Cameroon: Possible rise in violence during electoral cycle Sep. 22-Oct. 22

Event

Amnesty International has warned that the ongoing violence carried out by armed separatist groups in the Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions may escalate during the presidential electoral cycle, which begins on Saturday, September 22, and lasts through October 22 when election results are officially released. Amnesty International estimates that at least 400 civilians have been killed in the violent unrest thus far in 2018. Local officials have imposed an indefinite curfew in the Northwest region between the hours of 18:00 (local time) and 06:00. Clashes between separatists militants and security forces have become increasingly violent in recent months and additional fighting is expected to continue 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. 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 (CAR); travel to these areas should only be considered with appropriate security protocols in place.