Cameroon: 30 killed in clashes near Nkambe and Mbot (Northwest) since Nov. 10 /update 1

Event

As of Thursday, November 15, at least 30 people had been killed in clashes between Cameroonian government troops and Anglophone separatist fighters near Nkambe and Mbot (Northwest region) since Saturday, November 10. The killings come amid reports of increasingly deadly battles between government forces and separatists over recent weeks. Further fighting is to be expected in the area over the near term.

Context

Tensions between the country's minority English-speaking community and the national authorities are high in the Northwest and Southwest regions amid an ongoing separatist movement. The period since November 2016 has been marked by the closure of English-speaking schools, strikes, unrest, and violence. These tensions have escalated considerably since October 2017, when secessionists unilaterally proclaimed independence in the region. The fighting has killed at least 400 civilians, 165 security forces, and forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee over the border into Nigeria.

Advice

Individuals in Northwest and Southwest regions are advised to closely monitor the situation, follow all instructions issued by the local authorities (e.g. particularly curfews), and avoid protests or large gatherings due to the risk of associated violence.