Frightening Insecurity:

USA Bars Its Citizens from Travelling to NW & SW

US Embassy tells its citizens ‘Do not travel to the Southwest and Northwest Regions’

The United States Embassy in Cameroon has warned its citizens and personnel against traveling to the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon following escalation in the ongoing conflict between the secessionist fighters and government back security forces in both regions.

                The security alert was posted on the Embassy’s website on Friday, 23 November. ‘The level of violence in the Southwest and Northwest Regions continues to increase.   In recent weeks, U.S. citizens have been the victims of violent crimes in both regions.  Due to the violence, many medical facilities in these areas are reported to be closed, inaccessible, or severely understaffed’ the Embassy said.

                This is the first time since conflict began that Embassy is put a complete ban on travelling to both regions. ‘All but mission-essential travel by U.S. Embassy personnel to these regions is prohibited:  our ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these areas is extremely limited. Actions to Take:   Do not travel to the Southwest and Northwest Regions’ the alert insisted.

                A US citizen from the state of Indiana, Charles Wesco, was shot and killed in the Northwest region in October this year. Cameroon’s military and secessionist forces have all denied involvement in the murder. Both sides are accusing the other of killing the missionary. Killing a US citizen in Cameroon is seen by both sides of as likely to turn the scales against them in the case of US intervention against either side.

                Although the Cameroon government is sensitive to the murder of foreigners in the ongoing war, the government and Ambazonian fighters are indifferent to the killing of poor Cameroonians. This reflects the extent to which considerations of material power and lack of human rights values guides the operations of both sides. To the Cameroonian government backed forces as well as to most Amba fighters, the life of a common Cameroonian can be taken away without any consequence.