Adamaoua Under the Prism of Cross-border Rural Banditry

Abstract The Adamaoua region has been the scene of intensive subversive activities by armed groups from conflict-prone areas of the Central African Republic and Nigeria in recent years. Instigators of insecurity have transformed this region into an ungovernable space, a stronghold where they deploy innovative strategies to dispossess populations. Rural banditry prevails in rural areas, under the configuration of kidnappings accompanied by ransom demands, ambushes of rural roads, and cattle theft, illustrating the worsening security situation. The question is how do we understand this security threat and how have the authorities reacted ? The hypothesis put forward aims to demonstrate that rural banditry in the Adamaoua region is influenced by regional geography, socio-economic factors, and the crisis of governance security at the borders. The situation has led to the emergence of sovereignty actions in Cameroon and security cooperation with Central African Republic and Nigeria.