On 8 April 2022, Cameroonian Anglophone separatists launched indiscriminate attacks on the ethnic Mbonhong, a western village in Ndu district on the border with Nigeria. At least six people were killed and 12 homes set on fire. The rebels appeared to be
targeting members of the Mbororo ethnic group, who the separatists accuse of collaborating with government troops (VOA News. 9 April 2022).
On 25 April 2022, VOA News reported that Cameroonian Anglophone separatists took temporary control of
two border crossings between Cameroon and Nigeria. Cameroon depends on Nigeria for nearly 70% of imported basic commodities. According to sources, the separatists have joined forces with Nigerian militants to control local trade; several merchants have been abducted and nearly all businesses have been taken over by the separatists.
World Watch Research analyst Yonas Dembele comments: "Cameroon is a victim of its geopolitical location, neighboring Sahel countries. This has led to a spill-over of violent Islamic activity with groups such as Boko Haram extending their operations to areas beyond Nigeria"s borders. This situation has been worsened by Cameroon"s political volatility, the ethnic and social divisions between the Anglophone and the Francophone populations of the country, and separatist fighting. This cocktail of unrest and violence leads to a violation of freedoms, including religious freedom."
Yonas Dembele continues: "The taking over of the entry ports and the border towns means that Islamists will find a safe haven to plan and launch attacks into Cameroon while at the same time being well protected from Nigerian government offensives. It also gives Islamists access to resources and supplies needed to carry out their attacks. This puts the lives of local civilians and Christians at great risk because the ultimate goal of Islamists is to establish a caliphate with no room for other religions like Christianity."
