Anglophone crisis: CNA, others inform ongoing research, total death profiling
By Nchendzengang Tatah
The diverse and intense information pool offered by the Cameroon News Agency and other sources is easing efforts towards compiling a comprehensive list of those killed by the ongoing socio-political instability in the North West and South West.
Barrister Felix Nkongho announced on October 6 in Buea, while addressing reporters about the pioneer, all-inclusive death-profiling effort for the crisis being carried out by the Global Campaign for Peace and Justice in Cameroon, with the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, as the principal partner.
The Partial List of Reported Deaths from 2016 to 2026 estimates the total deaths at 10,000. However, only 4,000 reported deaths have been compiled, with only half of them identified.
The peace group said the CNA, amongst other selected media outlets and rights reports, were sources of this information. This reflects the rigorous coverage of the crisis by the former since its outbreak. In fact, CNA was at the centre of some of the most catastrophic moments of the armed conflict, breaking the news.
While publishing the report, the peace group maintained that the data was an acknowledgement of those killed, which recognised the pain of their respective families. It is equally an effort to document actions to support accountability in the conflict that has been described as one of the world’s most neglected. Thirdly, it is seen as a contribution to the national conversation on wrongdoing, apology and healing.
In summary, the Partial List of Reported Deaths from 2016 to October 3, 2026 carries 4,037 reported deaths, identified and unidentified. This includes 2,844 civilians (2418 explicitly civilians; 426 unclear but believed civilians), 689 armed separatists and 504 defence and security personnel.
Going by the data collected, 2018 was the year with the highest number of reported deaths, at 1029. This year’s data as of October 2026 already surpasses that of 2024 and 2025, which were 105 and 109, respectively.
The ongoing armed conflict first began in the last quarter of 2016 with peaceful protests by lawyers. The government’s response was, however, violent, stalling negotiations and leading to the birth of armed separatist groups demanding independence for the English-speaking regions. The crossfire between state forces and armed separatist groups has since escalated, with over 6,500 deaths, 1.5 million displaced in and outside Cameroon, and some 500,000 children left out of school.
The Partial List of Reported Deaths is still being updated as information is made available.
