From 2018, the Anglophone Crisis drew increasing international attention, and became a challenge to Cameroon's foreign relations. Triggered by a violent crackdown on the 2016–2017 Cameroonian protests, the conflict escalated from a low-scale insurgency to a civil war-like situation.Cameroon on Brink of Civil War as English Speakers Recount ‘Unbearable’ Horrors, The New York Times, Oct 6, 2018. Accessed Apr 27, 2019. While Cameroon enjoys support from African countries, no country has openly supported the Ambazonian independence movements. However, many countries have put pressure on Cameroon to talk to the separatists. In addition, the separatists enjoy support from officers in the Nigerian Army, who have helped arrange arms deals for them.

While African countries have been largely silent on the issueAfrican Union Intervenes In Cameroon Crisis , Taarifa, Jul 12, 2018. Accessed Jul 12, 2018. and opposed any non-African interference, many Western countries have put pressure on Cameroon to open a dialogue with the separatists. In May 2019, an informal discussion was held at the United Nations Security Council, a milestone after nearly two years of little international involvement.

International organizations

African Union – Until 2019, the African Union remained largely silent on the Anglophone Crisis. On July 27, 2019, the AU welcomed the upcoming Swiss-mediated talks.Cameroon: African Union endorses Swiss mediation to end Anglophone crisis, Journal du Cameroun, Jul 29, 2019. Accessed Jul 30, 2019. Commonwealth of Nations – In November 2019, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland expressed support for the peace process initiated by the Cameroonian government.We are determined to do all we can to support peace efforts – C’wealth SG Patricia Scotland, Nov 28, 2019. Accessed Nov 28, 2019. – On June 20, 2018, the EU supported the entry of UN bodies to the Anglophone region, and called upon the Cameroonian government to allow this.Cameroon’s Anglophone population at risk, Journal du Cameroun, Aug 23, 2018. Accessed Aug 23, 2018. In March 2019, High Representative Federica Mogherini stated that "the persistent violence and human rights abuses in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon have created an unacceptable number of victims as well as enormous human and material damages". She also blamed Cameroonian media and politicians for incitement through hate speech.MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Cameroon, European Parliament, Apr 16, 2019.. Accessed Jul 8, 2019. In April 2019, the European Parliament passed a motion condemning human right violations in Southern Cameroons and calling for an investigation of possible war crimes committed by Cameroonian soldiers. It also called on Cameroon to stop using "military trials for civilians and francophone courts for Anglophone detainees". The motion concluded that the Anglophone Crisis, if it continues, should be tabled at the United Nations Security Council.Cameroon: Anglophone crisis should be tabled at UN Security Council-EU, Journal du Cameroun, Apr 17, 2019. Accessed Apr 21, 2019. The EU statement was met with condemnation in the Senate of Cameroon, with Senate President Marcel Niat Njifenji calling it a "litany of falsehoods". Njifenji also stated that Cameroon would be open to receiving an EU delegation, so they could see for themselves.Cameroon:Senate hits back at EU over resolutions on Anglophone crisis, Journal du Cameroun, Apr 21, 2019. Accessed Jul 8, 2019. In June 2019, the EU gave its blessing to the upcoming Swiss-mediated negotiations.Armed Conflict In Southern Cameroons: EU Approves Swiss-Led Negotiation, Cameroon News Agency, Jun 28, 2019. Accessed Jun 29, 2019. – On May 30, 2018, the United Nations declared a humanitarian crisis in Southern Cameroons and started organizing aid. Through the declaration, the United Nations assumed responsibility for the safety of civilians in Southern Cameroons, and to this end it could intervene against both warring parties.Aid starts to trickle in for “Ambazonians” as UN declares Humanitarian Crisis in South Cameroon, Pan African Visions, Jun 2, 2018. Accessed Jul 13, 2018. The United Nations has also called for impartial investigations of possible human rights violations in the Anglophone region. On November 20, 2018, the UN condemned both sides; the separatists for abductions, school attacks and killings of policemen, and the government for carrying out extrajudicial executions.UN condemns mass killings, kidnappings in crisis stricken Cameroon, Journal du Cameroun, Nov 21, 2018. Accessed Nov 21, 2018. On February 7, 2019, Allegra Baiocchi, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Cameroon, said that the situation was a "forgotten crisis" and should be put near the top of the UN's agenda.UN: Cameroon suffering a ‘forgotten crisis’, Church Times, Feb 9, 2019. Accessed Feb 9, 2019. On May 6, 2019, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said that there was still a window of opportunity to end the crisis, but the Cameroonian government had to take decisive action to win the trust of the population in Southern Cameroons.UN Rights Chief: Cameroon Has Brief Window to Try to Halt Violence, Voice of America, May 6, 2019. Accessed May 7, 2019.

States

Africa

– According to unverified reports, Chadian President Idriss Déby agreed to deploy Chadian troops to the Anglophone regions to fight the separatists. In February 2018, it was reported that Chadian troops had been fighting in Southern Cameroons for weeks. However, no physical evidence of such a deployment has been provided.Cameroon: Chad Deploys Military to Southern Cameroons as Crisis Persists, All Africa, Feb 5, 2018. Accessed Sep 16, 2018. In March 2019, the Chadian president called for other African states to get involved and assist in ending the conflict.Cameroon: Chadian President calls for return of normalcy in Angloplone regions, Journal du Cameroun, Mar 25, 2019. Accessed Mar 25, 2019. – In December 2019, Egypt voiced support for the Major National Dialogue held two months prior.Egypt asserts support to Cameroonian gov't efforts to settle anglophone crisis, Egypt Today, Dec 1, 2019. Accessed Dec 1, 2019. – In January 2018, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo called for dialogue as the best way to end the Anglophone crisis.Anglophone Crisis: Obiang Nguema steps in, calls for dialogue, Cameroon Concord, Jan 24, 2018. Accessed Jul 5, 2018. Equatorial Guinea has voted against attempts to bring the Anglophone Crisis up to discussion at the UN Security Council, and has endorsed the peace efforts by the Cameroonian government. In December 2019, Equatorial Guinea called for international assistance to the parties.Building Upon Momentum From National Dialogue Can Help Cameroon Resolve Political, Humanitarian Crises, Special Representative Tells Security Council, Cameroon News Agency, Dec 10, 2019. Accessed Jan 7, 2020. – As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Ethiopia has voted against attempts to bring the Anglophone Crisis up to discussion.Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis: How to Get to Talks?, Crisis Group, May 2, 2019. Accessed May 2, 2019. – In 2019, it was revealed that weapons produced in Ghana had been smuggled into Southern Cameroons, prompting a meeting between Paul Biya and Ghanaian MP Albert Kan-Dapaah. Ghana has taken in refugees who have fled the Anglophone regions.Cameroon : Did Biya talk Anglophone crisis with Ghana Security Minister ?, Journal du Cameroun, Jun 16, 2019. Accessed Jun 16, 2019. In August 2019, SOCADEF leader Ebenezer Akwanga was briefly questioned by the Ghanaian Bureau of National Investigations.Cameroon: Ambazonia leader released after brief arrest by Ghana police, Journal du Cameroun, Aug 16, 2019. Accessed Aug 16, 2019. – As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, the Ivory Coast has voted against attempts to bring the Anglophone Crisis up to discussion. When an informal discussion was held, the Ivory Coast voiced support for the peace efforts of the Cameroonian government.Africa Should Not Fail Cameroon, Human Rights Watch, Jun 28, 2019. Accessed Jul 8, 2019. – President Muhammadu Buhari vowed to prevent the separatists from operating from Nigerian territory; "Nigeria will take necessary measures within the ambit of the law to ensure that her territory is not used as a staging area to destabilise another friendly sovereign country".Nigeria's promise to Cameroon , Africa Review, Feb 13, 2018. Accessed Apr 21, 2018. Having its own separatist elements to worry about, and benefitting from military cooperation with Cameroon against Boko Haram, Nigeria has been mostly supportive of the Cameroonian government. In January 2018, Nigeria arrested the Ambazonian leadership on its territory, including President Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe. They were then extradited to Cameroon, and jailed for a year before the start of a court case in January 2019. However, this was not without controversy, as the Ambazonian leaders had all submitted asylum claims. On March 1, 2019, a Nigerian court ruled that the 12 Ambazonian leaders should be returned to Nigeria, and compensated five million Nigerian naira each for the wrongful extradition. 57 other activists were also to be returned and to be given smaller compensations. This was not followed by any action by the Nigerian government.Cameroon: Nigerian Court orders return of Ambazonia leaders, Journal du Cameroun, Mar 1, 2019. Accessed Mar 1, 2019. In July 2019, Nigeria pledged to prevent separatist fighters from smuggling firearms across the border or training in Nigeria.Cameroon and Nigeria Pledge to Combat Terrorism, Voice of America, Jul 6, 2019. Accessed Jul 8, 2019. In February 2020, Nigeria set aside 100 hectares of land where refugees from the Anglophone regions could build farms and work the land, and donated approximately 1.4 billion CFA franc to help them get started.Cameroon: Nigerian state donates land, money to Anglophone refugees, Journal du Cameroun, Feb 3, 2020. Accessed Feb 3, 2020. Despite Nigeria's official policy, Ambazonian separatists frequently cross the border to buy firearms and to recruit fighters in refugee camps. There are also officers in the Nigerian Army who support the separatists by arranging arms deals.Cameroon’s Separatist Movement Is Going International, Foreign Policy, May 13, 2019. Accessed May 14, 2019. – In May 2019, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, South Africa opposed an effort by the United States and the European Union to discuss the Anglophone Crisis at the UN Security Council. Taking a position shared by other African countries, South Africa held that the African Union, not the United Nations, should be responsible for handling the Anglophone Crisis. Due to this objections, only an informal discussion was held at the UN Security Council on May 13.Cameroon: UN Security Council to discuss Anglophone crisis, Journal du Cameroun, May 5, 2019. Accessed May 5, 2019. However, South Africa criticized the Cameroonian government for being insincere in its efforts to end the crisis and for committing human rights violations.

Asia

– In November 2018, China offered humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people in Southern Cameroons.Cameroon: China offers humanitarian assistance to displaced Anglophones, Journal du Cameroun, Nov 23, 2018. Accessed Nov 23, 2018. China has voted against proposals to discuss the Anglophone Crisis at the UN Security Council, When an informal discussion was held in May 2019, China took a neutral stance, and it believes the conflict does not require an international intervention due to it not being a threat to world peace. – In July 2019, Japan supported the UNDP in granting financial support to 18 organizations working for the recovery of the war-torn regions.UN, Japan to assist 18 Civil society organisations in Cameroon, Journal du Cameroun, Jul 31, 2019. Accessed Jul 31, 2019.