Cameroon: Government official released by separatists /update 1

Event

Government officials announced on Monday, March 19, that Professor Leke Tambo, who had been abducted on March 17, had been released by Anglophone separatists. According to the authorities, Tambo was freed by the militants in Lebialem, a village in the Southwest region, unharmed. It is unclear if the government paid a ransom for Tambo’s release. Officials said that an investigation into the kidnapping will be conducted. An increase in security operations against separatist militants is possible in the Southwest and Northwest regions in the near-term in response to regional security concerns.

Context

Tambo was kidnapped by the Ambazonian Defense Forces (ADF) while traveling near the village of Alou on Saturday, March 17. There are also unconfirmed reports that as many as 40 other people were abducted along with Tambo. According to a video released by the ADF, the group is demanding a ransom of CFA 100 million Francs (USD 188,000) for the release of the hostages. Authorities did not release any information on the other possible victims. Tambo is the director of the General Certificate of Education (GCE), the country’s Anglophone educational board.

Simmering resentment dating back to the period of independence has resurfaced within the minority English-speaking community in Cameroon's Northwest and Southwest regions in recent years. The period since November 2016 has been marked by the closure of all English-speaking schools, strikes, unrest, and sporadic violence. Tensions between English- and French-speaking communities have escalated considerably since October 2017, when secessionists unilaterally proclaimed independence in the region.

Advice

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

On a separate note, 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.