Background
Violent clashes between government forces and armed separatist groups continued in the Anglophone regions. This, as well as clashes between farmers and herders in the North-west region, internally displaced nearly 1 million people.
In August, the Trump administration terminated the Temporary Protected Status for Cameroon, putting more than 5,000 Cameroonian asylum seekers in the USA at risk of deportation.
Official statistics estimated the inflation rate at 4.1% at the end of June. While it had decreased since 2024, it remained above the tolerance threshold for most households.
Paul Biya, who had been president for 43 years, was declared the winner of the presidential election in October.
Freedom of association and assembly
In January, lawyer Alice Nkom, president of the board of directors of the Central African Human Rights Defenders Network (REDHAC), was summoned by the Wouri department prefect and the national gendarmerie for “investigation”.1 Prior to this, in December 2024, authorities had suspended the activities of REDHAC and three other civil society organizations. In January Alice Nkom and Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, REDHAC’s director, were charged with several offences, including “breaking seals” (placed by authorities on the doors of REDHAC’s offices), “rebellion”, “failure to appear in court” and “financing terrorism”. Their trial started in April but was adjourned several times.
The government banned several political gatherings and activities, and arrested opposition supporters ahead of the presidential elections. In September, OHCHR, the UN human rights office, warned against increasing restrictions on the activities of opposition political parties.
Arbitrary arrests and detentions
Eleven of 500 people arbitrarily arrested in 2020 for participating in peaceful protests organized by the opposition Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) party remained in detention.
In April Abdu Karim Ali, a peace activist detained since 2022, was sentenced to life in prison.2 He had been arrested for denouncing torture committed and broadcast online by the leader of a pro-government militia in the South-west region.
In August, more than 50 people, including supporters of MRC leader Maurice Kamto, were arrested in the capital, Yaoundé. They had gathered outside the Constitutional Council, where appeals concerning the validation of presidential candidacies were being heard. They were released weeks later but were facing charges of disturbing public order, unlawful assembly, rebellion and incitement to revolt.
OCHA’s monthly reports regularly highlighted the use of arbitrary arrests against populations of the North-west and South-west regions in the context of clashes between government forces and armed separatist groups (see below).
Unlawful use of force
In March, Cameroon Bar Association members declared a national protest and a three-day nationwide strike, in response to videos on social media showing police “inflicting violence and other degrading and inhumane acts” against at least two lawyers and other citizens.
In October, protests contesting the president’s re-election broke out in several cities. Peaceful protests turned violent as security forces used excessive and unnecessary force to disperse demonstrators, killing at least 48 people, according to a Reuters report citing UN sources that also said that three gendarmes died in protests in Douala. Hundreds of protesters were arrested, including opposition leaders, activists and supporters of opposition political parties. OHCHR urged authorities “to ensure prompt, impartial and effective investigations into all cases of election-related violence, including the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force, and to bring those responsible to justice.”
Right to truth, justice and reparation
In September the trial resumed concerning the 2023 abduction and murder of radio journalist Martinez Zogo in Yaoundé. He was killed while making programmes denouncing corruption. The trial was ongoing at the end of the year.
Abuses by armed groups
Far North region
In February suspected members of Boko Haram carried out multiple attacks against communities in Kolofata district on the border with Nigeria. Media reports said they abducted residents, including children, looted homes, stole and killed livestock and set a village on fire, leaving at least three people dead. In September, Boko Haram claimed an attack in the Mayo-Moskota department, which left five dead and 11 injured, according to a local newspaper.
Repeated Boko Haram attacks caused disruption to healthcare provision in these areas where, according to the UN Population Fund, patients and health workers feared for their safety.
North-west and South-west regions
Separatists claimed several attacks in the Anglophone North-west and South-west regions. The UN said that populations continued to be victims of targeted killings, frequent hostage-taking, the imposition of illegal taxes, roadblocks, extortions, movement restrictions and the use of improvised explosive devices, including in public spaces and along major roads.
OCHA reported numerous attacks in June by armed separatist groups against teachers, students and their parents to prevent them from taking or facilitating exams.
Economic and social rights
US President Trump’s foreign aid cuts in January adversely affected access to essential health services, particularly in regions affected by insecurity or by armed conflict in the Far North. The US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) had until January funded 50% of all community health workers in the Far North, nearly half of whom, according to Reuters in October, were no longer working due to the cut in PMI funding.
According to UNICEF, in the North-west and South-west regions 14,829 schools were closed in 2025, in comparison with 14,364 in 2024, disrupting the education of more than 3 million children and increasing the risk of recruitment of children into non-state armed groups. Only 41% of children had access to pre-school education, particularly affecting children who lived in rural areas.
Right to a healthy environment
In May UN experts urged the government to take measures to address environmental and human rights abuses linked to mercury use in gold mining, including by state-owned enterprises. They said its use seriously undermined the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment free of toxic substances, the right to safe drinking water and the right to life, among other human rights.
