterally proclaimed independence in the region.
Advice
Individuals in Cameroon are advised to closely monitor the situation, adhere to advice issued by local authorities and their home governments, and avoid protests or large gatherings due to the risk of associated violence.
On a separate note, some Western governments advise against travel to the Far North region as well as other areas bordering Nigeria, Chad, and the Central African Republic; travel to these areas should only be considered with appropriate security protocols in place.
