Cameroon: Former judge released by kidnappers /update 1

Event

A former judge who was kidnapped in the Southwest region was released on Wednesday, April 11. According to local security sources, the victim was freed in Afab, Manyu department, unharmed. It is unclear if his family paid a ransom for his release. No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction as of Friday, April 13.

Context

Unidentified gunmen kidnapped the former vice president of Southwest region's court of appeals in the town of Ewelle on April 8, and came as Cameroon’s Anglophone regions have witnessed a recent uptick in abduction cases. On March 19, Cameroonian security forces launched a military operation to free four hostages held by suspected separatist militants in the Southwest region. One kidnapped Tunisian national was found dead following the raid, while three other hostages - another Tunisian national and two Cameroonians - were freed.

More generally, 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.

Individuals present in Cameroon are advised to remain vigilant, refrain from sharing personal information with unknown persons, and vary their daily routine to limit the risk of being targeted by potential kidnappers. In the event of an abduction, remain calm and obey all demands issued by your assailant(s). Do everything in your power to keep the situation as calm as possible (accept offered food, engage in conversation initiated by your captors, and avoid all political or potentially inflammatory topics).