This is a timeline of the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon during 2019.
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 2 January, armed men chopped the hands or fingers off at least half a dozen workers at Cameroon Development Corporation. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.Cameroon: Armed men chop off fingers of CDC workers, Journal du Cameroun, 3 January 2019. Accessed 3 January 2019. On 3 January, armed men burned down the residence of Prime Minister Joseph Ngute in Bobongo, Ekondo-Titi, Southwest Region.Cameroon: Residence of Minister Dion Ngute burnt by armed men, Journal du Cameroun, 3 January 2019. Accessed 3 January 2019. In Mbelenka, Lebialem, three gendarmes were wounded in a separatist attack.Cameroon: Three gendarmes killed in Mbelenka, Journal du Cameroun, 4 January 2018. Accessed 4 January 2018. In Widikum, Momo Division, an Ambazonian general was killed when security forces raided a separatist camp. Government forces claimed that 17 separatists were killed during the raid, while the separatists claimed that the general was the sole loss.Cameroon: ‘Ambazonia General’ killed in Widikum, Journal du Cameroun, 4 January 2019. Accessed 4 January 2019. In Fundong, a police officer was killed.Cameroon: Two security forces killed in Fundong, Journal du Cameroun, 7 January 2019. Accessed 7 January 2019. On 4 January, separatists killed two soldiers and wounded two more in Fundong, seizing their weapons. Between 4–27 January, the Cameroonian Army claimed to have killed 68 separatist fighters. The separatists claimed that 14 or more were civilians. On 6 January, Anglophone Cameroonians in the diaspora organized protests to mark the first anniversary of the arrest of the Ambazonian leadership. Throughout the day, armed clashes took place in Muyuka, Bafut, Mundum and Mamfe.Cameroon: Protests, ghost towns mark anniversary celebrations of detained ‘Ambazonia leaders’, Journal du Cameroun, 7 January 2019. Accessed 7 January 2019. In Mamfe, two Ambazonian generals were killed when their camps were raided by the Rapid Intervention Battalion.Cameroon: Two ‘Ambazonia Generals’ killed in Mamfe, Journal du Cameroun, 7 January 2019. Accessed 7 January 2019. On 10 January, Ambazonia's first president Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe, as well as other Ambazonian leaders who had been extradited from Nigeria to Cameroon a year before, appeared before the Military Tribunal in Yaoundé.Trial of Cameroon separatist leaders adjourned to Feb. 7, AfricaNews, 14 January 2019. Accessed 6 July 2019. This was followed by ghost towns all over the Anglophone regions. In Muyuka, heavy clashes led to a large military deployment.Cameroon: vionlence, gunshots, ghost towns engulf parts of Anglophone towns, Journal du Cameroun, 10 January 2019. Accessed 10 January 2019. On 11 January, government soldiers ambushed and killed at least 21 separatist fighters in Mbot, Nkambé, Northwest Region. According to villagers, the soldiers burned down several houses during the attack.Cameroon soldiers kill 21 separatist fighters in NW region, Journal du Cameroun, 12 January 2019. Accessed 12 January 2019. On 12 January, at least seven suspected separatists were killed in Alabukam, Northwest Region, bringing the total number of separatists killed over the weekend to at least 28.Cameroon: Seven suspected separatists killed in Alabukam, Journal du Cameroun, 14 January 2019. Accessed 14 January 2019. On 15 January, unidentified gunmen illegally detained at least 36 people at the Buea-Kumba Highway.Cameroon: At least 36 passengers kidnapped along Buea-Kumba highway, Journal du Cameroun, 16 January 2019. Accessed 16 January 2019. They were released the next day, while the gunmen held on to phones and money.Suspected anglophone separatists release 30 kidnapped in Cameroon: security source, Pulse, 16 January 2019. Accessed 17 January 2019. On 16 January, separatist fighters killed a soldier in Ngoh. In Ediki, 36 civilians were briefly abducted."CrisisWatch January 2019", International Crisis Group, Jan 2019. Accessed 6 July 2019. On 17 January, two soldiers were beheaded. On 18 January, a well-known investor and cattle owner from Wum was assassinated by suspected separatists. As a response, government forces raided a separatist camp in Wum two days later, killing at least six separatists.Cameroon: death of prominent businessman sparks killings in Wum, Journal du Cameroun, 20 January 2019. Accessed 21 January 2019. Two soldiers were beheaded somewhere in Northwest Region. Between 18–27 January, separatists killed six soldiers. On 19 January, unidentified gunmen set a truck on fire in Nkwen, Bamenda. Gunshots in front of public buildings forced civilians to flee.Bamenda : des séparatistes incendient un véhicule d’Hysacam, Camer.be, 21 January 2019. Accessed 6 July 2019. (French) On 22 January, the head of a decapitated security guard was displayed on a stick in the Kosala neighborhood of Kumba.Cameroon: Panic in Kumba after discovery of human head, Journal du Cameroun, 22 January 2019. Accessed 6 July 2019. On 23 January, three people were arrested in Mamfe for smuggling ammunition from Nigeria.Cameroon: Three arrested over bullet-trafficking in Mamfe, Journal du Cameroun, 25 January 2019. Accessed 28 January 2019. On 24 January, the leader of Southern Cameroons Defence Forces (SOCADEF), General Andrew Ngoe, was killed in Matoh, Mbonge, alongside several other SOCADEF fighters. SOCADEF confirmed the loss.Cameroon: ‘Ambazonia General’ killed in Matoh, Journal du Cameroun, 24 January 2019. Accessed 24 January 2019. On 25 January, two lawyers were abducted in Buea.Cameroon: Two lawyers kidnapped in Buea, Journal du Cameroun, 25 January 2019. Accessed 28 January 2019. On 28 January, two separatists were killed during a clash in Bambili, and another three near Bamenda, where a policeman was also killed.Cameroon: Police officer killed in Bamenda, Journal du Cameroun, 29 January 2019. Accessed 29 January 2019. Clashes also took place in Bafut,Cameroon: Soldiers kill five Ambazonia fighters on ghost town day, Journal du Cameroun, 28 January 2019. Accessed 28 January 2019. where Cameroonian forces launched a two-day offensive in which they captured a separatist camp. 14 separatists were killed in Bafut, while government casualties remained unclear.Cameroon: At least 14 separatist fighters killed in Bafut, Journal du Cameroun, 30 January 2019. Accessed 30 January 2019.
February
On 4 February, separatists declared a 10-day lockdown, telling people all across the Anglophone regions to stay at home from 5–14 February.Cameroon: Ambazonia separatists impose ‘ten-day lockdown’ on Anglophone regions, Journal du Cameroun, 4 February 2019. Accessed 4 February 2019. The lockdown was a matter of controversy among the separatists, with a spokesperson of the Ambazonia Defence Forces arguing that it would be counterproductive.Cameroon: Ambazonia activists divided over ‘ten-day lockdown’, Journal du Cameroun, 4 February 2019. Accessed 4 February 2019. In Mamfe, the corpses of nine young men were discovered.Cameroon: At least nine corpses discovered in Mamfe, Journal du Cameroun, 4 February 2019. Accessed 4 February 2019. In Ndu, at least three separatist fighters were killed in clashes with the army,Cameroon: At least three suspected separatist fighters killed in Ndu, Journal du Cameroun, 4 February 2019. Accessed 4 February 2019. before heavy rains forced the army to abort its operation and retreat. In Buea, one person was killed and another was wounded by armed men.Cameroon:Ambazonia fighters kill one on ghost town day in Buea, Journal du Cameroun, 5 February 2019. Accessed 5 February 2019. On 5 February, separatists initiated the planned ten-day lockdown. Large parts of Buea were closed down, while armed clashes took place in Muea and Muyuka. Most of Bamenda was closed down, with smaller clashes taking place.Cameroon:Gunshots, blackout open day one of Ambazonia lockdown, Journal du Cameroun, 5 February 2019. Accessed 5 February 2019. In Muyuka, an Ambazonian Colonel was killed alongside two other separatist fighters.Cameroon: Ambazonia ‘Colonel’ killed in Muyuka, Journal du Cameroun, 6 February 2019. Accessed 6 February 2019. In Mbengwi, two separatists died while attacking the Divisional Office there.Cameroon: Security forces kill two separatist fighters in Mbengwi, Journal du Cameroun, 6 February 2019. Accessed 6 February 2019. On 6 February, gunmen clashed with the security forces and burned three vehicles in Buea. A civilian was killed after being caught in the crossfire, and at least two civilians were abducted by the gunmen. A headless body was also discovered, possibly a security officer.Cameroon: Man beheaded as Ambazonia separatists burn vehicles in Buea, Journal du Cameroun, 6 February 2019. Accessed 7 July 2019. In Bole-Bakundu, Mbonge, at least 15 civilians were killed when the army moved against separatists, most of whom managed to escape.At least 15 civilians killed as soldiers battle separatists in Cameroon’s restive Anglophone region, Journal du Cameroun, 7 February 2019. Accessed 7 July 2019. In Widikum, separatists attacked a military brigade, wounding five soldiers.Cameroon: Separatists injure five soldiers in Widikum, Journal du Cameroun, 7 February 2019. Accessed 7 February 2019. The United States announced it would be withholding military support to Cameroon over the government's handling of the crisis.Cameroon loses US military support over Anglophone crisis, Africa News, 7 February 2019. Accessed 7 February 2019. On 7 February, separatists ambushed a military truck in Ndawara, Northwest Region, injuring six Cameroonian soldiers, three seriously. The security forces claimed to have killed 10 separatists.10 separatists killed and 6 soldiers wounded in clash in Cameroon's troubled Anglophone region, Xinhuanet, 7 February 2019. Accessed 7 February 2019. 15 human rights organizations, including Civicus and the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, called on the UN to investigate "serious" human rights violations committed by Cameroonian troops.Rights groups call for UN probe in Anglophone Cameroon, News24. Accessed 8 February 2019. By 8 February, according to Cameroon, 69 people had been killed in fighting since Tuesday ahead of Cameroon's Youth Day on the 11th, including 47 separatists, 16 civilians and six government soldiers. The separatists claimed to have killed more soldiers.Nearly 70 Killed in Cameroon as Separatists Stop Youth Week Activities, VOA News, 8 February 2019. Accessed 8 February 2019.