Authoritarian leader President Paul Biya has been in power since 1982. Under Biya’s repressive regime, the disenfranchised Anglophone population lacks political representation in contrast to the French-speaking majority. In 2016, English-speaking students, teachers and advocates took to the streets and protested their marginalization by the majority Francophone government. The protest was met with a severe crackdown by the state forces and has fueled the group’s mission to secede from Biya’s authoritarian regime and gain independence. Since late 2017, the Anglophone minority has been actively seeking independence from the Republic to establish their own state called Ambazonia.
Extra-judicial killings, beheadings and mass arson have reportedly been perpetrated on both sides of the conflict. Both government and separatist forces have wreaked havoc throughout Cameroon, leaving a trail of scorched villages and devastation among civilian populations. The conflict has presented terrorist groups such as Boko Haram with a safe haven. Cameroon continues to face a number of humanitarian emergencies, including a nutrition crisis and internal displacement.
Primary Terrorist Presence in Cameroon –
Other Groups Engaged in the Conflict:
Human Rights, Humanitarian and Refugee Crises:
Other restrictions on Humanitarian Aid:
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