Global Terrorism Index 2025

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​Ten Countries Most Impacted by Terrorism: (10) Cameroon
For the first time since 2019, Cameroon is among the ten countries most affected by terrorism. Following a sharp rise in activity in 2023, Cameroon saw a slight decline in 2024, with attacks falling by 13 per cent to 153 and deaths dropping by one-third to 205. Cameroon’s security challenges are primarily driven by ongoing separatist conflicts and threats posed by Islamic militant groups, particularly Boko Haram. 
 
Boko Haram remained the most active and lethal terrorist organisation in Cameroon in 2024, responsible for 107 deaths and 69 attacks, or half of the deaths and attacks recorded in the country. Despite this, the number of attacks and deaths attributed to the group declined by 28 per cent and 26 per cent, respectively, compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the ongoing Ambazonia separatist insurgency, also referred to as the Anglophone crisis, accounted for approximately half of all terrorist attacks and one-third of deaths within the country during the same period. The insurgency remains a complex element of Cameroon’s security landscape, with the government’s use of anti-terrorism laws to address the Anglophone crisis adding further challenges to an already sensitive situation.
 
Terrorism declined across all regions of Cameroon in 2024, but Extrême-Nord remained the most affected region, recording the highest number of attacks and deaths. In this region, 92 per cent of attacks and 98 per cent of deaths were attributed to Boko Haram. The group’s activity in Extrême-Nord is largely driven by its ongoing conflict with ISWA, which maintains a strong presence in neighbouring countries such as Niger and Nigeria. Cameroon’s deadliest attack in 2024 occurred in Extrême-Nord, where Boko Haram militants killed 27 fishermen. The local fishing community, composed primarily of Nigerian nationals, may have been targeted due to suspicions of connections with ISWA.
 
Cameroon continues to face significant challenges related to governance and peace. In the Global Peace Index 2024, the country ranked 137th out of 163, highlighting ongoing instability. Two persistent conflicts continue to shape the security landscape: the Anglophone separatist crisis and the insurgencies involving ISWA and Boko Haram. While terrorism declined in 2024, tensions remain high. The outlook remains uncertain, as the interplay between separatist pressures and extremist insurgencies poses ongoing threats to peace and stability in the years ahead. 
 
Global Terrorism Index 2025. Institute for Economics & Peace. Sydney, Australia.