This is a timeline of the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon during 2018.
The Anglophone Crisis is an ongoing armed conflict in the Republic of Cameroon in Central Africa, where historically English-speaking Ambazonian separatists are seeking the independence of the former British trust territory of Southern Cameroons, which was unified with Cameroon since 1961.
January
On 5 January, members of the Ambazonia Interim Government were detained in Nigeria by unknown parties. Voice of America reported that President Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe and six others were taken into custody at a hotel in Abuja.Cameroon separatist leader detained in Nigeria as unrest grows. The Guardian, 7 January 2018. Accessed 19 April 2018. Later reports claimed that the separatist leaders had been extradited to Cameroon. These reports were later claimed to be false, as Nigeria released some leaders in February.Nigeria releases Cameroon separatists who were previously reported 'extradited', Africa News, 28 February 2018. Accessed 19 April 2018. However, in April the Cameroonian government revealed that the separatist leaders were indeed extradited on 26 January.Cameroon govt says detained separatists are in good health, enjoying rights, Africa News, 10 April 2018. Accessed 28 April 2018. Among the total of 47 individuals, most had submitted claims for political asylum. In Kombone, Meme Division, separatists attacked government soldiers.Kombone Militarized After Exchange Of Gunshots Between Military And Suspected Separatists, Cameroon News Agency, 6 January 2018. Accessed 24 November 2018. On 12 January, two gendarmes were killed in Kombone.A turn for the worse: Violence and human rights violations in Anglophone Cameroon, Amnesty International, 1 June 2018. On 14 January, separatists abducted two soldiers in Kombone, Meme Division, and allegedly killed and beheaded one of them. The Cameroonian Army attacked the village of Kwakwa and burned houses.Cameroon-unfolding catastrophe’ evidence of human rights violations and crimes against humanity , Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA), 3 June 2019. On 18 January, soldiers killed at least seven civilians and burned down hundreds of houses in Kwakwa. On 25 January, separatists attacked a Cameroonian border crossing from the Nigerian side of Cross River.Gunmen cross from Nigeria, attack Cameroon border post: witnesses, Reuters, 25 January 2018. Accessed 28 August 2018. In Ekok, Manyu Division, the ADF destroyed a customs office and a gendarme post. Two government soldiers were injured in the attack.Attack In Ekok: Two Soldiers Injured, Gendarme And Custom Posts Destroyed, Cameroon News Agency, 25 January 2018. Accessed 24 November 2018. On 29 January, the Tigers of Ambazonia took several senior administrators hostage in Bangem.Tension In Bangem, Administrative Authorities Held By Gunmen, Cameroon News Agency, 29 January 2018. Accessed 24 November 2018. On 30 January, a gunman attacked a teacher at the Government Primary School in Ntungfe, accusing him of not observing the separatist-imposed school boycott. Another teacher was attacked at the Baptist Comprehensive High School in Njinikejem, this time by a man armed with a knife. On 31 January, Nigeria claimed that 80 Cameroonian gendarmes had crossed into Nigeria to pursue separatist fighters, after separatists had escaped across the border.Tension escalates between Cameroonian forces, Nigerian citizens at Ekok border, Journal du Cameroun, 21 February 2018. Accessed 28 August 2018.
February
On 1 February, separatists killed three Cameroonian gendarmes in towns in the Northwest Region.France condemns killings in Cameroon, urges dialogue, Reuters, 2 February 2018. Accessed 9 July 2018. On 2 February, soldiers stopped several vehicles in Belo and beat the passengers. One man died during the beating, and another four died after being arrested. On 4 February, it was announced that Dr. Samuel Ikome Sako would become the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, succeeding Tabe for the time being.Just In-Dr Samuel Ikome Sako Is New Acting Interim President of The ‘Federal Republic of Ambazonia’, Cameroon News Agency, 4 February 2018. Accessed 19 April 2018. On 11 February, three Cameroonian soldiers were killed and four wounded in the town of Kembong, hours after President Biya described the situation in Southern Cameroons as "stable".Cameroon separatists kill three soldiers in overnight attack, Africa News, 12 February 2018. Accessed 21 April 2018. On 12 February, a local chief in Mundemba was shot and killed by separatists. The separatists claimed he had assisted the army in rounding up separatists.Local chief murdered in Mundemba by separatists, Journal du Cameroun, 12 February 2018. Accessed 16 July 2018. On 14 February, separatists announced via social media announced they had captured a Cameroonian officer. The Cameroonian military confirmed a top official had gone missing.Cameroon separatists claim to have abducted missing soldier Africa News, 14 February 2018. Accessed 21 April 2018. On 19 February, a student gendarme was killed in Nguti, along the Kumba-Mamfe road.Student gendarme killed in Nguti, 19 February 2018. Accessed 25 August 2018. On 20 February, two separatist fighters were killed by Cameroonian soldiers in Mundemba.Security forces kill two separatist fighters in Mundemba, Journal du Cameroun, 20 February 2018. Accessed 21 April 2018. On 21 February, a teacher was killed by suspected separatists in Tombel, Southwest Region.Head teacher slaughtered by suspected separatists in Etam, Journal du Cameroun, 21 February 2018. Accessed 25 August 2018. On 24 February, separatists abducted the government's regional representative for social affairs in the Northwest Region, the second such abduction in two weeks. The ADF announced its willingness to exchange the kidnapped officials for imprisoned separatist activists.Kidnapping of government officials highlights risks to companies in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions deemed to be unfairly exploiting resources, Janes' 360, 27 February 2018. Accessed 21 April 2018. In Nguti, Kumba, 25 gunmen burned down the residence of an interim chief, accusing him of collaborating with the Cameroonian Army. They also beat seven elders in a vain attempt to locate the chief. In Njinikom, clashes that lasted for two days left at least three people dead, including one civilian and two separatist fighters.Bloody clashes in Njinikom leaves at least three deaths, Journal du Cameroun, 26 February 2018. Accessed 19 August 2019. At some point in February, at least one soldier was killed in a separatist attack in Kombone. Security forces retaliated by setting fire to two houses and killing six civilians in the village.
March
On 3 March, the Battle of Batibo took place. It was largest clash yet between security forces and separatists. According to reports, separatists attacked Cameroonian soldiers who were celebrating having recently recaptured most villages in the Batibo Subdivision.3 Villages Razed In Batibo, 4 Deserted After Bloody Attack *Collateral Casualties Overwhelmed Local Administrators , Cameroon Postline, 9 March 2018. Accessed 1 September 2018. While the number of casualties remained unclear, information that circulated on social media claimed that 70 security forces and hundreds of separatists were killed in the battle. Over 4,000 locals fled after the confrontation.4000 persons in Batibo displaced after deadly clashes between gunmen and security forces, Journal du Cameroun, 8 March 2018. Accessed 25 August 2018. On 7 March, a clash in Mundemba, Ndian Division left one Cameroonian soldier and about a dozen separatist fighters dead. Another two separatists were arrested.Cameroonian soldier killed in Southwest region, separatists arrested, Africa News, 8 March 2018. Accessed 17 July 2019. On 11 March, Ambazonian forces released a video of an abducted government official.Ambazonia Forces release video of Kidnapped Gov’t official, Journal du Cameroun, 11 March 2018. Accessed 21 April 2018. On 13 March, heavy fighting took place in the village of Nguti, forcing civilians to hide in the forests. On 19 March, security forces rescued a professor who had been captured two days prior by men claiming to be the ADF.Security forces rescue three hostages from Ambazonia fighters, Journal du Cameroun, 20 March 2018. Accessed 25 August 2018. On 20 March, Cameroonian troops freed two Cameroonian and one Tunisian hostages in Meme Department. The hostages had been taken five days prior, and another Tunisian hostage had already been killed by his captors. On 30 March, a soldier was killed in Konye, Meme Department, and another soldier was killed in Daadi.Violent Friday leaves soldier dead, truck burnt in South West Region, Journal du Cameroun, 31 March 2018. Accessed 25 August 2018.
April
On 4 April, Cameroon freed seven Swiss, six Cameroonian and five Italian hostages in the Anglophone area. While Cameroon claimed "seccessionist terrorists" were behind the hostage taking, the ADF denied any responsibility, claiming that "ADF does not take hostages. ADF arrest enablers and collaborators and does not arrest foreign nationals".Cameroon frees European hostages taken in Anglophone area, BBC, 4 April 2018. Accessed 28 April 2018. On 7 April, two soldiers were killed and several others were wounded at the Aziz security post, Southwest Region.SW Governor attacked by gun men in Lebialem, Journal du Cameroun, 23 April 2018. Accessed 25 August 2018. On 11 April, according to the newspaper The Voice, Cameroonian soldiers killed 18 civilians and destroyed their property, in retaliation of the killing of a commissioner. The Cameroonian Army denied the incident. In another incident, separatists attacked a military convoy in Ekondo-Titi, Ndian Department, wounding three soldiers. According to the Cameroonian military, the separatists were eventually neutralized, and the convoy reached its destination.Three soldiers injured in Ekondo Titi attacks, Journal du Cameroun, 12 April 2018. Accessed 25 August 2018. On 12 April, a Cameroonian soldier was shot dead while clearing a road block mounted by separatists.Cameroonian soldier killed in separatist attack, residents decry military crackdown, Africa News, 14 April 2018. Accessed 21 April 2018. On 13 April, gunfights took place near the villages Ediki and Bombe Bakundu, Moungo Division, causing hundreds of civilians to flee to Mbanga.Gov’t war against Ambazonia forces hits Littoral Region, Journal du Kameroun, 19 April 2018. Accessed 28 April 2018. On 18 April, three Cameroonian soldiers were killed in an attack in Eyumodjock.Mine blast wound six Cameroonian soldiers, Journal du Cameroun, 20 April 2018. Accessed 21 April 2018. On 20 April, two Cameroonian soldiers were killed and another four were injured by a landmine in the town of Eyumedjock, near the border with Nigeria.Landmine kills two soldiers in Cameroon, Punch Newspapers, 20 April 2018. Accessed 21 April 2018. On 23 April, in a possible attempt to assassinate the governor of the Southwest Region, separatists fired at his convoy. No casualties were reported. On 25 April, following a battle, separatists forced the Cameroonian Army to retreat from the town of Belo.Cameroon separatists force army to retreat after face off in Northwest, Africa News, 27 April 2018. Accessed 27 April 2018. In Kossala, Meme Division, an employee at the Bilingual High School was killed by gunmen.