Govt hardened repression in both Anglophone regions, Southwest and Northwest, in response to protests against perceived govt marginalisation, as Boko Haram (BH) continued attacks in Far North. Talks between govt and federalist Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC) broke down 14 Jan, CACSC same day demanded referendum on federal governance system and called for “ghost town” general strike 16-17 Jan in western regions to protest violent repression by security forces, call largely heeded. Govt 17 Jan banned secessionist Southern Cameroon’s National Council and CACSC and same day arrested latter’s president and Sec Gen in Buea in SW among others, sparking fresh protests. Govt mid-Jan shut down internet in both Anglophone regions; restrictions still effective, schools closed and strike ongoing end month. BH quadruple suicide bombings in Kolofata and Doublé, Kolofata district 11 Jan killed only bombers, triple suicide bombing in Doublé, Kolofata district 30 Jan killed at least four people including bombers. BH killed one soldier in Kolofata 10 Jan, looted Gakara village, Kolofata district 26 Jan and killed one civilian in Fotokol 30 Jan. Bodies of sixteen people killed by BH found in Gnam-Gnam, Waza district 15 Jan. Cameroonian troops continued to support Nigerian-led operations in Sambisa forest and Ngoshe in Nigeria to push out Abubakar Shekau’s BH faction; three Cameroonian soldiers killed in operations in Nigeria since end Dec. Chiefs of armed forces (Gen Kodji) and gendarmerie (Col Kameni) in Far North and two officers killed in helicopter crash in Bogo district, Far North 22 Jan.

Boko Haram continued attacks against security forces and civilians in Far North at lower rate: militants attacked army in Djbrili, Mayo-Moskota district 12 Dec; killed two civilians in Grea, Kolofata district 14 Dec and two others in Bame, Kolofata district 28 Dec; suicide bombing killed two civilians in Mora 25 Dec. Following violent protests against perceived govt marginalisation of minority English-speakers in Nov, police 8 Dec fired on English-speaking protesters trying to block ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) rally in Bamenda, capital of Anglophone North West region, killing at least four; protesters burnt police station.

Boko Haram (BH) stepped up attacks against civilians and military in Far North region and crowds protesting perceived govt marginalisation of minority English-speakers clashed with security forces in North West region. In Logone and Chari department, Far North, BH clashed with army in Gassama 6 Nov and Zigue, Waza district 20 Nov; killed two displaced people in Waza 17 Nov; some 60 BH fighters killed six soldiers and local vigilante chief in Darak 21 Nov. In Mayo Sava department, Far North IED injured three soldiers on Wambashé-Limani axis, Mora district 7 Nov; nineteen BH killed in clashes with army in Sandawadjiri, Kolofata district 9 Nov; two girls detonated suicide bombs in Kolofata 21 Nov. IED injured eight soldiers in Zamga, Mayo Tsanaga department, Far North 22 Nov. Ethnic Kotokos clashed with Arab Choas 27 Nov in Makary, Logone and Chari department, Far North. Govt reopened border with Nigeria for pedestrians at most crossings and for vehicles also at Fotokol-Gambaru. In North West and South West regions (country’s English-speaking areas) strikes escalated into clashes between protesters and security forces: lawyers continued strike begun in Oct protesting use of French language and legal codes including Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) instead of Common Law. Police 8 Nov used tear gas and force to disperse lawyers marching in Bamenda, capital of North West region. Teachers went on strike 21 Nov in North West and South West protesting French-speaking teachers in English-speaking schools; thousands joined strikers to protest govt’s perceived marginalisation of English-speakers; security forces reportedly fired tear gas and live bullets to disperse protests in Bamenda 21-22 Nov, one protestor reportedly killed and several injured.

Boko Haram (BH) continued attacks against civilians and military in Far North. In Logone and Chari district, fighters killed two soldiers and five civilians in attacks on Dambo-Ardébe 1 Oct, Sagme 6 Oct and Tagawa village, Waza area 16 Oct. BH attacked Djibrili, Mayo Tsanaga district 20 Oct killing one soldier; attacked Kangarwa, Mora area 30 Oct, killing four civilians.

Boko Haram (BH) insurgents continued to attack civilians and military in Far North. About 30 BH fighters 2 Sept attacked army position at Kerawa, near Kolofata; security forces reported ten BH killed and one soldier injured. BH 5 Sept killed two civilians in Guidiguidi and Wamba, near Mora. Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) elite forces 9 Sept killed six presumed BH in Aladji Fouwa near Mora. Land mine killed soldier and injured six others 11 Sept at Djibrili. BH 15 Sept killed two civilians in Sandawadjiri, Mayo-Tsanaga department. Next day, about 30 BH coming from Kalabalgué in Nigeria attacked civilian convoy between Gouma and Kabo, Dabanga area, killing four civilians and looting trucks. Suicide bombing 21 Sept killed three people and injured two in Djakana, Mora district.

Boko Haram (BH) continued deadly attacks in Far North, including: gunmen attacked Gambarou 10 Aug, killing five; suicide bombing at Mora 21 Aug killed four and injured 24. Military reportedly killed five BH members at Bourvari-Plateri 5 Aug in operation supported by civilian vigilante groups. Local media 16 Aug published open letter purportedly from “elites” of Adamawa region denouncing marginalisation of region.

Boko Haram (BH) carried out fourteen attacks against civilians and military in Far North, killing at least seventeen civilians, kidnapping eleven and killing one soldier. Govt and local media criticised Amnesty International report on abuses by army in Far North published 14 July. Twelve Cameroonians kidnapped March 2015 by armed group in Eastern province freed 19 July in Central African Republic (CAR), four others had died in captivity; one captive, mayor of Lagdo, said Patriotic Movement for the Safety of Cameroon (MPSC) loyal to imprisoned politician Aboubakar Sidiki kidnapped them and CAR armed group Democratic Front for the Central African People (FDPC) freed them in deal with Cameroon govt.

Boko Haram (BH) slightly increased rate of attacks in Far North killing 43 mostly civilians, including twenty fishermen in Tomboun Ali, Hile Alifa district, and launching other attacks in Limani town, Kolofata district and Mora district. Suicide bomber killed eleven in Djakana near Limani 29 June. BH abducted 40 people in Darak district 6-8 June. Cameroonian troops in counter-BH Multinational Joint Task Force 25 June launched operation on Lake Chad’s Cameroonian and Nigerian islands.

Boko Haram (BH) continued attacks on civilians in Far North but at lower rate, killing thirteen people, including: girls detonated suicide bombs 2 May in Kolofata and 9 May in Homaka-Blabine killing only themselves, BH killed nine civilians and abducted two in Idoua 20 May. Army and govt-recognised vigilante groups sustained counter-BH operations, including in Nigeria: jointly attacked BH in Kambalam, Nigeria 2 May; jointly killed seven BH members in Homaka 7 May; army rapid intervention force 12 May conducted operation in Madawaya forest, Nigeria, freed over fifty captives, arrested Boukar Kaou, alleged BH amir of Kumshe, Nigeria. Security forces arrested opposition Cameroon People’s Party members in Yaoundé 20 May.

Boko Haram (BH) attacks in Far North declined further as army and govt-recognised local self-defence groups continued operations. BH killed five civilians at Sandawadjiri 4 April and killed four more at Goree Algouthoum 10 April. Security forces arrested over twenty suspected insurgents during month, including six at Minawao refugee camp. Joint Nigerian and Cameroonian military operation began 11 April, killed six BH insurgents. BH 9 April attacked military outpost at Tolkomari, killed three soldiers and wounded five in 12 April ambush between Zigague and Sale. Cameroon opposition coalition 1 April launched Black Fridays protests against govt-proposed constitutional changes including to bring forward elections due 2018, security services 8 April temporarily detained Cameroon activists in Yaoundé.