Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon: Right Group report an increase in Human Rights Violations and abuses between October 2021 and March 2022 by the State Defense and Security Forces and Non-state Armed Groups

On the eve of the International Human Rights Day commemorated on 10 December annually, the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa releases its reports, monitored and documented between October 2021 and March 2022. The reports highlights violations and abuses by the state defense and security forces and non-state armed groups in Cameroon. CHRDA is a Civil Society Organization based in Cameroon

Read report below as originally published on their official website:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) has recorded numerous human rights violations committed during the period from October 2021 through March 2022. These months witnessed intensification of the violence and destruction occurring in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon, at both the hands of the Defence and Security Forces (DSF) and non-state armed separatist fighters. Rights abuses included extrajudicial killings, torture, rape, arson, the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), kidnapping, arbitrary arrests, and other forms of violence which seriously and disproportionately affected women and children. Attacks and threats during this period also targeted schools, teachers, children, hospitals, lawyers, aid workers, and human rights defenders.

October and November 2021 saw an upsurge in violence. In October, the Prime Minister and Head of Government travelled to the two Anglophone regions. More military troops were deployed to the Northwest Region, and they committed retaliatory rights abuses after non-state armed separatist groups had killed at least 15 soldiers in Ngoketunjia Division in September. October and November also saw the killing of two schoolgirls, one in Buea and one in Bamenda, by members of the DSF, alongside burning of houses in Wum, Kikaikom, and Naka Village in the Northwest Region. At the start of November, human rights defenders and others who had attended a conference on dialogue and negotiations in Toronto, Canada, faced smear campaigns and death threats for participating.

December 2021 was marked by extrajudicial killings and killings of civilians by both DSF and non-state armed separatist groups. Those killed include, among others, a Prince of Oku, two teenagers, and a child. Armed separatist fighters used IEDs across the Northwest and Southwest Regions to attack military troops and convoys. The month of December also witnessed arson of homes and property, arbitrary arrest, and kidnapping.

As of January 2022, the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon entered its sixth calendar year of bloodshed, with violence against civilians continuing. While President Biya’s annual address to the nation praised the DSF’s professionalism and bravery, and promised to track down perpetrators and sponsors of separatist security threats, armed separatist fighters reiterated their determination to fight until the last man standing. As the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament took place in Cameroon, including in Limbe, Southwest Region, armed separatist fighters invaded nearby Buea with IEDs and serious gunfire, leading to the death of at least two unarmed civilians. A non-state armed group also forced students to strip at gunpoint. In the Northwest Region, a Cameroonian Senator was attacked and killed by unidentified gunmen, representing one of the highest-ranking officials to have died in the context of the Anglophone Crisis.

In February 2022, the domain of education continued to suffer attacks, as armed separatist fighters burned schools in Buea and Mamfe, Southwest Region. This prompted a group of diplomatic missions in Cameroon to release a joint statement condemning attacks against schools in the Anglophone Crisis. This month, the DSF and non-state armed groups continued to carry out deadly skirmishes, attacking each other in open confrontations and sometimes with the use of IEDs. Armed separatist fighters enforced a lockdown for Youth Day celebrations, and shot at a health worker’s vehicle, killing a nurse. DSF committed further extrajudicial executions, including the killing of two civilians during a funeral and the killing of a mentally ill boy.

At the beginning of March 2022, separatist fighters conducted one of the highest-profile attacks in the conflict, killing a Divisional Officer and a Mayor, Chief, and former Member of Parliament in Ekondo Titi, Southwest Region. March also witnessed an attack on the Fon of Esu and his wife, which amplified existing tensions in Esu village, Northwest Region, and led to the burning of a mosque. In the Northwest Region, some communities rose up against the separatist fighters for pain they were inflicting on their communities. This month also saw high numbers of extrajudicial killings and killings of civilians, by DSF and separatist fighters. Those targeted included youths, shopkeepers, a bike rider, a teacher, a palm wine tapper, and many more. In this month, Doctors Without Borders announced its suspension from operations in the Southwest Region, stating its work was hampered by a difficult relationship with the Cameroon government.

Overall, the October 2021 to March 2022 period demonstrated an upsurge in violence in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, as the conflict situation continued to deteriorate. In total, CHRDA recorded 206 human rights violations in the Anglophone Regions or related to the Anglophone Crisis during this period. Of these, 120 violations took place in the Northwest Region and 69 violations took place in the Southwest Region. The monthly reports show that in the course of the violence, it is civilians who bear the brunt. Multiple human rights violations recorded violate International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law. CHRDA calls on all parties to the conflict to cease using all violence against the civilian population and instead seek a lasting solution to the crisis through peaceful means.

You can download the full Summary of the reports from October 2021 to March 2022 through the link below:

THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION OF THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST REGIONS FOR THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2021

In the months of October and November 2021, the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) has witnessed an upsurge in violence occurring in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon, at both the hands of Defense and Security Forces and armed separatist fighters. These attacks, perpetrated against unarmed civilians, include among others: extrajudicial killings, torture, rape, arson, attacks on schools and children, attacks on hospitals, destruction of property, retaliatory attacks, the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), arbitrary arrests, kidnapping for ransom, harassment and extortion, threats of violence against individuals including human rights defenders, restriction of movement, and other forms of violence which seriously and disproportionately affect women and children.

The last quarter of the year 2021 saw the celebration of the self-proclaimed independence day of the “Republic of Ambazonia,” an imaginary state that armed separatist fighters are seeking to create from the territory of the former British Southern Cameroons which came into a federal union with La République du Cameroun on October 1, 1961. The past months also witnessed the holding of the Southern Cameroons Leadership Retreat in Canada at a time marked by violence and an atmosphere of insecurity in the two Anglophone regions of Cameroon. The use of IEDs, raids by the military, gun battles, and deadly skirmishes between the military and armed separatist fighters continue to take a heavy toll on unarmed civilians. The culture of impunity and the lack of security in recent months in these two regions have further exacerbated the plight of vulnerable persons.

At the beginning of October, the Prime Minister and Head of Government led a peace mission to the two Anglophone regions to meet the people and discuss ways in which peace can return. His visit was a follow-up on the implementation of recommendations of the Major National Dialogue. However, the visit coincided with the deployment of more troops to the Northwest Region, and a statement by Minister of Defence Joseph Beti Assomo promising more violence against armed separatist fighters, after non-state armed groups killed at least 15 soldiers on September 30 in Ngoketunjia Division in the Northwest Region. The armed groups were commanded by an individual called Clement Mbiashi, known as ‘General No Pity.’ In searching for the rebels, military troops have continued to perpetrate acts of violence against unarmed civilians whom they suspect of concealing information on the whereabouts of the most-wanted General No Pity.

In the month of October 2021 alone, the Stand Up for Cameroon (SUFC) Human Rights Working Group stated that over 79 violent situations were recorded, including 33 persons killed, 05 incidents of arson, 06 explosions, 05 abductions, 23 violent incidents that did not results in deaths, 02 cases of gender-based violence, and 05 cases of illegal arrest. At the end of October, delegates representing more than 30 Southern Cameroonian frontline and civil society organisations converged for the 2021 Southern Cameroons Leadership Retreat in Toronto, Canada, organized by the Coalition for Dialogue and Negotiations (CDN). The aims were to foster internal negotiations and advance dialogue within the leadership of those movements, and to converge on informed positions on education, humanitarian aid/access, and human rights protection. Some key stakeholders unfortunately boycotted the event and launched smear campaigns and death threats against those who attended.

Equally, there are fears that trends of violence in the Anglophone regions may spread to other towns and villages in the Francophone parts of the country. This is evident from a communique signed by the Delegate General for National Security on October 1, in which he calls on the populations of Yaoundé, Bafoussam and Douala to collaborate with security officials against alleged upcoming attacks in those cities announced by armed separatist fighters. In the communique, he also instructs security heads at various control posts to be vigilant and avoid the infiltration of weapons that could be used in the promised attacks. This report contains details of human rights atrocities committed by both the Cameroon military and armed separatist groups in the two English-speaking regions between October and November 2021.

THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION OF THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST REGIONS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2021

The Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon has entered its sixth year of bloodshed. The first month of 2022, just like the past year, has seen violence perpetrated against the civilian population by both the Defense and Security Forces (DSF) and armed separatist fighters. The year started with the President of the Republic, in his New Year address to the nation, acknowledging the violence in the Anglophone regions and condemning the attacks perpetrated against unarmed civilians, especially schoolchildren and a teacher in Ekondo Titi, added to a long list of abuses and atrocities carried out by armed separatist fighters.

He went further to congratulate the DSF, who have also committed grave human right abuses against the civilian population, for their professionalism and bravery in defending the fatherland.

He also reiterated the government’s firm determination to preserve the integrity of Cameroonian territory and to restore peace in the regions facing security threats with the use of force, promising to track down the perpetrators and sponsors of such acts wherever they are hiding.

He also stated in his address that in the fight against terrorism, the government plans to enlist the
support of a wide range of partner states by debunking falsehoods about Cameroon’s human
right situation propagated within international circles by some detractors of the country.

On the other hand, armed separatist fighters also sent out messages reiterating their determination to fight until the last man standing, defending their cause of self-determination. To achieve this, several of the forces fighting on the ground—many of which are divided into different factions, including the Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF), the Ambazonia Restoration Forces (ARFs), the Marine Forces of Bambalang, and more—held a meeting in Bui Division of the Northwest Region under the command of a self acclaimed General, known as “No Pity,” and decided to form one common front in that division (Bui Unity Warriors) with no allegiance to any particular group in the diaspora, aiming to fight against the DSF in the Anglophone regions.

The year also started with Cameroon hosting the African Cup of Nations (CAN). Prior to the organization of the tournament, armed separatist groups sent out threatening messages, warning the Confederation of African Football (CAF) not to organize any football activities in the Anglophone regions where there is an armed conflict. They also threatened to shoot and kill any spectators or other persons who would dare to attempt to visit any stadium to watch the matches in the Anglophone regions.

These threats were manifested when on January 12, 2022, the Group F games that were scheduled to take place in the city of Limbe in the Southwest Region were almost disrupted. Armed separatist fighters invaded the city of Buea with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and serious gunfire, leading to the death of at least two unarmed civilians and injury of several others, just before the opening match between Tunisia and Mali and another one between Gambia and Mauritania. Human rights defenders and other Anglophone individuals seen to support CAN faced significant threats. For instance, armed separatist fighters sent out threats against the life of Barrister Nkongho Felix for attending the opening ceremony of CAN in Yaoundé, promising to kill or kidnap him whenever he set his feet in Buea again.

In the Northwest Region, a Senator of the Republic of Cameroon was attacked and killed by unidentified gunmen. The killing of the senator is unprecedented as he is one of the highestranking officials to have died in the context of the Anglophone Crisis, marking a turning point in the Crisis as no one is immune from being targeted and killed.

CHRDA has documented cases of violence including killings, abductions, arbitrary arrest, torture, attacks against human right defenders, restrictions of movement and other forms of violence which seriously and disproportionately affect women and children. This report contains details of human rights atrocities committed by both the Cameroon DSF and armed separatist groups in the two Anglophone regions in the month of January 2022.
You can read/download the full report through the link below

THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION OF THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST REGIONS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2022

In the month of February 2022, the human rights situation of the Anglophone regions of Cameroon has continued to deteriorate, with violence against the civilian population perpetrated by both the Defence and Security Forces (DSF) and armed separatist fighters.

The domain of education has continued to suffer attacks as armed separatist fighters burned down a school in Mamfe in Manyu Division of the Southwest Region on February 11, and another in Buea in Fako Division of the Southwest Region.

On February 14, 2022, a group of diplomatic representations in Cameroon consisting of Canada, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, UK and the USA issued a joint statement condemning attacks against schools, which have affected over 700,000 children in the Northwest and Southwest Regions. The statement called on all stakeholders to stop attacking schools, students and teachers, as this violates children’s fundamental right to education, and urged them to hold accountable those who work to deny access to places of learning.

The DSF and non-state armed groups continue to carry out deadly skirmishes, attacking and killing each other in open confrontations and sometimes with the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In Babessi in Ngoketunjia Division of the Northwest Region, the most-wanted “General No Pity,” commander of the Marine Forces of Bambalang, one of the most active separatist armed group in the Northwest Region, was attacked and injured, and he barely escaped for safety while his close ally was killed and others were injured. On the other hand, separatist fighters also conducted an operation at the water tank in Kumbo, Bui Division, that led to the killing of at least three soldiers.

You can read/download the full report below:

THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION OF THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST REGIONS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2022

In the month of February 2022, the human rights situation of the Anglophone regions of Cameroon has continued to deteriorate, with violence against the civilian population perpetrated by both the Defence and Security Forces (DSF) and armed separatist fighters.

The domain of education has continued to suffer attacks as armed separatist fighters burned down a school in Mamfe in Manyu Division of the Southwest Region on February 11, and another in Buea in Fako Division of the Southwest Region.

On February 14, 2022, a group of diplomatic representations in Cameroon consisting of Canada, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, UK and the USA issued a joint statement condemning attacks against schools, which have affected over 700,000 children in the Northwest and Southwest Regions. The statement called on all stakeholders to stop attacking schools, students and teachers, as this violates children’s fundamental right to education, and urged them to hold accountable those who work to deny access to places of learning.

The DSF and non-state armed groups continue to carry out deadly skirmishes, attacking and killing each other in open confrontations and sometimes with the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In Babessi in Ngoketunjia Division of the Northwest Region, the most-wanted “General No Pity,” commander of the Marine Forces of Bambalang, one of the most active separatist armed group in the Northwest Region, was attacked and injured, and he barely escaped for safety while his close ally was killed and others were injured. On the other hand, separatist fighters also conducted an operation at the water tank in Kumbo, Bui Division, that led to the killing of at least three soldiers.

You can read or download the full report through the link below: