Cameroon: Demonstrators gather in Muyuka August 16

Event

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Muyuka (Southwest province) on Sunday August 16, to denounce violence in the English-speaking (Anglophone) Southwest and Northwest provinces. Cameroon's Women's Peace Movement, and four other organizations organized the protest.

On Tuesday, August 11, suspected Anglophone separatists reportedly murdered a civilian in Makanga Quarter in Muyuka.

Further protests are possible over the near term, and continued separatist activity is to be expected also.

Context

Tensions between Cameroon's minority English-speaking community and the national authorities remain high in the Northwest and Southwest regions, where a separatist movement has transformed into a low-level armed insurgency. The situation has deteriorated considerably since September 2017, when secessionists unilaterally proclaimed independence in the region. The United Nations estimates that at least 50,000 Cameroonians have fled the fighting to Nigeria since the beginning of the conflict, with more than 675,000 others believed to have been internally displaced.

Advice

Those in Cameroon's Anglophone region are advised to maintain a heightened level of vigilance due to the high risk of violence between separatists and the government forces. Monitor local media for the latest updates on the security situation and adhere to any directives issued by local authorities or security forces, including curfews.

The security environment in the Northwest and Southwest regions remains complex. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.