Cameroon is becoming more and more accessible as a tourism destination, however if you were to look up anything about the country or turn on the news you will be met by a barrage of information about the current conflict in the country. So, what is this conflict? Is it still on going? And is it safe to travel to Cameroon?
We have several Cameroon group tours planned for the future which you can see here. Have a read of this blog and we will explain what you need to know about the conflict and how you can travel to Cameroon safely.
The Basics: What Is the Conflict in Cameroon?
The crisis in Cameroon just like many conflicts in Africa has its routes in a colonial past. After the partition of Cameroon at the end of WW1, Cameroon was split between Great Britain and France. This splits the country into an English-speaking minority along the northern border with Nigeria and a French-speaking Majority in the rest of the country.
In 2016, tensions boiled over when the local people in the Anglophone regions protested over the marginalisation of Anglophone people in Cameroon. Most of the power in Cameroon is held in the Francophone regions of the country and both the political capital (Yaoundé) and the economic capital (Douala) are both located in the Francophone part of the country. When the government tried to supress protests in the Anglophone region, people were killed and tensions escalated to the point where there is now and ongoing conflict in the region.
This war in Cameroon is known locally as the “Anglophone Crisis”. You may not have heard about it, but it is bigger than you think, with low estimates putting the death toll at over 6000 people and tens of thousands more displaced.
Who Is Involved in the Conflict?
There are two main sides in this conflict, on one side you have the Cameroonian government mainly made up of French-speaking Cameroonians who take their orders from Yaoundé and on the other side you have English-speaking separatist groups fighting for an independent state call Ambazonia.
Fighting between separatist groups have resulted in deaths of both civilians military forces. Attacks on Anglophone villages have been documented since 2016 and the governments use of force to stop the insurgents has in many ways only increased the violent response of these groups
This has made life in the Anglophone regions of the country increasingly difficult as the government will often shut off the internet to control the situation. In addition, roads throughout these regions are subject to random attacks making it unsafe for civilians. This has led to many concerns from human rights groups as information can be hard to come by about the conflict, and what news does get out is never positive.
How Widespread Is the Violence?
The violence is mainly located in the northwest and southwest regions of the country close to the border area with Nigeria. Currently these areas are still subject to clashes and instability. See the map to the right for context of where the conflict is mainly contained to.
Thankfully, most other regions of the country are spared from the violence of this conflict which includes, Douala, Youandé, Bafoussam and Kribi all of which are great for sightseeing and safe to visit for travellers and locals alike.
Is It Safe to Travel to Cameroon in 2025?
Yes, in short it is safe to travel to Cameroon, however it is not advisable to travel to some areas of the country. When travelling in Cameroon you will here people speak about the conflict area – this is referring to these regions in the southwest and northwest of the Anglophone region. It is not advised to travel here as a tourist as even though the conflict and peoples involved are not targeting foreigners, it would be easy to get caught up in the violence. With communications being usually restricted in these areas it would also be difficult to get assistance should something happen to you.
The safest parts of the country are the northern region (around the centre) if you’re looking for wildlife, Mount Cameroon and Limbé (with a guide) and if you’re looking to experience the best of Cameroons culture and diversity you will definitely want to head to the eastern region where you can find Yaoundé the capital.
We explore these safe regions of Cameroon on our Cameroon group tours, which are a great way to safely explore the country without worrying about the current conflict.
How Saiga Tours Plans Safe Travel in Cameroon
We are constantly in contact with people on the ground in each destination we work in, and Cameroon is no exception. We avoid unstable areas and have contacts with local authorities in each region we visit, who ensure the safety o our groups. We may go to some crazy places, but we would never bring a group into the heart of an active warzone! Now that would be a little crazy.
If need be, at the time, we also change our itineraries based off the current security situation. Thankfully, with a country as diverse and culturally rich as Cameroon and changes we need to make won’t affect your enjoyment of the tour as there is so much on offer in this amazing miniature Africa!
Responsible Travel During Conflict: What You Should Know
It is important to note that when travelling to these countries and asking people about these conflicts that you should always be respectful when asking about the current struggle. This conflict has affected hundreds of thousands of people in the country and is still a very sensitive matter.
It would be best to not talk to openly about it in public and for any sensitive questions to your guides, wait until there are not many people around or that you are in a private place.
Don’t Let Headlines Be Your Only Guide
Remember that fear sells more than anything else in the media, so don’t let numerous articles about a bloody war in Cameroon put you off travelling to this amazing country. The conflict while awful is largely contained to a singular part of the country meaning that travel to other areas is general regarded as safe, however there is a need to take the obvious usual precautions against petty theft and other common crime.
If you want to come and explore Cameroon and do it safely, check out our future
Cameroon group tours
and our guides will ensure you will fall in love with this chaotic and beautiful country.
For more practical information on travel to Cameroon, check out our
Cameroon destination guide
on our website. If you're interested in what makes Cameroon different to other African countries, read our
blog here
about what makes it so unique.
To secure your place on one of our Cameroon group tours, send us an email to [email protected].
