courtsey, Washington DC – infoZine, October 01, 2015
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the
high risk of traveling to Cameroon, and urges U.S. citizens to avoid all travel
to the North and Far North regions of the country because of the general threat
of violent crime, terrorism, and the targeting of westerners for murder and
kidnappings, particularly by the extremist terrorist group Boko Haram.
There is also a growing threat in the East Region,
where former Seleka and criminal elements from the Central African Republic
(CAR) occasionally cross the border of Cameroon to steal property and take
hostages for ransom. Because of the security situation in country, the U.S.
Embassy’s ability to provide consular services in remote and rural areas is
extremely limited.
This replaces the Travel Warning of August 5, 2015
to emphasize the continuing threat of armed attacks, bombings and kidnappings
in the Far North region of Cameroon and Boko Haram’s aspirations to extend the
threat to other parts of the country
The Boko Haram terrorist group is active in the Far
North region, and has actively targeted foreign residents, tourists, and
government leaders. Boko Haram’s leaders have stated and demonstrated through
their actions that they are actively seeking to kidnap westerners, which may
place U.S. citizens traveling to or living in the Far North and North regions
of Cameroon at risk. Twenty-one foreigners have been reported kidnapped since
2013. The U.S. Embassy continues to maintain restrictions on travel by U.S. official
personnel to the North, Far North, and now the East Region of Cameroon, as well
as any travel north of Ngaoundere in the Adamawa Region.
U.S. citizens should
exercise extreme caution when traveling within 60 miles/100 kilometers of the
border with Nigeria’s Adamawa State in the North and Adamawa Regions of
Cameroon, the border area with Chad, and the border areas with CAR. Violence,
banditry, and military operations in border areas can quickly spill over into
Cameroon. Note there are Travel Warnings for neighboring Nigeria, Chad, and
Central African Republic (CAR). The threat of piracy is present in the waters
of the Bakassi peninsula in the Gulf of Guinea.
Criminal activity continues
to be a major concern particularly in Yaounde, Douala, and other towns.
Burglaries, armed robberies, theft by intimidation, and snatch-and-grab crimes
are commonplace in these areas. High unemployment and an under-equipped police
force exacerbate the situation. An influx of refugees fleeing conflict in CAR
and Nigeria has strained Cameroon’s economy and added population to already
crowded urban areas. Road banditry, especially along the eastern border with
CAR, is reported periodically.
Contact the U.S. Embassy in Cameroon link located
on Avenue Rosa Parks close to the Mont Febe Golf Club in Yaounde, at +237
22220-1500 ext. 4341/4023 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday
through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday. After-hours emergency
number for U.S. citizens is +237 22220-1500 ext. 4531.
Call 1-888-407-4747
toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other
countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through
Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
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