Cameroon Security

By | February 14, 2021

Security

The security situation in Cameroon has deteriorated more and more over the past few years. The increase in the propensity to use violence, even in the case of petty theft, is terrifying. Foreigners are also victims, but mainly the local population. Robbery of travelers by ” coupeurs de routes ” is widespread in many regions. Robberies during taxi rides, in restaurants or hotels also happen again and again. Caution, especially when going out at night, is recommended even in smaller cities.

The security situation has been worsening since 2013. In the Extreme North region, foreign citizens have been kidnapped several times by supporters of the Nigerian Boko Haram. In February 2013, seven French tourists were kidnapped on the route between Waza National Park and N’Djaména. After they were abducted to Nigeria, they were released in April 2013. There was another kidnap victim in November 2013, this time a French priest who worked in the Mandara Mountains between Mokolo and Mora. He was released in late 2013.

Early April 2014two Italian priests and a Canadian nun were kidnapped from a parish about 20 km northwest of Maroua.

As a result of these cases, the entire region of Extreme North was declared a “zone rouge”, and western nationals were asked to leave the area.

Due to the current situation, we strongly advise against traveling to the Anglophone Northwest region. In a somewhat weaker form, this also applies to the southwest, north and parts of Adamaoua.

Pirate attacks in Bonny Bay have also increased recently. In mid-August 2019, a German cargo ship was also affected by kidnappings.

German travelers are advised to register with the crisis prevention list (electronic registration of Germans abroad – Elefand).

General, nationwide security precautions include bag and luggage checks at events or when traveling by public transport and ID checks on the highways. A nocturnal driving ban for mototaxis was introduced in the Anglophone crisis regions as well as in the extreme north.

Further information is provided by:

  • Travel and security advice from the Federal Foreign Office
  • US State Department travel information with crime and safety notices
  • French Ministry of Foreign Affairs safety advice for Cameroon.

Stay healthy

According to globalsciencellc, Cameroon is a country located in Central Africa. Malaria is an important health issue throughout Cameroon: in the north and south, lowlands and highlands, urban and rural areas.

Cholera occurs regularly, mostly in the north of the country. This disease is a problem for people who do not have access to clean water.

Polio flares up again and again, but is becoming rarer due to vaccination campaigns, meningococcal meningitis occurs epidemically in the north during the dry season.

In August 2014, the borders with Nigeria were closed to prevent Ebola from spreading to Cameroon. The presence of the virus in the rainforests of Cameroon has been certain for a long time.

With regard to protection against infection against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the now generally known AHA rules apply.

Medical advice in the run-up to the trip from a tropical medical advice center, especially on vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis, is recommended. At least one should obtain the current travel medical information, which can be obtained from various sources. It is also important to put together the first- aid kit appropriately.

The observance of general health-promoting rules of conduct is appropriate and saves inconvenience…

  • Interactive travel risk map

Telecommunication, Internet

Phone booth

Phone booth

The country code for Cameroon is 00237. The fixed line telephone (CAMTEL) is becoming less and less important compared to the mobile phone operators (Orange, MTN, Nexttel, CAMTEL; GSM 900).

Public telephones are always operated privately. They are available in various designs: Téléboutique / Taxiphones (landline and mobile) or the very simple call box (mobile). The cost for domestic calls is approximately F CFA 250 / min and for international calls it is approximately F CFA 500. On the one hand, the importance of the Internet is constantly increasing; on the other hand, the Internet is “almost” inaccessible in rural areas, individual Internet access is unaffordable for most Cameroonians and women are marginalized with regard to the use of this technology.

Internet connections work (mostly) quite well in cities, albeit slowly. Larger cities have Internet cafes and the large hotels also have Internet connections. Mobile internet is also a tariff jungle in Cameroon.