Cameroon: Clashes in Bamenda leave at least one dead July 17 /update 1

Event

Clashes between Anglophone separatists and security forces left at least one separatist fighter dead in Bamenda (Northwest region) on Tuesday, July 17. The fighting reportedly broke out at the Hospital roundabout after armed Anglophone separatists demanded that business owners close their stores to participate in a ville-morte protest. Additional clashes between Anglophone separatists and security forces are possible in the Northwest and Southwest regions in the coming weeks.

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. The fighting has forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee over the border into Nigeria.

Advice

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