14 Jun 2019 | 02:42 AM UTC
Cameroon: Death toll rises from June 9 attack in Far North /update 1
Officials confirm at least 24 deaths during coordinated Boko Haram attacks in Darak (Far North region) near Lake Chad on June 9; similar attacks possible in the area over the near term
Event
The death toll from a series of Boko Haram attacks in Darak (Far North region) near Lake Chad on Sunday, June 9, has increased to at least 24, including 16 Cameroonian soldiers. According to government reports on Wednesday, June 12, an estimated 300 Boko Haram fighters assaulted eight military positions around Darak and engaged the soldiers for several hours. Defense officials said that 64 militants were also killed in the fighting.
Similar Boko Haram attacks targeting Cameroonian military forces are possible in the area over the near-term.
Context
Although the regional counterinsurgency effort against Boko Haram that began in 2015 - led by West African states Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger - has greatly diminished the extent of their effective territorial control, the group continues to routinely carry out deadly terrorist attacks. Boko Haram's stronghold remains in northeastern Nigeria, and the majority of its activities are concentrated in this area. However, the Far North region of Cameroon, especially areas along the border with Nigeria, also regularly experiences attacks; the group's presence in the Far North dates back to at least 2011.
Advice
Individuals present in Cameroon are advised to limit time in areas deemed particularly likely to be targeted in a terrorist attack (crowded markets, etc.) and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities.
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.
