Cameroon–Central African Republic relations

Cameroon–Central African Republic relations are the bilateral diplomatic relations between Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR). The two countries share a state border that is 901 km long.

History

After gaining independence, Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR) initially maintained friendly relations. However, these relations deteriorated following the outbreak of the civil war in the CAR in 2012. In 2013, refugees from the CAR began arriving in Cameroon, leading to conflicts with local residents in eastern Cameroon over water, food shortages, and land disputes. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), around 250,000 CAR refugees entered Cameroon, more than 8,000 of whom were settled in Timangolo, a town with a population of approximately 13,000. By 2017, the number of CAR refugees in Cameroon had risen to around 274,000, later increasing to approximately 300,000. In April 2017, 700 children from the CAR began attending primary school in Timangolo, while police arrested 30 refugees for attempting to steal food from a local farm.

From January to October 2017, the population of the refugee camp in Gado grew from 1,000 to 25,000. Refugees received medical assistance, though there were cases of children dying from starvation or injuries sustained while fleeing the CAR. According to UN humanitarian coordinator Najat Rochdi, $498 million was needed to address the refugees' needs. In October 2017, the Cameroonian government decided to close the border with the CAR following a new escalation of the conflict. Approximately 30% of the refugees lived in specialized camps, while the remaining 70% resided in rural areas of eastern Cameroon.

Trade

Approximately 80% of the Central African Republic's total exports and imports pass through Cameroon.

See also

• Foreign relations of Cameroon
• Foreign relations of the Central African Republic
• Cameroon–Central African Republic border

References

Central African Republic Category:Bilateral relations of the Central African Republic