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cameroon Cameroon v.2026-05-15

Armed conflict, terrorism, kidnappings and armed attacks affect the North-West, South-West, Far North and borders with Nigeria, Chad and CAR.

  • Article
  • updated 2026-05-15

Cameroon has active official travel warnings as of 2026-05-15. Several governments advise avoiding all travel to parts of the country, especially the Far North, North-West, South-West, Bakassi Peninsula, and border areas with Nigeria, Chad, and the Central African Republic.

What Is Being Advised

Avoid all travel to the regions and border zones named in the strongest official advisories. For a tourist or backpacker route, skip the Far North, North-West, South-West, Bakassi Peninsula, and border areas with Nigeria, Chad, and the Central African Republic unless your own government gives narrower instructions and you have an essential reason to be there.

Avoid non-essential travel where official advice is softer but still elevated, including North and Adamaoua in some advisories. If your plan depends on overland movement through northern or border regions, check current route-specific advice before booking and leave room for changes.

Use heightened caution elsewhere in Cameroon. Official advisories repeatedly cite violent crime, carjackings, kidnappings, armed attacks, terrorism risk, civil unrest, maritime piracy, military operations, and health alerts including cholera.

Where exactly this applies
  • Far North region, including warnings tied to terrorism, armed attacks, kidnappings, and military operations.
  • Mayo-Louti Department in the North region, named in border-risk guidance.
  • North-West and South-West regions, named in avoid-all-travel guidance because of conflict, civil unrest, armed groups, attacks, kidnapping risk, and banditry.
  • Bakassi Peninsula.
  • Areas near the borders with Nigeria, Chad, and the Central African Republic. One advisory names areas within 30 km of those borders; another names areas within 40 km of the Chad and Central African Republic borders.
  • North and Adamaoua regions, where some guidance says to avoid non-essential travel or discourages travel.
  • East region, Adamawa, Mayo-Rey, Mundemba, Mamfe, Limbe, Douala, Kribi, Yaounde, and other named places appear in above-baseline caution notes, with risks varying by place.
Organizations issuing warnings
  • Auswartiges Amt, Germany
  • Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia
  • Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, United Kingdom
  • Global Affairs Canada
  • Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres, France
  • Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Union Europea y Cooperacion, Spain
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, Italy
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand

Where The Advisories Overlap

The strongest overlap is northern and western Cameroon. Germany's 2026-05-14 update warns against travel to the Far North, the borders with Nigeria, Chad, and the Central African Republic, the anglophone North-West and South-West regions, and Bakassi Peninsula. It also advises German nationals to leave the Far North and discourages travel to Adamawa and North regions.

Canada's 2026-05-07 advisory says to avoid all travel to the North-West and South-West regions, the Far North region and Mayo-Louti Department, and areas within 30 km of the Nigeria, Chad, and Central African Republic borders. The stated reasons are clashes between armed groups and security forces, civil unrest, armed attacks, kidnappings, banditry, terrorism risk, and military operations.

The UK advisory, updated 2026-02-09 and checked here on 2026-05-14, advises against all travel to Bakassi Peninsula and within 40 km of the borders with Chad and the Central African Republic. Switzerland's 2025-11-17 update advises against travel to several parts of the country, including Bakassi, Adamawa, North, and Far North.

France keeps Cameroon in a mixed security map: red zones formally advised against, orange zones advised against except for imperative reasons, and yellow zones under reinforced vigilance. Its active 2026-03-19 alerts cover terrorism and kidnapping risk, plus cholera.

Japan's 2025-08-04 notice keeps different parts of Cameroon under evacuation, do-not-travel, avoid-non-essential-travel, and high-caution levels. New Zealand's 2024-11-28 advice applies increased caution countrywide and says not to travel to the North-West and South-West because of conflict and a volatile security situation.

Practical Read For Itineraries

If the trip is optional, avoid the regions named in the strongest advisories and keep the rest of the route flexible. The official inputs support avoiding named regions and checking current route advice; they do not say that flying is safer than buses or that one specific route is the safer workaround.

If you are already in Cameroon, check your own government's latest page before moving between regions. Several advisories describe ongoing conflict, military operations, armed groups, terrorism risk, kidnapping risk, and violent crime.

City stays in Yaounde, Douala, Limbe, Kribi, or other places outside avoid-all-travel language still sit above ordinary baseline advice in some official notes. Italy marks Yaounde for health caution, Douala, Kribi, and Limbe for crime or security caution, and several northern or eastern areas for kidnapping, armed groups, border risk, or security risks.

Source Notes

The most recent dated update here is Germany's 2026-05-14 Cameroon notice. Canada last updated its Cameroon page on 2026-05-07. France has active Cameroon alerts dated 2026-03-19 for terrorism/kidnapping risk and cholera. Australia lists Cameroon at high caution in a destination entry updated 2026-03-18.

Some advisories use countrywide labels with regional exceptions. Others are region-by-region warnings. Use your passport country's advisory for consular and insurance consequences, then compare it with the named regional warnings above if your route crosses northern, western, or border areas.

Official source notes

Official source notes used for this article. Native government labels are preserved when available.

  • Auswartiges Amt (de) (avoid all travel; native label: Teilreisewarnung; updated 2026-05-14; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroon: Teilreisewarnung. Germany warns against travel to Cameroon’s Far North, the borders with Nigeria, Chad, and the Central African Republic, the anglophone North-West and South-West regions, and the Bakassi Peninsula. German nationals are advised to leave the Far North, and travel to Adamawa and North regions is discouraged.
  • Global Affairs Canada (ca) (avoid all travel; native label: Avoid all travel; updated 2026-05-07; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroon: North-West and South-West regions - Avoid all travel. Avoid all travel to the North-West and South-West regions due to clashes between armed groups and security forces, civil unrest, armed attacks, the risk of kidnappings and banditry.
  • Global Affairs Canada (ca) (avoid all travel; native label: Avoid all travel; updated 2026-05-07; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroon: Far North region and Mayo-Louti Department - Avoid all travel. Avoid all travel to the Far North region and Mayo-Louti Department in the North region due to military operations, the risk of terrorism, armed attacks and the risk of kidnappings.
  • Global Affairs Canada (ca) (avoid all travel; native label: Avoid all travel; updated 2026-05-07; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroon: Borders with Nigeria, Chad and the Central African Republic - Avoid all travel. Avoid all travel to areas within 30 km of the borders with Nigeria, Chad and the Central African Republic, due to military operations, the risk of terrorism, armed attacks and the risk of kidnappings.
  • Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres (fr) (avoid all travel; native label: Zones formellement déconseillées (rouge); Zones déconseillées sauf raison impérative (orange); Zones en vigilance renforcée (jaune); updated 2026-04-15; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroun - Conseils aux voyageurs: security zones. France Diplomatie currently places parts of Cameroun above ordinary baseline travel advice. Native severity labels are preserved as: Zones formellement déconseillées (rouge); Zones déconseillées sauf raison impérative (orange); Zones en vigilance renforcée (jaune). Named areas/routes/borders include: Terrorisme – risque d’enlèvements, Risque routier, Criminalité, Troubles socioéconomiques, Piraterie maritime.
  • Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres (fr) (avoid all travel; native label: Dernières minutes; updated 2026-03-19; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroun - Terrorisme – Risque d’enlèvement. France Diplomatie has an active 'Dernières minutes' update for Cameroun, titled 'Terrorisme – Risque d’enlèvement'. The update concerns security or civil disruption; the original French excerpt is included for exact official wording.
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gb) (avoid all travel; native label: FCDO advises against all travel; updated 2026-02-09; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroon: FCDO advises against all travel. Areas where FCDO advises against travel Bakassi Peninsula FCDO advises against all travel to Bakassi Peninsula. Cameroon-Central African Republic border FCDO advises against all travel to within 40km of the border with Central African Republic. Cameroon-Chad border FCDO advises against all travel to within 40km of the border with Chad.
  • Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (ch) (avoid all travel; native label: regional — Von Reisen in verschiedene Landesteile wird abgeraten; Von Reisen auf die Bakassi-Halbinsel wird abgeraten; Von Reisen in die Regionen Adamaoua, Nord und Extrême-Nord und von Aufenthalten jeder Art wird abgeraten; ...; updated 2025-11-17; checked 2026-05-14): FDFA travel advice for Cameroon. The FDFA advises against travel to/in verschiedene parts of the country. The current FDFA update note was published on 2025-11-17.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (jp) (avoid all travel; native label: レベル４：退避してください。渡航は止めてください。（退避勧告）（継続）; updated 2025-08-04; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroon: レベル４：退避してください。渡航は止めてください。（退避勧告）（継続）. Japan MOFA keeps Cameroon in the listed area at レベル４：退避してください。渡航は止めてください。（退避勧告）（継続）; travelers should evacuate and not travel. The update notes cite ongoing security risks and advise travelers to monitor reliable information and take sufficient safety measures.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (jp) (avoid all travel; native label: レベル３：渡航は止めてください。（渡航中止勧告）（継続）; updated 2025-08-04; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroon: レベル３：渡航は止めてください。（渡航中止勧告）（継続）. Japan MOFA keeps Cameroon in the listed area at レベル３：渡航は止めてください。（渡航中止勧告）（継続）; travelers should not travel. The update notes cite ongoing security risks and advise travelers to monitor reliable information and take sufficient safety measures.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (nz) (avoid all travel; native label: Exercise increased caution; Do not travel; Avoid non-essential travel; updated 2024-11-28; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroon: Exercise increased caution. Exercise increased caution in Cameroon overall due to violent crime, carjackings and maritime piracy (level 2 of 4). Do not travel to the Northwest and Southwest regions due to ongoing conflict and the volatile security situation (level 4 of 4).
  • Global Affairs Canada (ca) (avoid non-essential travel; native label: Avoid non-essential travel; updated 2026-05-07; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroon: North and Adamaoua regions - Avoid non-essential travel. Avoid non-essential travel to the North and Adamaoua regions due to the risk of kidnappings and armed attacks.
  • Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Union Europea y Cooperacion (es) (avoid non-essential travel; native label: SE RECOMIENDA VIAJAR CON EXTREMA PRECAUCIÓN Y ABSTENERSE DE HACERLO EN LAS REGIONES NOROESTE, SUDOESTE Y EXTREMO NORTE; updated 2025-11-28; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroon: extreme caution and avoid several regions. Spain recommends traveling with extreme caution and abstaining from travel to the Northwest, Southwest, Far North, and border areas, especially borders with Nigeria, Chad, and the Central African Republic. The advice also notes increased kidnappings in Adamawa.
  • Department of Foreign Affairs (ie) (avoid non-essential travel; native label: Avoid Non-Essential Travel; updated 2025-10-16; checked 2026-05-14): Ireland DFA: Avoid non-essential travel - Cameroon. Ireland DFA currently advises avoiding non-essential travel to Cameroon. Tourists should avoid non-essential trips unless the journey is essential.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (jp) (avoid non-essential travel; native label: レベル２：不要不急の渡航は止めてください。（継続）; updated 2025-08-04; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroon: レベル２：不要不急の渡航は止めてください。（継続）. Japan MOFA keeps Cameroon in the listed area at レベル２：不要不急の渡航は止めてください。（継続）; travelers should avoid non-essential travel. The update notes cite ongoing security risks and advise travelers to monitor reliable information and take sufficient safety measures.
  • Global Affairs Canada (ca) (heightened caution; native label: Exercise a high degree of caution; updated 2026-05-07; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroon - Exercise a high degree of caution. Exercise a high degree of caution in Cameroon due to the high level of violent crime in some regions and the tensions that exist in the Sahel region.
  • Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres (fr) (heightened caution; native label: Dernières minutes; updated 2026-03-19; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroun - Choléra. France Diplomatie has an active 'Dernières minutes' update for Cameroun, titled 'Choléra'. The update concerns a current travel-advice update; the original French excerpt is included for exact official wording.
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (au) (heightened caution; native label: Exercise a high degree of caution; updated 2026-03-18; checked 2026-05-14): Smartraveller advisory for Cameroon: Exercise a high degree of caution. Australia Smartraveller lists Cameroon at "Exercise a high degree of caution" on its current destinations index. The destination entry was updated on 2026-03-18.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-09-16; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Mundemba in Camerun for above-baseline travel caution due to security risks. Travelers are told to avoid the affected area or activity and follow local instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-09-16; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Regione del Nord-Ovest in Camerun for above-baseline travel caution due to security risks. Travelers are told to avoid the affected area or activity and follow local instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-09-16; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Provincia di Mayo Louti - aree di confine con Nigeria e Ciad in Camerun for above-baseline travel caution due to border risk. Travelers are advised to use heightened caution and follow local authority instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sanitaria - Situazione sanitaria; updated 2025-09-16; checked 2026-05-14): Situazione sanitaria. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Yaoundé in Camerun for above-baseline travel caution due to health risks. Travelers are advised to use heightened caution and follow local authority instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-09-16; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Limbe in Camerun for above-baseline travel caution due to crime. Travelers are advised to use heightened caution and follow local authority instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-09-16; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Regione Est in Camerun for above-baseline travel caution due to kidnapping and armed groups. Travelers are told to avoid the affected area or activity and follow local instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-09-16; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Regione di Adamaoua in Camerun for above-baseline travel caution due to kidnapping and armed groups. Travelers are told to avoid the affected area or activity and follow local instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-09-16; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Dipartimento di Mayo-Rey in Camerun for above-baseline travel caution due to security risks. Travelers are told to avoid the affected area or activity and follow local instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-09-16; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Douala in Camerun for above-baseline travel caution due to crime. Travelers are told to avoid the affected area or activity and follow local instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-09-16; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Mamfé in Camerun for above-baseline travel caution due to security risks. Travelers are told to avoid the affected area or activity and follow local instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-09-16; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Regione dell'Estremo Nord in Camerun for above-baseline travel caution due to security risks. Travelers are told to avoid the affected area or activity and follow local instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-09-16; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Kribi in Camerun for above-baseline travel caution due to crime. Travelers are advised to use heightened caution and follow local authority instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-09-16; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Regione del Sud-Ovest in Camerun for above-baseline travel caution due to security risks. Travelers are told to avoid the affected area or activity and follow local instructions.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (jp) (heightened caution; native label: レベル１：十分注意してください。（継続）; updated 2025-08-04; checked 2026-05-14): Cameroon: レベル１：十分注意してください。（継続）. Japan MOFA keeps Cameroon in the listed area at レベル１：十分注意してください。（継続）; travelers should exercise a high degree of caution. The update notes cite ongoing security risks and advise travelers to monitor reliable information and take sufficient safety measures.