Close look at 2022 Conflict in the Northwest and Southwest Regions
Following a significant decrease during the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 and 2020, the number of clashes between government forces and separatist fighters in the Northwest and Southwest regions has steadily increased through July, reaching similar levels as those observed in 2021. However, data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) shows that fatalities associated with clashes during this period surpassed those observed from May to July 2021 by 18 percent. The deadliest clashesoccurred in Momo, Bui, and Menchum,divisions. Recorded incidents of kidnapping
killings, and terrorizing of civilians by government forces and separatist fighters in the Northwest and Southwest regions
reached similar levels from May to July 2022 as in 2022; however, fatalities associated with incidents of violence nearly doubled in 2022, with June 2022 recording more fatalities than in any single month since early 2020. Most civilian casualties occurred in Kupe-Manenguba, Manyu, Menchum, and Mezam divisions.
In the Mayo-Sava, Mayo-Tsanaga, and Logone-et-Chari divisions of the Far North region, where insurgency by the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) persists, attacks on civilians far exceeded those in 2021 when looking at the June to August period. The number of civilian causalities has also exceeded those observed in 2021, with Kolofata accounting for most incidents and for spikes in fatalities. Conflict, insecurity, and intercommunal clashes continue to cause displacements, disrupt livelihoods, restrict trade flows and market functioning, and limit humanitarian access, driving high food security needs among affected populations.
