Cameroon: Kidnappings Double in Anglophone Regions Amid Ongoing Conflict

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

BUEA, Cameroon – Kidnappings for ransom in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions surged dramatically in 2023, with nearly 450 incidents reported, more than doubling the approximately 200 cases documented in 2022. These startling figures come from a report published in September 2024 by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (Acled).

The report highlights the increasing reliance of separatist groups on abductions as a primary source of funding, as external financial support dwindles. The Anglophone regions of the North West and South West Regions which have been deeply affected by a long-running separatist conflict, have witnessed a steady rise in kidnappings since the crisis began.

At the onset of the armed conflict in 2017, government forces were responsible for the majority of attacks against civilians, accounting for over 89% of incidents. However, by 2020, separatists had escalated their attacks on civilians, carrying out nearly 48% of all political violence in the Anglophone regions. This shift in strategy, combined with the increase in abductions, has further strained the separatists' relationship with local civilians, who have become more alienated as the violence intensifies.

The study highlighted how the separatists’ strategy has evolved in the wake of dwindling support, particularly noting that the rise in abductions in 2022 and 2023 exacerbated this decline.

"In response to the reduced international financial support, separatist groups increasingly kidnap civilians to fund their operations," the report states. The document also notes that at the start of armed conflicts in 2017, more than 89% of attacks targeting civilians were attributed to government forces. However, separatists have gradually intensified their attacks on civilians, reaching nearly 48% of political violence in 2020.

"This elevation in civilian targeting, including a steep rise in abductions and kidnapping for ransom in 2022 and 2023, further compounded the waning support from both the diaspora and local civilians," the study highlights.

In addition to the loss of external support due to the kidnappings, separatists have also seen their popularity dwindle among local populations. "Although effective from a fundraising perspective, the abductions diminished support from local populations and many diaspora supporters," the report specifies.

Regarding kidnapping targets, separatists primarily choose individuals who are "politically influential, wealthy, or both." They also abduct ordinary people, though ransom amounts depend on the victim's profile, wealth, and vulnerability to abduction. Additionally, members of the security forces and the military remain prime targets for the separatists.

The doubling of kidnappings in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions in 2023 underscores the devastating toll the ongoing conflict has taken on civilians. As armed separatist groups turn to abductions to fund their operations, the strain on local populations continues to grow, further complicating efforts to resolve the crisis.