“As they gain ground, the jihadists are stoking conflicts between different ethnic groups … putting the region’s entire social fabric into question. The ramifications of this advance are dire. “A surge in violence in recent months in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger has left more than 440,000 people displaced and 5,000 dead as militants – some with links to al-Qaida and Isis – extend their grip across the region,” it reported in May. Investigations by the New Humanitarian project suggest the Sahel emergency is intensifying rapidly. “Although the Nigerian military has regained control in parts of the north-east, civilians in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger continue to be affected by grave violations of human rights, widespread sexual and gender-based violence, forced recruitment and suicide bombings,” the UN’s refugee agency says. But the rise of less-known Isis affiliates, such as so-called Islamic State West Africa, and regional jihadist groups is a cause of growing concern, says the US-based Council on Foreign Relations.Ībout 2.4 million people in the Lake Chad basin are displaced. In Nigeria, the notorious Boko Haram insurgency has been pegged back. Across this vast area, home to numerous other under-reported conflicts, the developed world’s present-day neglect is sowing a poisonous future harvest. Its instability reflects that of its neighbours – Nigeria, Chad and the Central African Republic – and the wider Sahel region. Though the specifics vary, Cameroon does not suffer in isolation. Hundreds of villages have been burned down, tens of thousands of people are hiding in the bush with no humanitarian support, and attacks are taking place every day.” Both the government and separatists are accused of “horrific human rights violations”. Since 2016, conflict between government forces and non-state armed groups has forced 450,000 people from their homes.Īccording to the report, “780,000 children are out of school. According to a new Norwegian Refugee Council report, Cameroon is the world’s most neglected displacement crisis. Political repression may be the least of Cameroon’s worries.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |