Cameroon: Suspected secessionists kill five people in Bali, July 18

Event

Suspected armed secessionists attacked a security contingent in Bali town, Northwest Region, July 18. The incident occurred in the T-Junction area of the town as the security force group traveled in the area. Assailants reportedly attacked the unit with explosive projectiles before making away with weapons.

Context

The Northwest Region of Cameroon has been affected by years of secessionist violence. Initially starting as protests by lawyers and teachers in late 2016 to denounce the perceived imposition of French language in courts and schools in the Northwest and Southwest, the crisis escalated into an armed insurgency from October 2017 amid the government's heavy-handed crackdowns.