Country Report on Terrorism 2024 - Chapter 1 - Cameroon

Country Overview:  BH and ISIS-WA remained active in both the Far North and Northwest/Southwest Regions of Cameroon (NOSO), with the terrorist threat there increasingly targeting civilians and critical infrastructure.  Terrorist groups attacked larger towns and strategic targets in NOSO more frequently, although the total number of attacks remained similar to 2023.  Terrorist groups also increasingly deployed unmanned aerial systems for surveillance.  Security forces implemented stricter border control measures near Nigeria and Chad to prevent cross-border attacks and smuggling.  In 2024, Cameroon expanded counterterrorism recruitment efforts, focusing on preventing youth and women from joining armed groups and offering pathways for disengagement.  Despite these initiatives, armed groups continued to attract marginalized and disaffected youth in rural areas.

Cameroon made progress on its disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration initiatives in 2024.  The government reintegrated the first tranches of former combatants back into society through host communities as part of its national rehabilitation strategy.  These efforts provided vocational training, psychological support, and reintegration assistance to ex-fighters from both the BH and its separatist groups.  Officials acknowledged the need for sustained funding and community engagement to prevent recidivism.  Despite improvements, Cameroon remained on the FATF gray list because of ongoing deficiencies in its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework and prosecution of complex cases.

Cameroon contributed to the Multinational Joint Task Force and took part in regional security exercises aimed at strengthening coordination among security forces in the Lake Chad Basin. Difficulties working with neighboring countries limited cross-border cooperation.

2024 Terrorism Trends:  Terrorists used roadside IEDs, ambushes, targeted killings, and hostage takings to attack civilians and security forces.

Associated documents