Over 1,700 Displaced in Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis as Attacks on Schools Intensify
Yaoundé, Cameroon – In November 2025 alone, more than 1,700 people were forced from their homes in Cameroon's North-West and South-West regions due to escalating violence in the country's protracted Anglophone crisis, according to a United Nations humanitarian report. The period also saw at least 10 attacks on educational facilities, exacerbating disruptions to schooling and access to basic services amid ongoing armed conflict.
The latest situation report, issued by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Cameroon in collaboration with humanitarian partners, covers the period from November 1 to 30, 2025. It underscores the persistent insecurity in the two English-speaking regions, where separatist groups and government forces have clashed since 2017. Over the reported month, displacement figures marked a significant spike, contributing to the crisis's total toll, which has seen hundreds of thousands uprooted since its onset.
Humanitarian actors documented at least 10 incidents targeting schools and educational institutions across the North-West and South-West (NWSW) regions. These attacks have compounded the challenges faced by children, with education severely hampered by closures, threats, and violence. The report highlights the vulnerability of students and teachers, noting that such assaults not only halt learning but also heighten risks of recruitment by armed groups and exposure to other abuses.
In addition to displacement and education disruptions, the report points to acute humanitarian needs, including severe acute malnutrition (SAM) among children. More than 200 children received lifesaving treatment for SAM during November, reflecting broader nutritional crises driven by conflict-related food insecurity, limited healthcare access, and economic strain. OCHA emphasized that these interventions are part of coordinated efforts by UN agencies and partners to address immediate gaps, though funding shortfalls continue to limit response capacity.
Background on the Anglophone Crisis
Cameroon's North-West and South-West regions, home to the country's English-speaking minority, have been embroiled in conflict since late 2016. Tensions arose from long-standing grievances over perceived marginalization by the French-speaking majority government, including the imposition of French in courts and schools. Protests by lawyers, teachers, and civil society in 2016 evolved into armed separatism, with groups like the Ambazonia Governing Council declaring independence in 2017.
The government, led by President Paul Biya, responded with military operations, labeling separatists as terrorists. The fighting has resulted in thousands of deaths, widespread human rights violations—including extrajudicial killings, torture, and arson attacks on villages—and massive displacement. As of recent UN estimates, over 1.4 million people remain internally displaced across the NWSW regions, while more than 70,000 Cameroonians have sought refuge in neighboring Nigeria.
International observers, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have documented atrocities by both sides: separatists imposing "ghost town" lockdowns, taxing civilians, and targeting schools to prevent perceived government influence, while security forces have been accused of excessive force and collective punishments. Peace efforts, such as the Swiss-led mediation process and the 2019 Major National Dialogue, have yielded limited results, with sporadic ceasefires collapsing amid mutual distrust.
The November 2025 data aligns with patterns observed throughout the year. Earlier OCHA reports noted similar displacement waves and education attacks, with over 80% of schools in the NWSW regions closed or non-functional as of mid-2025. The conflict's ripple effects extend to health, food security, and economic activity, with agricultural production—vital for these rural areas—severely curtailed.
Humanitarian Response and Challenges
OCHA's report stresses the collaborative nature of the response, involving UN agencies like UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and local NGOs. Beyond malnutrition treatment, efforts include cash assistance, protection services, and water-sanitation support for displaced populations. However, the document notes persistent gaps: only a fraction of needs are met due to access constraints posed by armed groups, checkpoints, and insecurity.
The release of Situation Report No. 83 on January 8, 2026, serves as a call for increased donor support ahead of the 2026 humanitarian response plan. OCHA Cameroon has appealed for sustained funding to scale up interventions, particularly as the lean season approaches and climate shocks like flooding threaten further vulnerabilities.
Outlook Amid Stalled Peace Talks
While the November figures represent a medium-severity escalation in displacement, they reflect the conflict's entrenched nature rather than a dramatic shift. Regional actors, including the African Union and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), continue to urge dialogue, but prospects for resolution remain dim without inclusive negotiations addressing root causes like decentralization and bilingualism.
Humanitarian agencies warn that unchecked violence could push displacement past critical thresholds, straining neighboring countries and global aid systems. As Cameroon prepares for potential elections and economic reforms in 2026, the NWSW crisis looms as a key test of national stability.
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