Cameroon; CHRDA has condemned the use of an Improvised Explosive Device that injured 11 students in the University of Buea
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scene of the explosion in the university of Buea-source CHRDA
In a statement release on 12 November 2021, The Centre for Human and democracy in Africa (CHRDA), headed by Bar. Agbor Nkongho has condemned the continuous use of Improvised explosive devices against the Civilian population, properties and protected objects. Below is the full statement
Buea – 12 November 2021
The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) strongly condemn the unnecessary use of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the University of Buea that injured about 11 students in the Amphitheatre 600 during lectures.
On November 10 2021, an improvised explosive device detonated inside the Amphitheatre 6OO of the University of Buea. The incident happened at about 3:30 PM while first-year students of the Department of Economic and Management were receiving lectures for the ECN203 course. No life was lost in the blast, however, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution Professor Horace Manga while reacting to the incident confirm that over 11 students were injured in the attack and are responding to treatment in some of the hospitals in Buea. The Director of the Buea General Hospital, Doctor Mokake Martin confirmed that 14 students who were victims of the blast are undergoing treatment at the hospital. He said this while receiving the Governor of the Southwest Region who was in the hospital to visit the injured students.
The blast occurred in the University at the time when the Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon Richard Bale, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, the staff and students were attending the second edition of the University lecture on peace in Africa, organized on the theme “Reimagining Peace and Security Amidst Covid-19 in Africa.” The conference ended at Amphitheatre 700 at about 3 pm and the blast occurred 30 minutes later while the High Commissioner was still on Campus.
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Students who witnessed the incident said they did not see the attacker, but only heard a loud blast, as the shell detonated inside the hall, creating holes on the walls and the metallic particles also injured some students, causing a commotion in the hall.
Intensification of violence in the Anglophone Crisis
This attack at the University of Buea which happened in the South-West Region comes in a context where the security situation in the region is already fragile and continues to deteriorate due to the Anglophone Crisis. On 16 October 2021, CHRDA issued a statement on the killing of a 5 years old school child while on her way to school by a gendarme officer, who also got lynched to death subsequently by an angry mob, and was worried that it may lead to an escalation of violence and bloodshed.[1] Since then the town of Buea has recorded several other attacks with a separatist group identified as “Buea Ghost Fighters” claiming responsibility.
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The indiscriminate and disproportionate use of IEDs is prohibited
Since the start of 2021, there has been a marked increase in the unlawful use of IEDs by non-state armed groups and rogue individuals, killing defense and security forces and civilians alike. The use of improvised explosive devices in situations of conflict is regulated and warring parties may use same, only if they adhere to the international humanitarian law, particularly the rules of distinction, proportionality and precaution in attacks. Indiscriminate use or the targeting of civilians or civilian objects is strictly prohibited.
In the context of Cameroon, the increased use of IEDs in Buea within a space of one week with intention to cause fear and to re-enforce the respect for ghost towns and school boycott has been the strategy of non-state armed groups. Article 51(2) of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions prohibits acts or threats of violence, which has the purpose to spread terror among the civilian population,[2]and this provision has been made without any reservations.
The incident of the attack on the campus of the University of Buea is not the first case of the unlawful and targeted use of IEDs in Buea by unidentified armed men in recent weeks. On Monday, November 1, 2021, an improvised explosive device detonated in a taxi in Molyko, allegedly dropped by separatist fighters, targeting the driver for violating the traditional seat at home protest every Monday. In this attack, no human casualty was recorded, except the damaged vehicle.
Again, on Monday 8, 2021, exactly one week after the first detonation, another blast was recorded in a taxi still in Molyko, and the driver known as Feugang Beude Laire, unfortunately, died from the injuries sustained. On Thursday 11 November 2021, the Buea Ghost Fighters attacked and burnt a truck belonging to HYSACAM, a waste disposal company in Buea, claiming responsibility for the attack in a video circulating on social media in which they also used the opportunity to announce their presence in the city of Buea. One of them could be heard saying “they said we are not in Buea, here we are in Buea…this is the highway…”
At the start of the Anglophone crisis, separatist fighters have called for a school boycott, attacking students and teachers who disobeyed this order.[3] The first attack at the University of Buea occurred on March 21, 2019, where gunmen kidnapped about 20 players of the University football team on Campus during a training session and took them to the bush, demanding for ransom and a shutdown of schools.[4] This recent attack with an improvised explosive device at the University Campus again comes as the latest attack in schools in 2021, following the Kumba school massacre of October 24, 2020, where at least 7 children were killed and 13 others injured.[5]
The continued rise in documented unlawful use of IEDs in the Northwest and Southwest Regions has resulted in high civilian casualties as they target civilians, and such conduct is in violation of International Humanitarian Law and also amounts to War Crimes.
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CHRDA calls on the Cameroonian government to:
- Thoroughly, and effectively investigate the use of acts of violence and IEDs that injured at least 11 students and bring the perpetrators to justice.
- Ensure that adequate security in and around the school campus is provided by the defense and security forces.
- Take all necessary measures to put an end to the Anglophone Crisis by a truthful and inclusive dialogue.
- Provide reparation, by ensuring that the cost of medical care given to the injured students is covered.
To the separatist armed groups:
- Desist from all forms of attacks targeting the civilian population.
- Stop all forms of violence and illegal war tactics which are in breach of international humanitarian law and also abuse human rights.
- Should consider dialogue as a way of resolving the crisis and put an end to the bloodshed.
The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) is an independent, non-governmental, apolitical and non-profit making organization created in 2005, dedicated to the protection and advancement of human rights and the promotion of democracy as a political culture in Africa. The CHRDA is based in Buea in the Southwest region of Cameroon.
For more information, please contact:
CHRDA: chrda@chrda.org
Read the original publication HERE www.chrda.org
References
[1] Cameroon : the disproportionate use of force leads to the killing of five years old girl https://www.chrda.org/cameroon-the-disproportionate-use-of-force-leads-to-the-killing-of-a-five-years-old-girl/
[2] Additional Protocol I, Article 51(2) (adopted by 77 votes in favour, one against and 16 abstentions).
[3] After the Kumba Massacre : Schools in the Cameroon`s Anglophone Crisis https://africanarguments.org/2020/11/after-the-kumba-massacre-school-in-cameroonns-anglophone-crisis/
[4] Kidnapped university football freed in Cameroon. https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/21/africa/cameroon-university-school-football-team-abducted-intl/index.html
[5] Cameroon : Children killed in attack in school in Kumba. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54678254
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.
