The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, has revealed that human rights situation in Cameroon has continued to deteriorate within the context of the ongoing armed conflict in the two Anglophone regions.
“Since the publication of CHRDA’s Human Rights Report in September 2020, the human rights situation in the two English-speaking regions has continued to deteriorate,” said the Buea-based rights group in the report which focused on right situation between October 2020 to February 2021.
The Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor-led rights NGO stated that rights abuses committed within this period were notably extrajudicial executions, torture, arson of schools and villages, wanton destruction of property, retaliatory attacks, the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), arbitrary arrests and illegal detention, abductions, harassment and extortion, and other forms of violence which seriously and disproportionately affect women and children.
Military Abuse
The group faults the military on the “Maotu massacre of 10 January 2020, where 9 unarmed civilians were rounded up and killed, the massacre of 4 boys in Metta quarter in Bamenda on 23 January 2021, the 21 January attack in Maumu, the killing of two civilians in Mkpot in Manyu Division on 20 December, 2020, the killing of two civilians in Luh village on November 8, 2020 and the shooting of a woman on a public transport bus on October 28, 2020”.
It accused soldiers of arson acts and “burning of villages” such as Bafia village in Muyuka Sub-Division on 22 January 2021, Bekondo village in Meme Division on December 21, 2020, the burning of a cultural heritage site in Bawum in Batibo Sub-Division, known as Ecovillage, on January 12, 2021, and the burning of a hospital in Kaikelaki in Kumbo as well as acts of torture like that on “Jean Fai Bongong in Ndu who was tortured by military men on February 11, and the torture of some young welders in Buea”.
It stated that cases of military harassment and extortion of civilians are also reported; including the case of a taxi driver who was almost strangled to death by two soldiers on February 27 in Buea and lost his vehicle in the incident.
Separatist atrocities
On the other hand, the right NGO harps on separatists atrocities which they said also “bear significant responsibility for incidents of violence” in the conflict zone following their attacks on civilians believed to be collaborating with the government including “criminal gangs and thugs”.
“…5 November 2020 abduction of Cardinal Tumi and the Fon of Nso, the murder of chief Francis Molinga of Liwu la Malale village in Buea, the attack on the vehicle of a catholic priest in Santa, the abduction of the Fon of Mbessa in Belo and the Fon of Kedjem Keku in Tubah Sub-Division for taking part in Regional Council elections. Non-State Actors have also abducted and killed several traditional rulers (chiefs) for participating in the regional council elections. Three chiefs were abducted in Buea on the 10th of December 2020, and the chief of Dipanda Mile 14 was killed in custody. In Lebialem, three chiefs of the Essoh-Attah Fondom were also abducted and killed for taking part in the regional council elections” read the report.
It stated that the separatist have also targeted the military using “IEDs which have led to the killing of civilians who were caught up in these explosions” notable the attack on the convoy of the SDO for Momo Division that led to the killing of Liwusi Rebecca Jeme, Momo Divisional Delegate for Communication and three soldiers, the attack at the checkpoint between Matazen and Batchoua in Santa, the use of IEDs to disrupt the smooth organisation CHAN in Limbe, attacks on schools and abduction of teachers, attacks against unarmed civilians and humanitarian workers including the February 4, 2021 attack on the ambulance of a Doctors without Borders convoy in Muyuka.
The report ends with a condemnation of these gross human rights abuses and violations by CHRDA, and the provision of some recommendations for stakeholders as well as highlighted the need for all-inclusive dialogue with a third-party mediator to find a lasting solution to the crisis, and accountability for perpetrators of violence and other crimes.
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