Crisis in Cameroon: Escalating Conflict and International Concern

On June 5th, separatist insurgents ambushed and fatally attacked a municipal councilor in Zhoa commune, Menchum division (NW). The violence persisted on June 8th, when combined militias under the Ambazonia Peoples Liberation Council ambushed an army patrol between Muyuka and Kumba towns, resulting in unspecified casualties.

From June 14th to 18th, clashes erupted between government forces and separatists in Ekondo-Titi, Mundemba, and Isangele areas of Ndian division (SW), the exact toll of which remains undisclosed. On June 17th, gunmen attacked a checkpoint at the entrance to Buea city (SW), claiming the life of at least one civilian.

The conflict has also taken a significant toll on local transportation, with separatists imposing a ban on taxis in Bamenda city (NW). This action resulted in the destruction of at least seven vehicles during a standoff, triggered in part by the government's decision on May 31st to restrict nighttime motorcycle circulation to hinder the movements of armed groups.

Amidst these developments, tensions escalated over a separatist faction's directive for all yellow taxis in Anglophone areas to adopt the blue and white colors of the Ambazonia flag. This controversial policy sparked internal dissent among faction leaders, exacerbating the already volatile situation.

The international community has increasingly voiced alarm over Cameroon's escalating conflicts. The Norwegian Refugee Council, on June 4th, highlighted Cameroon's displacement crisis as one of the most neglected globally, emphasizing the prolonged Anglophone conflict alongside jihadist insurgency in the Far North region.

During a United Nations Security Council briefing on June 10th, Russia and Japan expressed deep concern over the violence in NW and SW regions. France called upon the parties involved in the Anglophone crisis to prioritize dialogue, while South Korea advocated for a Cameroonian-led initiative to resolve the conflict in the Anglophone regions.

Meanwhile, jihadist violence persists in Cameroon's Far North region. The Multinational Joint Task Force continued its Operation Lake Sanity to reclaim territory from extremist groups. In Mayo-Sava division, insurgents killed a soldier near Mora town on June 6th, while government troops responded by eliminating two Boko Haram combatants in Amchide town on June 15th. Further clashes occurred on June 12th in Koza town, Mayo-Tsanaga division, resulting in casualties on both sides. Additionally, between June 13th and 14th, security forces apprehended twelve Boko Haram fighters in Moskota town. On June 17th, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province abducted the local head of the fishermen’s association in the Chahack area of Logone-et-Chari division.

The multifaceted security challenges in Cameroon demand urgent international attention and concerted efforts toward peaceful resolution and humanitarian relief.