This is a timeline of the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon during 2021.
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 1 January, two suspected separatists were killed by Cameroonian soldiers in Wum.Cameroon: Two suspected separatist fighters killed in NW, Journal du Cameroun, 7 January 2021. Accessed 7 January 2021. On 6 January, separatist fighters ambushed the convoy of the Senior Divisional Officer of Momo near Njikwa, using improvised explosive devices (IEDs).NW region: Communication Delegate, Five Soldiers Killed In IED Attack, Cameroon News Agency, 6 January 2021. Accessed 6 January 2021. Five soldiers and one civilian were killed.Cameroon: At least five killed in suspected separatist attack in restive NW, Journal du Cameroun, 6 January 2021. Accessed 6 January 2021. On 7 January, soldiers discovered and deactivated an improvised explosive device in Kumba.Cameroon: Security forces deactivate explosive in Kumba, Journal du Cameroun, 7 January 2021. Accessed 8 January 2021. On 8 January, separatists killed three gendarme officers, one policeman and two civilians at a checkpoint in Matazem. Four others were injured.Cameroon: Six killed in suspected separatist attack in Matazem, Journal du Cameroun, 8 January 2021. Accessed 8 January 2021. On 9 January, armed men killed a school principal in Ossing, Manyu. In Tinto, Manyu, armed men shot a student and a teacher.Cameroon: Armed men kill school principal, injure others in Manyu division, Journal du Cameroun, 11 January 2021. Accessed 11 January 2021. On 10 January, Cameroonian soldiers invaded Mautu, Muyuka and killed at least nine civilians.Cameroon:Attack leaves child, others dead in restive SW Region, Journal du Cameroun, 11 January 2021. Accessed 11 January 2021. Human rights groupsCameroon:Rights group condemns killing of civilians in restive Anglophone region, Journal du Cameroun, 12 January 2021. Accessed 12 January 2021. and France condemned the act and called for an investigation,Cameroon: France condemns Mautu killings, calls for investigations while the Cameroonian Army denied having massacred civilians, claiming that all the dead were separatists and that images of dead civilians had been collected by separatists from elsewhere.Cameroon:Army denies responsibility in killing of civilians in Mautu, Journal du Cameroun, 12 January 2021. Accessed 12 January 2021. On 12–16 January, security forces carried out mass arrests of civilians in Limbe, Buea, Muyuka and Tiko. On 14 January, explosions were heard outside Limbe Omnisport Stadium. A separatist militia called the "Fako Action Forces" claimed responsibility.Chan 2021: Explosions at Limbe stadium days before Tanzania opener – Reports, Goal, 15 January 2021. Accessed 16 January 2021. On 14–15 January, suspected separatists killed at least five soldiers in Muyuka and Tiko. On 15 January, suspected separatists burned a beer truck in Likomba, Fako Division. Security forces pursued the attackers, and an ensuing shootout left two suspected separatists dead.Cameroon: Two suspected separatists killed following attack on beer truck in Limbe, Journal du Cameroun, 15 January 2021. Accessed 16 January 2021. On 16 January, 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN) started in Limbe, after having been postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Separatists had threatened to use force to prevent the championship from taking place within the Anglophone regions.Separatist Leaders Welcome Biya’s Military Option, Say They Are Ready, Cameroon News Agency, 4 January 2021. Accessed 5 January 2021. On 18 January, Cameroon's Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga, stated that Cameroon had won the war against the separatists.Cameroon:Atanga Nji claims Biya has won war against Ambazonia Separatists, Journal du Cameroun, 18 January 2021. Accessed 20 January 2021. Hours later, two IEDs exploded in Mbengwi and in T-Junction, Bamenda.Twitter, Cameroon News Agency, 20 January 2021. The same day, separatists declared a 10-day lockdown to sabotage CHAN, and clashes were reported in Buea.Separatists impose lockdown to disrupt CHAN in Cameroon's restive Anglophone regions, Xinhua, 18 January 2021. Accessed 19 January 2021. The Biafra Nations League, a Nigeria-based group that operates in Bakassi Peninsula, complained that some of its members as well as pro-Ambazonian activists had been arrested and tortured by Cameroonian soldiers. They also accused Nigerian authorities of allowing Cameroonian troops to conduct cross-border raids to arrest Ambazonians on Nigerian territory. The group declared that they would hoist the Biafran flag in the Bakassi Peninsula, and claimed that the locals identified more as Biafrans than as Cameroonians.Soldiers arrest Chief of Staff of Biafra group, members, Daily Post, 18 January 2021. Accessed 21 January 2021. On 20 January, unidentified gunmen abducted a radio host in Bamenda.Cameroon: Bamenda-based journalist kidnapped by unidentified gunmen, Journal du Cameroun, 20 January 2021. Accessed 20 January 2021. On 21 January, separatist fighters attacked a gendarmerie facility in Babadjou, West Region. Cameroonian soldiers repelled the attack and also seized two vehicles.Ouest : les postes de contrôle se multiplient à Babadjou après l’échec d’une attaque séparatiste, Actu Cameroun, 27 January 2021. Accessed 27 January 2021. (French) On 23 January, Cameroonian soldiers killed four children in Bamenda. The military later falsely claimed that the victims were separatist fighters.MINDEF Lies About Students Summarily Executed By Military In Bamenda, Cameroon News Agency, 28 January 2021. Accessed 28 January 2021. On 25 January, at least three policemen were wounded when a roadside IED exploded in Limbe.Cameroon: At least three policemen injured after explosion in Limbe, Journal du Cameroun, 26 January 2021. Accessed 27 January 2021. On 26 January, there was an explosion outside the stadium in Limbe, forcing spectators to take shelter.Cameroon hosts soccer championship against a backdrop of war and fear, Taipei Times, 1 February 2021. Accessed 1 February 2021. On 27 January, Cameroonian soldiers killed two people and arrested another two in Bambui.Twitter, Cameroon News Agency, 28 January 2021. On 31 January, two people were injured in an explosion in Douala, possibly caused by an IED.Cameroon: Blast injures two people in Douala, Jan 31, Garda, 1 February 2021. Accessed 1 February 2021.
February
On 1 February, Cameroonian soldiers "neutralized" two armed separatists in Bamenda, and captured a separatist commander known as "General Sweet Tuma".Cameroun : L’Armée neutralise deux hommes armés lors d’un raid à Bamenda, Le Bled Parle, 2 February 2021. Accessed 2 February 2021. (French) In Buea, ex-separatist fighters barricaded streets to protest the living conditions in the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Center, and the failure of the program to help them find work.A Buea (Sud-Ouest), les ex-combattants séparatistes paralysent la circulation, Actu Cameroun, 2 February 2021. Accessed 2 February 2021. (French) On 2–4 February, separatist fighters blocked the Buea-Kumba highway. On 3 February, three public employees were abducted by suspected separatists in Bamenda, allegedly for sealing shops whose owners respected separatist-imposed ghost towns.Crise anglophone : trois agents de la commune de Bamenda 2 kidnappés, Actu Cameroun, 4 February 2021. Accessed 4 February 2021. (French) On 4 February, armed men attacked an ambulance belonging to the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Muyuka, critically wounding one nurse.Armed Men Attack MSF Ambulance In Southwest Cameroon, HumAngle, 8 February 2021. Accessed 11 April 2021. On 5 February, Cameroonian soldiers rescued four civilian hostages from a separatist camp outside Bamenda. The Cameroonian Army reported to have suffered no casualties, and claimed that four separatist fighters were killed in the fighting. One civilian was wounded during the raid.Cameroon Military Says It Has Freed 4, Including 2 Students, Voice of America, 7 February 2021. Accessed 8 February 2021. On 8 February, two soldiers were killed in Bamenda.Crise anglophone : deux soldats tués à Bamenda (Nord-Ouest), Actu Cameroun, 9 February 2021. Accessed 9 February 2021. (French) On 9 February, separatist commanders Augustine Ambe ("General Above the Law") and Celestine Wanche ("T-Boy") were killed in a raid on their camp outside Kumba. Clashes took place in Ediki and Mbalangi, along the Buea-Kumba road.Cameroon:Two suspected Ambazonia separatists killed in restive South West Region, Journal du Cameroun, 9 February 2021. Accessed 9 February 2021. In Nigeria, the Biafra Nations League, formally allied with Ambazonia since September 2020,Biafra group, Cameroon’s Ambazonia collaborate for separatist agitations, Vanguard, 28 September 2020. Accessed 14 February 2021. declared that it was moving its operational base to the Bakassi Peninsula in Cameroon, a direct challenge to Cameroon's territorial sovereignty.You will get terrible signal from us soon – Biafra group tells Buhari govt, Daily Post, 9 February 2021. Accessed 14 February 2021. On 13 February, separatist fighters alleged to belong to the Red Dragon militia under "Field Marshal" Lekeaka Oliver killed three traditional rulers in Essoh Attah, Lebialem.Cameroon:Ambazonia separatists accused of killing three traditional rulers in restive SW region, Journal du Cameroun, 15 February 2021. Accessed 16 February 2021. This act marked an escalation of the conflict; while separatists had a history of abducting traditional rulers, intentional killings were rare. Why are Cameroonian separatists attacking local chiefs? African Arguments, 29 June 2021. Accessed 29 June 2021. On 14 February, three officers of the Cameroon Navy were killed and another was wounded in a separatist ambush in Bekora, Ndian Division.Cameroon:Suspected Ambazonia fighters kill three soldiers in restive South West Region, Journal du Cameroun, 15 February 2021. Accessed 16 February 2021. In Ndu, soldiers were videotaped torturing a civilian to near death.Cameroon:Outrage as soldiers torture civilian to near death in Ndu, Journal du Cameroun, 15 February 2021. Accessed 16 February 2021. In Fundong, armed separatists abducted the Fon of Kom, accusing him of collaborating with the Cameroonian Army. A few hours later, locals stormed the separatist camp and rescued the Fon.Cameroun – Crise anglophone: la population « s’empare » de Kom Fon d’Ambazonia Den le jour de la Saint-Valentin, Cameroun Magazine, 15 February 2021. Accessed 20 February 2021. (French) On 15 February, a Cameroon Army captain was killed in a separatist ambush in Kumbo.Cameroon: Army captain allegedly killed by Ambazonia fighters in Kumbo, Journal du Cameroun, 16 February 2021. Accessed 16 February 2021. In Bamenda, former separatists who had laid down their arms stormed the streets to protest what they considered to be broken promises by the Cameroonian government.Des ex-séparatistes en colère manifestent à Bamenda (vidéo), Actu Cameroun, 16 February 2021. Accessed 16 February 2021. (French) On 17 February, armed Fulani robbed and tortured civilians in Nfap, and burned their houses.Donga Mantung: Ntumbaw Villagers Raise Alarm On Increasing Attacks From Graziers, Say Mbororo Community Given Special Status To Carry Arms, Cameroon News Agency, 10 March 2021. Accessed 10 March 2021. On 18 February, seven Cameroonian soldiers were killed by an IED in Babessi. On 23 February, two separatist fighters were killed in Bambili.Nord-Ouest : 2 redoutables séparatistes neutralisés à Bambili, Actu Cameroun, 24 February 2021. Accessed 24 February 2021. (French)