Is It Safe To Visit To Cameroon?

Cameroon is a country with high levels of street crime, terrorism, diseases, and natural hazards. To minimize the chances of issues, travelers should apply maximum precautions, review the Country Security Report, prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations, and visit the CDC page for the latest information. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the rest of North and Adamawa regions, including Garoua in the North Region.

To stay safe during travel to Cameroon, consider the following risk information: transportation, natural disasters, crime, water safety, and more. Passport validity is six months, with blank passport pages per stamp. Tourist visas are required, and vaccinations are advised.

Violent crime, such as armed robbery and carjacking, is common throughout Cameroon, and local police lack resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. The US State Department recommends increased caution due to crime in some areas.

It is safe to visit Cameroon, but avoid visiting the North West and South West regions due to ongoing tensions in the Sahel region. There is a risk of armed robbery and mugging throughout Cameroon, particularly in cities like Yaoundé, Douala, Ngaoundere, and Bafoussam. Most of Cameroon’s border areas are unstable and unsafe.

Remember to avoid traveling overland to neighboring Central African Republic due to conflicts between insurgents and foreigners. Assault, muggings, and armed robbery are common in Cameroon.

Can I speak English in Cameroon?

Cameroon is a country with two official languages, English and French, with French being the most understood. German, the language of the original colonizers, has been replaced by French and English. Cameroonian Pidgin English is the lingua franca in the formerly British-administered territories. A mixture of English, French, and Pidgin called Camfranglais has gained popularity in urban centers since the mid-1970s. The government encourages bilingualism in English and French, with official documents, legislation, and ballots written and provided in both languages.

Six of the eight universities in Cameroon are entirely bilingual. Cameroon is considered one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, with literacy in official languages according to the 2005 census.

Is Cameroon safe for Americans?

Cameroon is advised to exercise caution due to the risk of violent crime and civil unrest, with higher levels in some areas. Visa applications must be made through the Cameroonian Government’s E-visa system before travel. Violent crime, including muggings and robberies, occurs in urban areas and intercity highways, with armed highwaymen operating across the country. Armed bandits are common in border areas with the Central African Republic.

What are the dangers in Cameroon?

Cameroon faces a risk of armed robbery and mugging, especially in cities like Yaoundé, Douala, Ngaoundere, and Bafoussam. To avoid these risks, avoid isolated areas and be cautious when walking, especially alone. Burglary and petty theft are common, and it is essential to close and lock doors, install burglar-proof metal bars, and identify callers through spy holes before opening doors. Petty theft is also common on trains, coaches, bush taxis, bus stations, and hotels.

Is Cameroon a rich or poor country?

Cameroon, a lower-middle-income country with a population of over 27. 9 million, shares borders with the Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria. The country is rich in natural resources such as oil, gas, mineral ores, timber, and agricultural products. The first regional elections in December 2020 saw the ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), win nine out of ten regions, marking the start of the decentralization process in the 1996 Constitution.

The new regional councilors will work with the Ministry of Decentralization and Local Development to transfer power and funds to the regions. Presidential elections are scheduled for 2025, with the opposition discussing the possibility of a single candidacy.

What threat level is Cameroon at?

The travel advisory for Level 2 Cameroon recommends heightened caution due to an elevated crime risk in select regions, including the North, Far North, Northwest, and Southwest Regions, as well as portions of the East and Adamawa Regions. Furthermore, the advisory underscores the prevalence of terrorism in the Far North Region and the incidence of armed violence in the Northwest and Southwest Regions.

Can US citizens travel to Cameroon?

It is a requirement for non-Cameroonian citizens who are resident in the United States or elsewhere overseas, as well as for naturalised US citizens of Cameroonian origin, to obtain a visa if they wish to travel to Cameroon.

Is there trouble in Cameroon?

The security situation in the Anglophone north-west and south-west regions remains highly volatile, with armed clashes between government forces and separatist groups continuing unabated. In May, violence increased in Bamenda, the capital city, with a grenade attack killing two people and injuring 41 others. In July, at least four separatists were killed following clashes with government forces, including the deputy commander of a separatist group accused of terrorizing civilians.

Separatist forces loyal to Ayaba Cho Lucas issued a decree requiring township taxis in Bamenda to be painted white and blue, the colors of “Ambazonia”, as a condition for operating in the city. In May, at least ten attacks were recorded in the north-west region, and the UN Children’s Fund reported that 488, 000 school-aged children remain out of school due to ongoing armed conflict. Inter-communal clashes between two communities in the south-west region have worsened the suffering of the local population.

Is Cameroon currently at war?

The Anglophone Crisis, also known as the Ambazonia War, is an ongoing armed conflict in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon, between the Cameroonian government and separatist rebel groups. This conflict is part of the long-standing Anglophone problem, which began after the suppression of 2016-17 protests by Cameroonian authorities. Separatists in the Anglophone regions launched a guerrilla campaign and later proclaimed independence.

The Cameroonian government declared war on the separatists and sent its army into the Anglophone regions. The conflict spread to most parts of the Anglophone regions within a year, with the government controlling major cities and parts of the countryside by the summer of 2019. Separatists have occasionally carried out raids into neighboring Francophone regions of Littoral and West. Thousands of people have been killed in the war, and over half a million have been forced to flee their homes. The Cameroonian government was supported by the Buhari administration in Nigeria, while at least one Ambazonian group is allied to Biafran separatists.

Is Cameroon a high risk country?

Cameroon is advised to exercise caution due to the risk of violent crime and civil unrest, with higher levels in some areas. Visa applications must be made through the Cameroonian Government’s E-visa system before travel. Violent crime, including muggings and robberies, occurs in urban areas and intercity highways, with armed highwaymen operating across the country. Armed bandits are common in border areas with the Central African Republic.

What are the negatives of Cameroon?

Cameroon, located at a strategic crossroads between West and Central Africa, faces insecurity and political risk due to its strategic location and conflict with separatist movements in English-speaking regions bordering Nigeria. Terrorist attacks, such as Boko Haram or Islamic State, are increasing security pressure in the north of the country. President Paul Biya, who has clung to power since 1982, faces political risks due to his possible presidential candidacy in 2025. The muzzled opposition struggles to exist, and public discontent continues.

Internationally, Cameroon has a strong relationship with France, with a commitment of EUR 1. 5 billion between 2016 and 2023. However, the Congo Basin country is also diversifying, with China investing in local mining and port infrastructures as part of its African policy. Yaoundé maintains ties with Russia and renewed military cooperation in 2022 for a further five years. The US is refusing to reinstate Cameroon in the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA), which it has been excluded from since 2019.