Anglophone crisis in Cameroon: Human Rights NGO report an increase in human rights violations and abuses in the first quarter of 2023
6 min read
Date of Publication: 25 May 2023
The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA), a nongovernmental and human rights organization in Cameroon has in a statement publish on 25 May 2023 said there was an increase in human rights violations in the first quarter of the year 2023. According to the organization, the failure of the Cameroon government and the ‘Ambazonia’ groups to commit to the proposed Canada led Peace talks, the celebration of the youth day, senatorial elections, international women’s day among other events have greatly contributed to an increase in violence in the North West and South West Regions.
Below is the statement as posted on their official website
The Human Rights situation of the North West and South West Regions for the first quarter of 2023 witnessed a surge in human rights violations and abuses perpetrated by State Defense and Security Forces (DSF) as well as ‘Ambazonia’ Non-state Armed Fighters (NSAF) respectively. The civilian population continued to bear the brunt as the warring factions engaged in attacks and counter-attacks. Some major events like; the celebration of the National Youth Day (11 February), the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, the Commemoration of International Women’s Day (8 March), and the Senatorial Elections of (12 March) were characterized by lockdown/ghost town operations and attacks masterminded by armed separatist fighters.
Another major event, which took the attention of the national and international community and which also, led to the escalation of the ongoing armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions was the failure of the Cameroon government and ‘Ambazonia’ Separatists Groups to arrive at a consensus as concerns the proposed Canadian-led negotiations. The failure was one of the major factors that led to an increase in Human Rights Violations/Abuses. When there was jubilation at the national and international level when the Canadian government proposed to facilitate as a mediator, the State of Cameroon, surprisingly through its Minister of Communication who doubles as the government spokesperson distanced herself from the offer. As a result, the state forces intensified crackdowns against armed separatists and their networks, resulting in heavy loss of life and property destruction. This seems to suggest the government still maintains its position to address the Anglophone problem through a military approach which has witnessed little or no success for the past six years.
Between January and March 2023, CHRDA monitored and documented with great concern, disturbing reports of serious violence occurring in the North West and South West Regions of the country. Some of these attacks, especially on civilians and civilian property included: extrajudicial killings, torture, arson attacks, retaliatory attacks, the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances, abductions, harassment and extortion, and other forms of violence.
The Month of January 2023 witnessed an upsurge in violence perpetrated by both state DSF and NSAG. On the 4th of January, separatist fighters invaded Bache, a village in Akwaya Subdivision in the Manyu Division of the South-West Region, killing three civilians and injuring over a dozen. A similar attack was carried out by armed separatists in Central New Town Ashong in Batibo Subdivision, Momo Division of the North-West Region which resulted in the kidnap of at least 15 mourners in a funeral. In addition, after the Head of State announced, 12 March 2023 as the date for the Senatorial Election, several separatist movements as well as armed groups warned against anyone taking part in the said elections in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon. Separatist fighters began to execute these threats with the killing of the District Head of the Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) branch of Jakiri, North-West Region on the 18th January 2023. State DSF also committed a series of violations such as the extrajudicial execution of a man in Kwakwa, the killing of a driver in Bambui and the invasion of a funeral in the Old Moghamo neighbourhood in Bamenda, Mezam Division of North-West Region that led to the killing of a masquerade.
February, like January, witnessed some human rights violations. Most of the violence in this month targeted civilians thereby resulting in devastating consequences. This month witnessed a series of raids conducted by State DSF in several localities in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon. Some of these raids include the raid in Mile 2 Nkwen leaving two civilians dead: Kombone which led to the death of at least five civilians; Konye resulting in the death of “General Transporter’’, a self-styled separatist general and one of his elements; Baba I leading to the death of three separatist fighters; Ndop resulting in the death of a separatist fighter known as “General Stone’’. NSAG also committed a series of violations this month. In the buildup to the 11 February celebrations, separatist fighters declared a lockdown aimed at paralyzing youth day activities. On February 10, workers of the Cameroon Development Cooperation (CDC) were attacked on their way back from work, an incident which claimed the life of six and left over 50 others wounded. Separatist fighters also detonated Improvised Explosive Devises (IED) during the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope in Buea on February 25 which left athletes as well as onlookers wounded.
Concerned about the possible escalation of the crisis, the national and international community stepped up calls for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Like other Civil Society Organizations, the International Crisis Group in a statement regretted the reluctance of the Cameroonian government to commit to the proposed Canada-led negotiations which were intended to bring together all stakeholders to the crisis to arrive at a negotiated amicable settlement. The United States of American, the Belgian and British diplomatic missions to Cameroon through their ambassadors on the 14th of February 2023, signed a joined statement urging the Cameroonian government to facilitate all necessary judicial processes so as to deliver justice to the victims of the Ngarbuh Massacre of 14th February 2020.
The month of March also saw an increase in human rights violations and abuses perpetrated by the State DSF and ‘Ambazonia’ NSAF in the North West and South West Regions. On the 2nd of March, state DSF conducted mass arrests of about 150 persons in the villages of Matoh, Kindongi, Mbonge-Batoke, Mboh-Barombi, and Ediki. Most of those arrested claimed to have paid huge sums of money to secure their release. State forces also carried out arson attacks in Vekovi and in Mbveh Market, all in Bui Division, North-West Region. A separatist fighter was also killed in Oku by state forces. Other acts committed by armed fighters in the month of March included the murder of Professor Emmanuel Chiabi, the burying alive of the Congregational Chairman of Presbyterian Church (PC) Nchang, the kidnap of several locals of Acha-Tuggi in Mbengwi, the kidnap of two police officers in Lisoka, the shooting of a prince of Oku, the kidnap of construction workers working on the Njikwa-Ngie road, and the attack of state DSF in Ngarbuh village leaving at least two soldiers severely wounded.
In some of these rights violations, the government opened investigations but the results of such investigations have not been made available to the public, especially in instances where state Defense and Security Forces are suspected to have been the perpetrators of such acts. This goes further to indicate the lack of transparency as far as investigation and adjudication are concerned in Cameroon.
CHRDA calls on both the government and separatist groups to show restraint and desists from violating civilian rights in all forms and encourage the parties to the conflict to engage in a meaningful dialogue to resolve the armed conflict.
Click HERE to read Original publication
Click the links below to download the various reports accordingly, January, February and March
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.
