Security Threats on Cameroon's Borders

Cameroon is taking steps to secure its frontier after a spate of kidnappings and skirmishes along its borders with Nigeria and the Central African Republic. Rebels from the former Seleka alliance in the Central African Republic have occasionally launched attacks on Cameroonian soil. These cross-border attacks by rebels seeking to avoid security operations by French and African peacekeeping forces in the Central African Republic occurred at different locations on the border, with the most recent attack taking place Jan. 19 at Garoua-Boulai, a border town through which the main road leading from Cameroon to Bangui passes. On Nov. 18, 2013, Seleka rebels also attacked a village in Cameroon near the location of a separate road leading from Cameroon to Bangui.

Cameroon has faced similar threats posed by the northern Nigerian Islamist militants of Boko Haram. On Jan. 15, a skirmish took place in northern Cameroon as Nigerian refugees and Boko Haram fighters crossed the border and Nigerian military forces followed them. The Cameroonian military intervened and arrested several suspected Boko Haram members. However, Cameroon has suffered more from the northern Nigerian conflict through a series of kidnappings than through border skirmishes. A French priest was kidnapped Nov. 13, and a French family of seven was kidnapped Feb. 19. In both cases, the kidnappings allegedly resulted in a ransom being paid for the release of the hostages. This type of activity represents a much more persistent threat to Cameroon, even if it is limited to the remote north of the country, than the limited border skirmishes, especially since the resulting hostage situations are generating revenue for Boko Haram through ransoms. Still, the threat the militants pose will likely be contained. They do not have a local support base, they are active only in remote areas of the country and Cameroonian security forces have already taken measures to repel them.

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