Database of atrocities committed by warring parties during the ongoing-armed conflict in Cameroon’s North West and South West Regions
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According to the press release dated 08 December 2020 by the team working on the Cameroon database of atrocities, they have released eight new verification reports of atrocities perpetrated in the ongoing Anglophone armed conflict in Cameroon.
Since 2016, many human rights violations have been committed in the Anglophone Regions. Both the armed separatists and Cameroon soldiers have continuously violated the human rights of civilians.
The armed separatists are fighting for the restoration of the independence of Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) while the Cameroon Soldiers are fighting to maintain one Cameroon. The eight databases of atrocities cover a significant number of atrocities:
-Reactions by Security Forces to Student Protests in Buea, Cameroon (November 2016)
-Burning of Labonge Village, Cameroon (August 2018)
-Burning of Bangang Village, Cameroon (September 2019)
-Burning of Buildings in Maumu Village, Cameroon (December 2019)
-Burning of Market in Bali Nyonga, Cameroon (January 2020)
– the notorious Ngarbuh Massacre, in which the Cameroon soldiers responsible for the killings of more than twenty civilians including women and children will be summoned in the Yaoundé Military Court.
(February 2020)
-Burning of Mbufung Church in Bali, Cameroon (February 2020)
-Explosion at Likomba Market, Tiko, Cameroon (September 2020)
According to the press release, “The verified incidents demonstrate an escalation of the Anglophone conflict, and are indicative of deterioration to deadlier methods as the conflict spins further out of control. The reports are published ahead of the United Nations Security Council meeting on Central Africa scheduled for December 9, and the global observance of Human Rights Day on December 10. The Database project understands that the human rights abuses and crimes against humanity documented in the reports may be punishable by international laws.”
This database is hosted at the University of Toronto, to collect and stores the global database of atrocities and crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Cameroonian defense and security forces, and non-state armed groups. This initiative aims to counter impunity that has become the new normal by storing atrocity information for future international justice processes, a possible national truth, justice, and reconciliation commission and thereby deterring further mass violence
The above report is said to be prepared by Volunteer Researchers at the Edinburgh International Justice Initiative, Leiden University and the University of Toronto, with support from the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA)
The Database team is committed to storing information about violent rights abuses that harm civilians, and to promoting human rights and peace. Individuals or organizations with photos, videos, or documents about atrocities perpetrated from October 2016 to present in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, and documentation about the chain of command, can anonymously and securely upload them using the link below.
To view the verification reports, go to:
https://dataverse.scholarsportal.info/dataverse/Cameroon
For more information on the database, go to:
https://research.rotman.utoronto.ca/Cameroon/
To anonymously submit photos, videos, or documents to the database, go to: https://cameroondatabase.ushahidi.io/posts/create/4
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.
