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Country analysis

Cameroon


Cameroon has been experiencing an interplay of protracted crisis situations that continues to define political, economic, and social developments in the country. Longstanding grievances in the anglophone community in Northwest and Southwest regions, following decades of the marginalisation of the minority English-speaking regions by the francophone-dominated Government, escalated into widespread protests and strikes in late 2016.

This has resulted in the emergence of different separatist groups clamouring for a self-proclaimed Ambazonian Republic in Northwest and Southwest. Clashes between the military and separatist forces have intensified insecurity in the regions, leaving 638,400 people internally displaced and 64,000 seeking refuge in neighbouring Nigeria as at 9 February 2024.

Boko Haram’s insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast has also spilled over into Cameroon’s Far North region, mainly as a result of the proximity and porosity of borders between the two countries. 120,869 Nigerian refugees have fled to Cameroon’s Far North, while violence by Boko Haram and the Islamic State – West Africa Province has internally displaced more than 453,600 people in the same area.

As at January 2024, Cameroon was also hosting over 358,900 refugees from the Central African Republic fleeing conflict in their country. These refugees were predominantly residing in Adamaoua, East, and North regions.

(UNHCR 20/01/2024, IOM accessed 11/02/2024, OCHA 06/11/2023, OCHA 08/12/2023, OCHA 09/02/2024)

Cameroon has been experiencing an interplay of protracted crisis situations that continues to define political, economic, and social developments in the country. Longstanding grievances in the anglophone community in Northwest and Southwest regions, following decades of the marginalisation of the minority English-speaking regions by the francophone-dominated Government, escalated into widespread protests and strikes in late 2016.

This has resulted in the emergence of different separatist groups clamouring for a self-proclaimed Ambazonian Republic in Northwest and Southwest. Clashes between the military and separatist forces have intensified insecurity in the regions, leaving 638,400 people internally displaced and 64,000 seeking refuge in neighbouring Nigeria as at 9 February 2024.

Boko Haram’s insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast has also spilled over into Cameroon’s Far North region, mainly as a result of the proximity and porosity of borders between the two countries. 120,869 Nigerian refugees have fled to Cameroon’s Far North, while violence by Boko Haram and the Islamic State – West Africa Province has internally displaced more than 453,600 people in the same area.

As at January 2024, Cameroon was also hosting over 358,900 refugees from the Central African Republic fleeing conflict in their country. These refugees were predominantly residing in Adamaoua, East, and North regions.

(UNHCR 20/01/2024, IOM accessed 11/02/2024, OCHA 06/11/2023, OCHA 08/12/2023, OCHA 09/02/2024)

Latest updates on country situation

07 October 2024

Heavy and recurrent torrential rains since July 2024 have continued to cause floods in Cameroon’s Far North region. Until 3 October, the floods had affected around 365,000 people, with almost all residing in around 56,000 damaged or destroyed houses; damaged around 260 schools and 65 health centres; and flooded around 82,500 hectares of farmland. The departments of Mayo-Danay and Logone et Chari are the most affected. Urgent humanitarian needs include shelter, essential household items, food, WASH kits, and healthcare support, particularly psychosocial support. Poor road conditions are hindering humanitarian assistance. For the rest of the year, floods are estimated to affect a further 100,000 people in Far North region. (OCHA 05/10/2024, UNICEF 07/10/2024, WFP 08/10/2024)

10 September 2024

Since July 2024, Cameroon’s Far North region has been experiencing heavy rains that have caused floods and material damage in the departments of Diamaré, Logone et Chari, Mayo-Danay, Mayo-Kani, and Mayo-Tsanaga. Until 10 September, the impact hit at least 200,000 people, killing 11, including four children. The rains have also destroyed or damaged over 12,500 houses, inundated 30 schools and 16 health centres, destroyed close to 7,900 hectares of crops, and killed almost 1,300 livestock. These have aggravated the humanitarian situation in the region, which hosted 453,000 IDPs and 128,000 refugees until 31 August. Priority needs include food, shelter, NFIs, WASH access, and health services. (OCHA 10/09/2024, UNICEF 06/09/2024, ECHO 05/09/2024)

07 February 2024

On 5 February 2024, IOM released the Emergency Tracking Tool covering population movements in the department of Mayo-Tsanaga (Cameroon) for the 29 January to 5 February period. Insecurity following a series of non-state armed group attacks and looting incidents displaced over 3,700 people. They were displaced from Batawaya, Dingding, Ldamang, Ldubam-Bas, Magoumaz, Moskota, Oulad, Oupai, Tourou, and Ziver and relocated mainly to Ldamtsai-Carrefour Daugai, Ouro-Tada, Ségoulé Centre, and Yoborga Centre. (IOM 05/02/2024)

current crises
in Cameroon


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

CMR001 - Country level

Last updated 30/10/2024


Drivers

Conflict
Displacement

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.8 High

Access constraints

4.0

CMR002 - Lake Chad basin crisis

Last updated 30/10/2024


Drivers

Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.5 High

Access constraints

3.0

CMR003 - Anglophone crisis

Last updated 30/10/2024


Drivers

Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.5 High

Access constraints

4.0

CMR004 - CAR refugees

Last updated 30/10/2024


Drivers

Conflict
Displacement

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.8 Medium

Access constraints

2.0

REG001 - Lake Chad basin regional crisis

Last updated 30/10/2024


Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

4.2 Very High

Access constraints

4.0

Analysis products
on Cameroon

Cameroon: Increase in cholera cases

29 June 2023

Cameroon: Increase in cholera cases

DOCUMENT / PDF / 204 KB

Cameroon has been experiencing a cholera outbreak since October 2021. Although the number of reported cases was relatively low between late November 2022 and March 2023, there has been a significant increase since 27 March, particularly in Centre region, making it the new epicentre of the epidemic. The epidemic has since mostly affected Centre, Littoral, South, and West regions, with new cases reported in 29 out of 58 districts countrywide.

Health
Lake Chad Basin: Impact of extreme weather & climate events on food security

17 August 2022

Lake Chad Basin: Impact of extreme weather & climate events on food security

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

This report aims to explore the impact of extreme weather and climate events on the humanitarian situation in the Lake Chad Basin. Since the 1970s in West and Central Africa, river floods and agricultural and ecological droughts have been increasing while average rainfall has been decreasing. These phenomena have an impact on availability of resources and land, and consequently on the economic and living conditions of the regions’ populations.

Food security & livelihoodsNatural hazards
Cameroon: Education crisis in North West and South West regions

19 February 2021

Cameroon: Education crisis in North West and South West regions

DOCUMENT / PDF / 2 MB

This report consolidates information from a wide range of available secondary data sources on the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon, including UN agencies, NGOs, the World Bank, media, and key informant interviews conducted in November 2020 and February 2021. Prior to publication, the report was shared with external partners working in Cameroon to cross-check information. 

Natural hazards
Cameroon: COVID-19 outbreak

30 March 2020

Cameroon: COVID-19 outbreak

DOCUMENT / PDF / 389 KB

Cameroon has 54 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Central Region, Littoral Region and West Region as of 23 March 2020. Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health has developed a preparedness plan for COVID-19, including active surveillance at points of entry, in-country diagnostic capacity at the national reference laboratory, and designated isolation and treatment centres. 

COVID-19
Cameroon: Escalation of the Anglophone crisis

21 January 2020

Cameroon: Escalation of the Anglophone crisis

DOCUMENT / PDF / 380 KB

Parliamentary and municipal elections scheduled for 9 February 2020 are intensifying an escalation of the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon. On 7 January 2020, fighters from the Ambazonian separatist group burned down the Elections Cameroon office in Misaje commune, Donga Mantung division in Northwest region. The action was to reiterate their earlier decision not to participate in legislative and municipal council elections scheduled for 9 February 2020.

Conflict and violence
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