Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon: CHRDA report an increase in Human Rights Violations in the Northwest and Southwest Regions for the Month of October 2022
4 min readAmidst the celebration of First October which is largely regarded as an independent day by the population of the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon, In October 2022, the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa released a human rights report detailing human rights violations in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon in the month of October. The report indicate that there was an increase in Human Rights Violations. CHRDA is a Civil Society Organization based in Cameroon.
Read details of the reports below as published on their website. https://www.chrda.org/the-human-rights-situation-of-the-northwest-and-southwest-regions-for-the-month-of-october-2022/
October 2022 was characterized by a series of human rights violations especially against civilians in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon. The violence in these regions has been on an increase, orchestrated both by state defence and security forces (DSF) and nonstate armed groups (NSAGs) through indiscriminate attacks and crackdowns.
On October 1, there was a celebration of the self-proclaimed independence anniversary of Southern Cameroons spearheaded by separatist fighters, as it has been since 2017. Separatist fighters could be seen demonstrating their military might in a number of videos circulated on social media platforms. They brandished sophisticated arms and weapons. In several localities, the fighters were joined by locals. This year recorded few confrontations compared to previous ones. The government deployed military personnel to the Northwest and Southwest Regions, and due to this heavy military presence, most civilians stayed indoors throughout the day. A letter purportedly issued from Cameroon’s Presidency—which ordered the deployment of special forces to the Anglophone regions aimed at preventing public gatherings and paralyzing separatist fighters’ plans during that period—leaked on September 29.
Anglophones in the diaspora also had October 1 demonstrations, but they were limited compared to previous years. In addition, separatist leader Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, serving a life sentence in Kondengui Central Prison, released an October 1 message calling for continued resistance if independence is not granted.
Beyond October 1 events, October witnessed attacks on civilians and civilian properties. Schools were once more the target of the warring factions. Separatist fighters, in the wake of school resumption, banned all government schools from operating in the Northwest and Southwest Regions. The government, through some of its representatives in some localities in these regions, responded by banning some community as well as lay private and mission schools. On October 4, 2022, news outlet Mimi Mefo Info reported that state forces stormed a school in Tobin-Kumbo and reportedly chased school-going children from a Catholic school in an attempt to ensure that government schools resume.
This month, armed men also targeted the residence of Dighambong Anthony Mvo, Mayor of Wum Municipality, and allegedly attacked an NFC Bank branch in Mamfe, resulting in the death of a security guard and the wounding of a security officer. Suspected separatist fighters were also reported to have burned down a series of houses in Wum belonging to Fulani men. The military was involved in several raids in the region this month. On October 11, there was reportedly a military crackdown in Mbessa by the DSF, which led to the death of at least two civilians and some houses burned down. Another military raid in Deka on October 12, which resulted in the death of at least three civilians. On October 16, Cameroon military forces raided Baba II, reportedly shooting and wounding several people and causing significant material damage.
In September, as detailed in CHRDA’s September human rights report, two Nigerian priests, three Cameroonian priests, one cook, a nun, a little girl and assistant catechist were kidnapped from Saint Mary Catholic Church in Nchang, Mamfe. On October 19, a video showing the captives emerged. The victims pleaded with the Catholic Church authorities to secure their release. The president of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province said the kidnappers had demanded ransom but the Catholic Church did not have money to pay and was not willing to encourage ransom payments. In the video, those kidnapped lamented their health conditions, and the Reverend Father said getting them out is “a matter of do or die.” The captives were released, however, on October 23. In a video which circulated on several social media platforms. they thanked the “freedom fighters of Ambazonia for releasing us without any ransom paid.”
Read details/download the full report through the link below
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.
