Timeline of the Anglophone Crisis (2022)

This is a timeline of the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon during 2022.

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 3 January, separatists detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) in the town of Limbe, Southwest Region, which was set to host matches of the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Separatist fighters who had vowed to disrupt 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in the city said on social media they were responsible for the blast and stated that it was "a warning sign of what they will do during AFCON". The delayed AFCON is scheduled to be held in Limbe and Buea starting on 9 January. Cameroon has deployed additional troops to the cities, while separatists have warned the Confederation of African Football against holding the tournament. On 8 January, Cameroonian army soldiers on patrol in a military vehicle were ambushed in Bafut. The government forces left from Santa and were surprised by separatist fighters hiding in the forest. Several soldiers were wounded, according to an initial report. On 11 January, SDF senator Henry Kemende was killed in Bamenda. No one claimed responsibility. On 12 January, The Mali national football team suspended training before the AFCON game against Tunisia following clashes between separatists and the Cameroon Armed Forces in Buea, killing two. Three police officers were also injured by a homemade bomb. In a separate incident near Buea, a Cameroonian soldier was killed in a separatist IED ambush; the Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF) claimed responsibility. The Tunisian Football Federation decided to cancel the post-game recovery session of the Tunisia national football team due to "terrorist threats". On 15 January, armed separatists abducted eight plantation workers in Tiko, accusing them of collaborating with the Cameroonian military. The plantation workers were released nine days later; according to the separatists, the workers had sworn not to collaborate with the Cameroonian military in the future. On 18 January, at least one Cameroonian soldier was killed, several more were injured and two vehicles were destroyed in a separatist IED ambush between Buea and Muyuka. On 19 January, armed men abducted five teachers in the village of Weh in Menchum, Northwest Region. On 20 January, the Cameroonian military killed separatist commander "General Ebube" and two of his lieutenants in Nseh in the Bui division. On 21 January, there were clashes between separatist fighters and the Cameroonian Army in Babessi. On 22 January, separatist fighters invaded a burial and killed four mourners in the village of Finge, Northwest Region. On 24 January, a shootout broke out between separatist fighters and the Cameroonian Army in Bui. On 25 January, a Cameroonian soldier was shot dead and beheaded during a separatist raid in Bamenyam, West Region. Several other soldiers were reportedly wounded. The ADF claimed responsibility. On 28 January, a Cameroonian police officer was shot dead by separatist fighters in Bamenda. The ADF claimed responsibility. In Bambalang, Northwest Region, four separatists were killed and their arms were seized by the Cameroonian Army. On 31 January, a separatist militia known as the "Bui Warriors" battled Cameroonian forces in Bamkikai, Kumbo, until the Cameroonian Army withdrew from the area. At least three Cameroonian soldiers were reportedly killed, and one military vehicle was destroyed.

February On 1 February, separatist fighters attacked and burned down a military base in Bali Nyonga, Mezam. Separatists restricted circulation on the Bamenda-Mbengwi road. On 2 February, President Samuel Ikome Sako was impeached by the legislative arm of the Interim Government faction loyal to him, complicating the long-running Ambazonian leadership crisis. On 6 February, the Cameroonian military killed two persons at a funeral in Bamukumbit, Northwest Region. On 7 February, a Cameroonian soldier was shot dead by separatist fighters in Kumba. On 8 February, suspected separatists set ablaze a classroom in a primary school in Buea. On 11 February, armed men referring to themselves as ARF (Ambazonia Restoration Forces) set several dormitories of Queen of the Rosary College in Mamfe on fire. On 14 February, a Cameroonian soldier died after his leg was cut off by a separatist IED ambush in Sabga, Northwest Region. On 16 February, it was reported that clashes between the ADF and the ARF (now led by Lekeaka Oliver, leader of the Red Dragon militia) had led to several separatist deaths. The clashes took place in six different towns, with the fighting in Kumbo being described as particularly bloody. On 21 February, a Cameroonian soldier was killed in a separatist IED ambush in the Northwest Region. On 25 February, the ADF abducted ten teachers from a school for disabled children in Ngomham, Bamenda. A separatist general was killed by the Cameroonian army in Kumba, Southwest Region. On 26 February, suspected separatist fighters opened fire on a vehicle in Bamenda killing a nurse and wounding a doctor.

March On 2 March, seven people including a Divisional Officer, and a mayor were killed in a separatist IED ambush in Ekondo-Titi, Southwest Region. The ADF claimed responsibility. On 9 March, armed Fulani killed Kum Achou Albert, the traditional ruler of Esu in Menchum together with his wife, after accusing him of failing to stop Esu youth from joining Ambazonian separatists. Esu youths subsequently burned down dozens of Fulani houses and farms, as well as a mosque. Six people were injured during the attacks. Cameroon deployed forces to Esu the next day to prevent further clashes, and several people were arrested. On 11 March, the Cameroonian military said it had arrested "several" separatists in Northwest Region who were planning to attack many gendarmerie brigades. On 13 March, ADF fighters were hosted by the Biafra Nations League (BNL) at one of their bases in the Bakassi peninsula. The two groups reportedly discussed joint operations from the peninsula and into Ndian Division. On 17 March, gunmen believed to be separatist fighters killed a man impersonating a fighter in Bamenda. By 18 March, following a Cameroonian government offensive in Kumbo, Ndop, Wum, Bafut and Kom, hundreds of separatist fighters had withdrawn to villages along the Nigerian border. The Cameroonian military claimed to have killed 20 separatists during the offensive, and deployed additional troops to border villages. The separatists said they had made a tactical withdrawal, and denied losing 20 fighters. On 27 March, a notorious Ambazonian general was beaten to death by an angry mob in Ngie, Momo Division, Northwest Region. On 28 March, suspected separatist fighters stormed a village in Wabane, Lebialem division, Southwest Region, killing a teacher and abducted five other persons. On 29 March, a gun battle between the Cameroon military and separatist fighters broke out in Bachongwa, Northwest Region following an explosion on a bridge as a military convoy used the road. In Mbongong, Ndu, separatists killed three ethnic Fulanis whom they accused of working for the Cameroonian government. Cameroonian government troops and Fulani militants retaliated by burning down houses, resulting in the death of at least one civilian. On 30 March, a Cameroonian soldier was killed in a separatist IED ambush in Mbonge, Southwest Region. On 31 March, several houses were set ablaze by separatists in Bamunka, Ndop, Northwest Region.

April On 5 April, separatists attacked the University of Bamenda for defying a ghost town operation. In Manyu, at least seven Cameroonian soldiers were killed and another seven were wounded in a separatist attack on four military checkpoints. On 6 April, separatists abducted alleged anti-separatists protesters in Oku, Northwest Region. Separatists set ablaze an unspecified number of houses who reportedly belongs to the Mbororos people in Ndu, Northwest Region. 33 seminarians were kidnapped for ransom by separatists in Manyu, Mamfe, Southwest Region then released 24 hours after their kidnapping. Four Cameroonian soldiers were killed and another six were wounded in a separatist IED ambush in Mamfe. On 7 April, three separatists who attempted to disrupt a football match, were killed by the population of Mbalangi, Mbonge, Southwest Region. Separatists opened fire on a public transport on the Mbengwi-Bamenda road in Momo Division, Northwest Region killing the driver and wounding a girl. On 8 April, a 60-year-old woman who is reported to have taken part in an anti-separatists protest in Oku, Bui Division, Northwest Region was killed by separatists. A separatist commander known as "General Insobu" was shot dead in Kumbo by a rival force called Bui Unity Warriors controlled by "General No Pity". Cameroonian authorities said that separatists had attacked a village on the Nigerian border earlier in the week, with local officials saying they torched at least 12 homes and killed six members of the Mbororo ethnic group. On 12 April, The North West regional delegate of Penitentiary Administration and four prison wardens were killed in a separatist IED ambush in Kumbo, Northwest Region. The Bui Unity Warriors claimed responsibility. On 13 April, two separatists were killed in Kembong, Manyu. On 17 April, two civilians were killed following clashes between soldiers and separatists in Bamenda. On 19 April, armed separatists killed five people in Akwaya, Manyu, two of whom were children. On 21 April, the Cameroon military killed three people in a military raid in Bali, Northwest Region. On 22 April, two soldiers were killed by separatists along the Mamfe-Ekok stretch. On 25 April, the Cameroonian Army said it had killed six separatist fighters in Batibo, as well as one civilian who got caught in the crossfire. Several arrests were carried out. By 25 April, about 90 percent of cross-border trade in the Anglophone regions had been brought to a halt, as Ambazonian forces and the Eastern Security Network expanded their control on both sides of the Nigerian border. On 26 April, Cameroon arrested more than 40 people in Oku, 24 of whom were later accused with working with separatists. On 27 April, a separatist general known as "General Try and See" and five of his fighters were killed by the Cameroonian Army in Ndu. On 28 April, the Cameroonian military said it had carried out raids in Batibo, Bafut, Gusang, Ndu, Kumbo and Wum in the past week, and that more than 40 separatists (including three generals) had been killed. The Cameroonian military claimed to have suffered no fatalities; this was disputed by the ADF. The ADF also said that some of its fighters had been captured and summarily executed. A video emerged where civilians in Guzang buried seven separatists and one civilian in a mass grave; the Cameroonian military confirmed its authenticity. On 30 April, the ADF abducted Senator Regina Mundi of CPDM and her driver in Bamenda and asked Paul Biya to release 75 Ambazonian prisoners.

May On 1 May, unknown gunmen kidnapped a lawyer in Bamenda. On 4 May, the Cameroonian Army killed a separatist fighter and his alleged girlfriend in Mbengwi. The Cameroonian Army killed a woman and her cousin over alleged links with separatists in the same town. On 7 May 10 construction workers were abducted by alleged separatists in Ekombe, Southwest Region. On 8 May, the Cameroonian Army killed three people including two separatists in Bamenda. On 9 May, two Cameroonian soldiers were killed in a separatist IED ambush in Lebialem while two others were killed in Jakiri. On 10 May, two Cameroonian gendarmes were killed by alleged separatists in Fonfuka.