By Diana Rose Wairumbi
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued a travel advisory against Cameroon, warning its nationals to avoid traveling to some regions of the Central African country.
The advisory asked Britons not to travel to within 40km of the border with Chad, within 40km of the border with Nigeria, within 40km of the border with the Central African Republic (CAR), Ndian division in South West Region and the Bakassi Peninsula.
The FCO advised against all but essential travel to the rest of the north, northwest and Adamawa regions, Koupé-Manengouba, Lebialem, Manvu and Meme divisions in southwest region.
“There have also been multiple exchanges of fire between the Cameroonian security forces and armed groups over the past few months in some towns and villages in the North West and South West regions,” the FCO statement read in part.
Earlier this week, the French Ambassador to Cameroon, Giles Thibaut, posted on Twitter that the Anglophone regions were a no-go zone for French nationals.
The alert also cautioned against all but Cameroon’s borders with Gabon and Congo. The U.K.’s position followed thereafter that of France.
The FCO recounted the March 2018 kidnappings of 2 Tunisian and 2 Cameroon road workers, in which rescue operations led to the death of a Tunisian. The agency also mentioned recent armed exchanges between suspected separatists and security forces.
“Kidnaps of Cameroon officials have been reported in the North West and South West regions. There have also been multiple exchanges of fire between the Cameroonian security forces and armed groups over the past few months in some towns and villages in the North West and South West regions.
“This follows violent and deadly clashes between demonstrators and the Cameroonian security forces in the North West and South West regions in September and October 2017. Restrictions including night curfews, a ban on public meetings and other restrictions remain in place,” continued FCO’s statement.
