Cameroon: General strike continues in Anglophone regions February 11 /update 2

Event

The ban on all activities declared by Anglophone separatists in the Southwest and Northwest regions on February 5 continues as of Tuesday, February 12. Public transportation services have reportedly been suspended, vehicular traffic is restricted, and violent incidents continue to be reported. Fighting has reportedly been going on since February 5 in the southwestern towns of Limbe, Buea, Mutengene, Kumba, Mamfe, and Tombel, as well as in the northwestern towns of Bamenda, Kumbo, Ndop, Nkambe, Bafut, and Kom, in which at least 69 people were killed. The general strike is scheduled to persist until at least Thursday, February 14.

Also, on Monday, February 11, suspected Anglophone separatist militants attacked an hospital in Kumba, burning it down and killing at least four people.

Further violent incidents, as well as clashes between security forces and separatists are possible in Northwest and Southwest regions 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 regions.

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.