Cameroon: Anti-secession protest in Buea (Southwest) July 31

Event

Around 200 people protested in Buea (Southwest region) on Tuesday, July 31, to denounce ambitions by some organizations in the Southwest and Northwest regions to succeed from Cameroon, as well as associated violence ongoing since November 2016. Further related protests are possible in the coming days and weeks.

Context

Tensions between the country's minority English-speaking communities and national authorities in the two Anglophone 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. Armed separatists in English-speaking regions of Cameroon have killed over 80 soldiers and police since October, according to a report released by the government on June 20. 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.