Cameroon: Human Rights Watch Investigative Report shows that the Defense and Security forces killed nine civilians in Mautu Village of the Southwest Region
4 min read
The killing of civilians in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon is continually on the rise despite a plea from the national and international community. The recent killings in Mautu village have been widely condemned by human rights defenders and institutions. The atrocious act took place on 10 January 2021 wherein, Soldiers reportedly on a search for Ambazonian Fighters shot and killed at least nine unarmed civilians injuring many. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has recently accused the government troops of committing the atrocious act.
“Human Rights Watch research indicates that government forces deliberately killed civilians in Mautu. Witnesses and residents said that soldiers entered the village on foot at around 2 p.m. on January 10, and then began shooting at people as they ran away in fear. The soldiers left the village at about 4:30 p.m. with at least four vehicles, which had arrived with additional soldiers after the attack began. A 23-year-old woman who lost her 28-year-old brother in the attack said she fled to the nearby forest as the soldiers shot indiscriminately at frightened villagers:” findings by Human Rights Watch
While they were shooting indiscriminately, killing, injuring, and scaring the population to run to the bushes around, the military was also looting according to the report from HWR. “Witnesses said that soldiers broke into homes in Mautu, searched and looted them, and forced people out. A farmer said that soldiers threatened to arrest him if he did not give them money: I was sitting on a chair inside my home. I heard the first gunshots. Two soldiers knocked on my door; I opened it. They searched everywhere in the house, every single corner. They were looking for amba [separatists] and weapons, they said. They found nothing. They said I should give them money: “If you don’t give us money, we will take you to Buea,” they said, implying they would arrest me. I had to give them 3,000 XAF [about US$5]; that was all I had.”
A 46-year-old man who fled to the bush as soldiers attacked Mautu said he found later that his home had been broken into and his property stolen: “They took food, drinks, and money. They stole a bottle of whiskey, my chili, my shoes, and my wallet with 185,000 XAF [US$342].”
Another man, a 40-year-old farmer, also said that soldiers searched his home while he was hiding in the bush during the attack: “They broke the door and stole my phone and 20,000 XAF [US$37].” HRW reported.
After a wide condemnation from institutions and individuals, the army spokesperson admitted that soldiers from the 21st Motorized Infantry Battalion conducted an operation in the village. The spoke person did not acknowledge that the soldiers killed and injured civilians. A raw video displayed online shows dead bodies of youths, women, men, and children littering around the village after the raid by the security forces. HRW reported that, “Atonfack Guemo, Cameroon’s army spokesman, in a January 11 statement claimed that “terrorist groups” attacked soldiers from the 21st BIM while they were carrying out a “preventive raid” in Mautu on January 10, and that the soldiers responded by killing several “terrorists” and seizing their weapons. But witnesses and residents said that there was no confrontation between armed separatist fighters and soldiers, that at the time of the attack separatists were not in Mautu, and that soldiers deliberately killed civilians.” HRW indicated in their report that they have shared their findings with Cameroon army spokesperson but got no reply to their questions “Human Rights Watch shared its findings with Commander Atonfack Guemo, Cameroon’s army spokesman, in a January 22 email, requesting answers to specific questions. Atonfack Guemo replied on January 26, failing to address Human Rights Watch’s questions, and instead gratuitously dismissed the evidence of unlawful killings as fabricated.”
According to the Human Rights Watch Report, they interviewed at least 17 witnesses including five relatives of victims who gave corroborative testimonies about the attack. The Human Rights Watch Deputy Africa Director said “Killing civilians and looting their homes in the name of security are serious human rights crimes that fuel the escalating cycles of violence and abuse in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions…….Cameroonian authorities should rein in abusive units and, with the assistance of the African Union and United Nations, establish a credible, impartial inquiry into the Mautu killings and prosecute those responsible.
The Human Rights Watch also reported that Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) treated at least four persons with gunshot wounds, including a child.
Two prominent Rights groups, the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) and Human Rights Defenders Network in Central Africa (REDHAC) had earlier accused the Cameroon Defense and Security Forces condemned the act and called for independent investigations into the killings. Both the United Nations Secretary-General, the United States Embassy in Cameroon, and Canadian and British High Commissioners have all expressed concern for the massacre of unarmed civilians and urged the government to hold those responsible accountable.
“I am so upset that I decided I will now join the amba,” a 40-year-old man said. “I will go to the bush to join their struggle. I won’t die like an animal! I am frustrated! We are all frustrated. The soldiers come and kill my people.” a shocking testimony from the survivor of the attack
Read a ten page report through the link below: Cameroon: Nine Killed in Army Attack | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org)
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
