Cameroon: Armed groups kill three in Anglophone regions April 28-29

Event

Members of unidentified armed groups killed three people in Cameroon's Anglophone regions over the weekend of April 28-29. Gunmen shot and killed a teacher in Muyuka (Southwest region) on Saturday. The following day, a group of suspected separatists beheaded two soldiers in the Mezam department of Northwest region. Continuing separatist unrest is expected in the two Anglophone regions in the coming weeks; further related attacks are possible in the abovementioned areas and elsewhere in the near-term.

Context

Tensions between the country's minority English-speaking community and the national authorities in the Northwest and Southwest regions remain high. The period since November 2016 has been marked by the closure of all English-speaking schools, strikes, unrest, and sporadic violence. These tensions have escalated considerably since October 2017, when secessionists unilaterally proclaimed independence in the region.

Advice

Due to ongoing sociopolitical violence, individuals in Southwest and Northwest regions are advised to closely monitor the situation, obey all instructions issued by the local authorities (particularly curfews), and adhere to advice issued by their home government.