In February, in the run up to senatorial elections this month, there was an increase in violence in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.[1] Anglophone separatist rebels oppose elections. The Ambazonia Defense Forces spokesman, Daniel Capo, said that “any Ambazonia citizen that participates in Cameroon’s senatorial elections will face serious consequences.” The officials of Cameroon that are charged to conduct such elections, will be hunted by our forces for charges of enabling colonialism.”[2] This has led to clashes between Cameroonian armed forces and rebels, scores have been killed on both sides.[3] Two election officials were killed in January[4] and in February, two politicians were kidnapped.[5] The increase of violence against civilians led to more Cameroonian military presence, which led to an increase in attacks against civilians by soldiers in the Mezam division.[6] In January, two Nigerian Fulani herdsmen who refused to pay taxes to the separatists were reportedly killed, leading to reprisals from the Fulani.[7] The clashes left at least a dozen dead and Cameroonian troops were sent to the border. Separatists had previously clashed with Nigerians in June 2022.[8]
Ambazonian violence was also reported in the Ouest Francophone-region where separatists raped and killed a young girl accused of collaborating with the military.[9]
There has been an increase in looting and property destruction in recent months in Mayo-Sava and Mayo-Tsanaga departments in the Far North, which ACLED related to the rising criminalization of jihad and partnerships with criminal groups.[10]
Two journalists were murdered on two separate occasions in Yaounde, one of them, Martinez Zogo, showed clear signs of having been tortured and the second, Jean-Jacques Ola Bebe, had a history of reporting on corruption.[11] Many intelligence officers were arrested on suspicion of murdering Martinez Zogo, and accused the Minister of Justice of ordering the assassination.[12]
International response:
There were mixed messages regarding a possible peace process between the government and separatists including the Ambazonia Governing Council and the Ambazonia Defence Force, the African People’s Liberation Movement and the Southern Cameroons Defence Force, the Interim Government, and the Ambazonia Coalition Team. The Canadian government, which was to lead the talks, claimed the parties had agreed to begin.[13] However, days later the Cameroonian government denied this.[14]
[1] ACLED, Regional Overview Africa February 2023, 3 March 2023, https://acleddata.com/2023/03/03/regional-overview-africa-february-2023/
[2] VOA, “Two Election Officials Killed in NW Cameroon as Separatists Vow to Disrupt Senate Elections,” 20 January 2023, https://www.voanews.com/a/two-election-officials-killed-in-nw-cameroon-as-separatists-vow-to-disrupt-senatel-elections/6926753.html#:~:text=Officials%20in%20Cameroon%20say%20separatists,will%20continue%2C%20despite%20the%20killings.
[3] VOA, “Scores Killed in Cameroon’s Battles with Separatists Ahead of Senate Elections,” 21 February 2023, https://www.voanews.com/a/scores-killed-in-cameroon-s-battles-with-separatists-ahead-of-senate-elections-/6973130.html
[4] VOA, “Two Election Officials Killed in NW Cameroon as Separatists Vow to Disrupt Senate Elections,” 20 January 2023, https://www.voanews.com/a/two-election-officials-killed-in-nw-cameroon-as-separatists-vow-to-disrupt-senatel-elections/6926753.html#:~:text=Officials%20in%20Cameroon%20say%20separatists,will%20continue%2C%20despite%20the%20killings.
[5] ACLED, Regional Overview Africa February 2023, 3 March 2023, https://acleddata.com/2023/03/03/regional-overview-africa-february-2023
[6] ACLED, Regional Overview Africa January 2023, 3 February 2023, https://acleddata.com/2023/02/03/regional-overview-africa-january-2023/
[7] ACLED, Regional Overview Africa January 2023, 3 February 2023, https://acleddata.com/2023/02/03/regional-overview-africa-january-2023/
[8] VOA, “Cameroon Sends Troops to Border After Separatists, Herders Clash,” 18 January 2022, https://allafrica.com/stories/202301190006.html
[9] ACLED, Regional Overview Africa February 2023, 3 March 2023, https://acleddata.com/2023/03/03/regional-overview-africa-february-2023/
[10] ACLED, Regional Overview Africa January 2023, 3 February 2023, https://acleddata.com/2023/02/03/regional-overview-africa-january-2023/
[11] Council on Foreign Relations, “Cameroon: From Bad to Worse in Cameroon?,” 13 February 2023, https://allafrica.com/stories/202302150002.html
[12] Reporters Sans Fronters, “Cameroonian Journalist Martinez Zogo’s Murder Was a State Crime, Official Confesses,” 6 February 2023, https://allafrica.com/stories/202302060106.html
[13] CBC, “Canada to guide peace process aimed at ending years-long fighting in Cameroon, Joly says,” 20 January 2023, https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-cameroon-peace-process-1.6721844
[14] VOA, “Cameroon Denies Canada’s Mediation With Separatists,” 24 January 2023, https://allafrica.com/stories/202301250037.html
