As the war in Cameroon rages on, civilians in the Anglophone regions find themselves caught in the crossfire, facing not only the threat of violence but also pervasive human rights abuses. Among the most concerning violations are arbitrary arrests, confiscation of phones, and house searches conducted by government forces.
Arbitrary arrests have become a routine tactic employed by government security forces as part of their counter-insurgency operations in the Anglophone regions. Suspected separatist sympathisers or individuals perceived to be dissenters are often targeted without warrant or due process in Buea and across the anglophone regions. Once detained, many are subjected to interrogation, torture, and prolonged detention without access to family member or legal representation.
In addition to arbitrary arrests, the confiscation of phones has become widespread, particularly during security operations or house raids. Phones are seen as potential tools for communication among arm fighters or for documenting human rights abuses, making civilians vulnerable to scrutiny and suspicion. Security forces often seize phones under the pretext of gathering intelligence, leaving individuals without means of communication with their families or access to vital information.
House searches have also become a common occurrence in conflict-affected areas. Government forces frequently conduct raids on civilian homes in search of weapons, contraband, or suspected separatist sympathisers. These searches are often conducted without warrants and involve intimidation, harassment, and destruction of property. Civilians are left feeling violated and vulnerable in their own homes, with little recourse for justice or accountability.
Arbitrary arrests, phone seizures, and house searches have a profound impact on the lives of civilians in the conflict-affected areas. Families are torn apart, livelihoods disrupted, and communities traumatised by the constant fear of arbitrary detention and harassment. The erosion of trust between civilians and security forces further exacerbates tensions and fuels resentment, perpetuating a cycle of violence and instability.
The international community has a critical role to play in addressing these human rights abuses in Southern Cameroon. Diplomatic pressure must be exerted on the Cameroonian government to uphold its obligations under international law and respect the rights of civilians. Humanitarian organisations should provide support and assistance to victims of arbitrary arrests and house searches, including legal aid and psychosocial support.
Ultimately, a peaceful resolution to the war in Cameroon requires a commitment to human rights, accountability, and a peaceful separation of Southern Cameroon. The systematic abuse of power through arbitrary arrests, phone seizures, and house searches only serves to deepen the divisions and prolong the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire. It is imperative that all parties involved prioritise the protection of civilians and work towards a sustainable peace that respects the dignity and rights of all Southern Cameroonians.
Since the onset of the Anglophone crisis in 2016, arbitrary arrest of unarmed civilians by the Cameroon military has become a daily phenomenon. The regime has completely fallen short of its international obligation to protect the basic human rights of Southern Cameroonians by systematically targeting, arresting, and detaining unarmed civilians with absolutely no charge or conviction.
Another military raid recently took place on the 2nd of March 2023 in the city of Kumba, and according to the report from a witness, the Cameroon military stormed the city at about 2:00am and forcefully took over 80 young men from their homes, abruptly separating them from their families and loved ones at such an hour of the day, and then subjecting them to deadly torture with no charge. They were made to sit half naked on the road, beaten severely, maltreated, and forcefully deprived of their basic human rights.
Looking closely at the rate at which men from Southern Cameroons are being arrested and subsequently detained under deadly conditions, one can conclude that the Cameroon military is intentionally using this approach to kill them. Again, this has been going on for 7years now and is unacceptable. These young men are innocent and do not deserve to lose their lives in such a manner. Their lives are precious, their families need them and so they should be released immediately and unconditionally.
The rampant arbitrarily arrests, detention, summary executions and disappearance of young men from Southern Cameroons is being fuelled by the unlawful military occupation of the Cameroonian armed forces whose presence has been continuously intensified and reinforced. We therefore call for a ceasefire and demilitarization of Southern Cameroons. The Biya regime declared war against Southern Cameroons to squeeze out civic life and eradicate our statehood although we have already gone through a lot from decades of marginalisation and discrimination.
There is an ongoing systematic genocide in Southern Cameroons, and I am speaking out for the international community to take a strong stand that will furnish efforts needed for a peaceful resolution of the Anglophone conflict. The Cameroon government has taken advantage of the conflict to express their deadly hatred and willingness to keep the People of Southern Cameroons under suppression. The regime cannot account for the whereabouts of many in detention. They have committed horrendous and gross violations of human rights and should be brought to book.
So far, the conflict has sustained very weak attention and response from the international community mainly because the regime has been successful in cleaning their traces and covering the realities of the war. In spite of the war escalating with rising dead tolls, the regime has continued prioritising economic interests and trade deals with Western governments instead of seeking a lasting solution to the long standing crisis that has claimed over 6,000lives, displaced more than a million with over 70,000 refugees registered in neighbouring Nigeria, more than 300 villages razed and over 2 million are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.
With over 40 years of autocratic and centralised rule, the Biya’s regime should end the use of military violence and instead pursue dialogue to resolve the conflict. It is inappropriate to use military oppression against a people’s right to self-determination. History holds it that the autonomy of Southern Cameroons was illegally dissolved in favour of an annexed union which was characterised by persistent repression that was geared at eroding our identity.
This an appeal for the international community to act now and save the lives of many Southern Cameroonians in detention.
Author: Dorothy Arrey
Freedom fighter and Humanitarian Lead
Follow on twitter for more at Dorothy Arrey
THE KUMBA MASSACRE;7 CHILDREN KILLED AND 13 WOUNDED.
A lot of atrocities have bee have been committed in Southern Cameroons by la République du Cameroun military forces since the President Biya unilaterally declared war on Southern Cameroons in 2017. But none is as outrageous as the Kumba massacre of October 24,2020 where 7 children were massacred and 13 more severely wounded.
The 2 English-speaking regions of the Cameroon have been without peace for close to 5 years . The conflict started in 2016 when lawyers and teachers from southern Cameroonians made some demands from the government including lesser use of French in the courts and classrooms in Southern Cameroons given that the educational and legal system in Southern Cameroons has been historically English. However, the Cameroun government refused to heed to these demands and went ahead to arrest the leaders of lawyers and Teachers trade union. These lead to further strikes by the people in Southern Cameroons with hundreds of activists detained or killed.
“When I was informed about the shooting, I ran to the school+there I saw the body of my little girl on the ground, her head blown off. I was in shock.” – father of an 11-year-old killed during a school attack in Kumba #Cameroon on Oct 24.
This has lead to a wider determination of Southern Cameroonians to achieve their independence leading to armed resistance since 2017. The government of Mr Biya unilaterally declared war on Southern Cameroons forcing unarmed civilians to defend themselves. The Cameroun military has committed several war crimes including killing innocent children, raping women and touching over 200 villages. There has been no response from the international community, which is why the Norwegian refugee agency considers the conflict as the most neglected on earth.
October 24,2020 is a date forever inscribed in the hearts of the southern Cameroonians. Children were murdered in cold blood while in their classroom. This incident happened at Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy in Kumba,Fiango neighbourhood. At 11am,about 9 military men at the school premise. They got into the 2nd floor of the school building and opened fire on the children. A few who could escape jumped from the staircase, thereby wounding themselves. After the shoot out, blood and dead bodies of children could be seen in all the nook and cranny of the classroom.
These children were between the ages of 12 to 14.The military were on a mission to inflict even more pain on innocent school children. All international human right organizations including the United Nations have condemned this act,yet the perpetrators have not been brought to justice. Instead, the Biya government claims that the separatists are to blame. This attack follows several similar attacks by the Cameroun military including one on February 14, 2020 in the Northwest region where government forces massacred 21 people, including 13 children.
Cameroon’s genocidal military by the Paul Biya-led regime committed another massacre of at least six (6) and 10 injured Southern Cameroons /Ambazonian civilians in a snack Bar at Mile 90 Nsongwa-Bamenda (Mezam County)
This is yet another atrocious act committed by la Republique du Cameroun’s military. Paul Biya’s regime attempt to manipulate the local population using media by incriminating the Ambazonian Restoration Forces (ARF) of being responsible for the horrendous atrocity is extremely unacceptable and condemnable. According to eyewitness accounts, they were la Republique du Cameroun’s military forces during the massacre, there were seen gulping looted beer from the snack bar before exiting the scene of the crime.
This atrocious act in Mile 90 Ngongwa, Bamenda, follows many other massacres that have been perpetrated by Biya’s – led genocidal regime of la Republique du Cameroun.
Once more, Southern Cameroons National Council SCNC and other groups continued to urge the United Nations and other international organizations for an immediate intervention to help end the over four (4) years’ war that keep worsening as time persists. We very much believe that the inability to act against these genocidaires by holding them accountable for previous massacres has emboldened them to continue to carry on other acts such as this.
In effect, from 2017 till now, it has been the deadliest period in the Southern Cameroonians (Ambazonia) history and la Republique du Cameroun continues to massacre our people with impunity through the ongoing genocide.
Separatist have been fighting since 2017 to form an English-speaking state within the majority French-speaking country. Consequently, the response of the government forces has always been brutal and deadly. The Mile 90 Ngongwa, Bamenda incident is just one of the many incidents whereby government forces have massacred unarmed civilians in the names of fight the separatists.
Cameroon government forces have persistently violated the Rights and freedom of the people of Ambazonia. The military is known to have been raping women, including those with disabilities, and arbitrarily arresting and beating young men. However, many of these violations have been underreported partly for fear of reprisal from the military.
Cameroon has been faced with a war with the self declared “Southern Cameroons” secessionist state Ambazonia for the last 5 years. It began in 2016 when government security forces used lethal force against peaceful demonstrators from students and Lawyers in the Minority country’s English speaking regions. This lead to president Paul Biya of Cameroon declaring war on Ambazonia. The war between the two sides has lead to several war crimes committed by the Cameroon forces.
In August 2018,the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa published a list of 106 villages raided or burnt by government forces since 2016
Extrajudicial killings, burning down entire villages, shooting unarmed civilians and forced disappearances in South West and North West Regions must be investigated. We urge for a commission of inquiry to fully investigate these crimes. pic.twitter.com/rF1OsfTpoV
The war has escalated with increased attacks on schools and the use of explosive devices .Norwagian refugee agency declared Cameroon as the most neglected conflict in the world with more than 800,000 civilians displaced in 2019. Civilian death toll is said to be around 4,000 but these figures are disputed with activists claiming it could be more than 40,000.
The United Nations estimates that 3 million Southern Cameroonians have been affected. Since January 2021,27 military attacks have been made across 13 towns in Southern Cameroons.
Whenever there is an attack on the military, they usually respond with burning of villages and killing of civilians . This was what lead to the Mautu massacre that killed 9 civilians included a 6 year old child on January 10th 2021 according to the Human Rights watch.
This massacre like manner others has left many Southern Cameroonians mourning with the international community condemning the violence including from the French government that has traditionally supported the regime.
The UK 🇬🇧 is deeply concerned about the death of apparently unarmed civilians in an incident on Sunday in #Mautu (South-West Cameroon) 🇨🇲. There must be an urgent and impartial investigation, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice.
🇨🇦 is deeply concerned by the recent upsurge in violence in 🇨🇲, including around #Mbengwi, in #Matazem and in #Mautu, last Sunday. An impartial investigation is needed to shed light and bring the perpetrators to justice. #EndAnglophoneCrisis
#Cameroon: Army soldiers killed 9 civilians in Mautu in the Anglophone South-West region, including a woman+a child. Soldiers also wounded 4 civilians, looted scores of homes+threatened residents. Perpetrators should be held to account.
Witnesses say the soldiers killed and wounded civilians and also looted several houses in the area. Thousands fled to the bushes to sought refuge. Videos and photographs circulating on social media identify the Cameroon military as the perpetrators’..
Just like in Mautu,7 children were also killed and 13 others severely wounded in Kumba in October 2020.There have been several similar massacres including Ngarbuh,Pinyin and Muyuka.
Since the attack , the Cameroon government claims it is investigating the incident, but it is unlikely anything will be done as the military has committed several crimes against civilians throughout this conflict without any consequences whatsoever.
These barbaric crimes committed by the Cameroon military must be brought to an international tribunal. Those who have perpetuated such acts including the politicians must face justice. It is not enough for the international community to only condemn these acts , repeating same words every time there is another massacre. Severe sanctions must be imposed on the government of Cameroon. Also, active steps must be taken to end the conflict which must include the people of Southern Cameroons deciding their own destiny via a UN agreed process.
THE ABSENTEE PRESIDENT AND THE PRICE OF SELF – DETERMINATION.
By Electa M. Shalo
Since the President of French Cameroon Paul Biya,declared war on the Southern Cameroon people in 2016,the President has been virtually invisible. This has had devastating consequences on the self determination on The Southern Cameroon people to be Independent.
Mr. Biya, is hardly in the Parliament, invisible on the campaign path nor make himself available for interviews with any of Cameroon dozen of private media outlets. He even avoids interview with the state owned media, the CRTV which is his private propaganda tool. Not even the Covid 19 pandemic that brought the world to a standstill. Every Head of state had addressed its people and are still addressing its people, but Mr. Biya had never addressed the nation as regards The pandemic.
Mr. Biya had only held just one Cabinet meeting between 2015 and 2018. Mr. Biya views campaign rallies too lowly for his elevated status
Mr. Biya rules the nation of Cameroon as its personal property. Even your personal property will need some surveillance from you. He rules from a distance. Mr. Biya spent most of his time in Geneva in Switzerland at the most luxurious intercontinental hotel occupying the top floor of the suit were he spends many months using tax payers money while his people lacks the basic life necessities like safe drinking water, electricity, schools, infrastructure and hospitals. In fact, it was home for Mr. Biya the Hitler of the 21st century. Thanks to the ‘Anti Sardiner’, Mr. Biya was chased out of Geneva in 2019. This episode led to Mr. Biya longest stay in Cameroon mostly in his native village Mvomeka since becoming president in November, 6th1982.
Even when Mr. Biya is in Cameroon, he remains out of sight. He shuns the Unity Palace at Etoudi, his official residence in the capital of Yaoundé preferring to spend months at his private residence in Mvomeka.
When Cameroon was hit by the Covid19 pandemic earlier this year, Mr. Biya stayed out of public view for two months. He finally made a televised address to the nation in May, 2020.
More recently it took the aging and unfit President over 48Hrs to tweet his condemnation of the deadly kumba school shooting in October, 2020,
Human Rights groups has widely condemned Cameroon military for extrajudicial killings in the Southern Cameroon Region. Yet the aging President, the commander in chief of the arm forces has claimed that soldiers acted on their own.
As a result of this conflict in Ambazonia BokoHarram in the northern region of Cameroon, the dilapidated institutions, Cameroon economy has been left in ruins.
Biya views himself as a demi god. Mr. Biya enthusiastic and his party supporters believe that Biya is a demi god. Mr. Biya’s inner circle has adopted practices of praising singing and worshipping of the President to remain in his good books. Yes, this is the case, a very glaring example is when Biya was likened to Jesus in an astounding report on Cameroon’s state owned broadcasting station the CRTV. When the broadcaster likened Mr. Biya’s returned to Cameroon after the 2019 protest in Geneva by ‘the Anti Sardiner’ to the triumphant entry to Jerusalem by Jesus. Another instance was when AtangaNji, the minister of territorial administration likewise in February quoted bible verse to back the idea that Biya is the Head of state because he was chosen by God.
The quicker way to ascend to power under this regime is to utter the not very secret password WE THANK THE HEAD OF STATE OR THANKS TO THE HEAD OF STATE, which fall without fail from the lips of party politicians all the time. Perhaps Biya has something in common with “Jesus “After all for decades rumors of Biya’s death have swept periodically through the media more recently social media. Only to have Mr. Biya miraculously reappears sometime later. The last rumor of his death was in April 2020, when Mr. Biya failed to address Cameroonians over the covid 19 pandemic. Each time such rumors emerge I question myself what difference does the demise of an ABSENTEE PRESIDENT would make to ordinary Cameroonian. Perhaps it will allow the ordinary Cameroonian to speak their minds or move about freely especially those living in Yaoundé without worrying about a visit from the Cameroon Police or other security operatives in the dead of the night. Uttering a word against the President in the taxi, bars or on the streets can land the speaker among the inmates at Kondengui prison or exile, like me and my daughters. If thrown in kondengui prison you will never be judged like in the cases of ; Emmanuel Kom, Long Solo Wala, Abang Modest, Ebbe Allan, Foam Marcel Michele, Zo Kingsley, Nestor Mbang, Ako Javier, Kom Gerald. NgongAlloysius, KotiNjie Franklin, NesahFontoh.
We still have thousands of Southern Cameroonians in the Kondengui maximum prison. .
Another example was the musician Longue Longue who criticized the outcome of the 2018 elections. His passport was sized and only returned after he spent nearly a year publicly begging for forgiveness.
As a result of actions like these, it has become a taboo to criticize the president in any way.
Investigative Journalists are branded as enemies of the state as terrorists and rebels. They are tried in military court and held in inhumane conditions and some killed like in the cases of Samuel Wazizi. (https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1471652276378126&id=821568421386518&sfnsn=scwspwa} who was arrested in August 2019, for criticizing the Yaounde regime handling the Anglophone crises and a host of others who have gone on self-exile. Like Mimi Mefo, John Mba Akuru, Buh Herbert, Ntemfack Ofege just to mention a few.
Hundreds of independent journalist have either been arrested, jailed or gone into exile or, have to toe the line and become songbirds of the regime, or prisons become their new homes.
As an activist, It is my duty to make the whole world aware of these atrocities. As an “Ambazonian” is time to free my people from this bondage.
The most recent case is Anye, who was arrested on Thursday, the10th of December, as he was walking along the road side around street 5 Mukong
Bamenda. The military killed him and drop his corpse in the river.
These government scares its population by deliberately
Members of the Rapid intervention battalion massacred the people of Ngarbu, Bali, Pinying, Babanki, Ekonaetc. This is to punish them for either supporting, collaborating and sheltering separatists. This government try to excite civil war by putting the people against each other as in the case of the Mbororos and the farmers in Wum, and the current Northwest and Southwest divide. What a shame.
The Cameroon government want to rule and conquer the Southern Cameroon people alias Ambazonia, whereas we can live separately and happily. That is what human beings are meant to live for.
We have to live by everyone’s happiness and not to hate and despise one another the way Mr. Biya’s regime hate the Ambazonians because of their self determination to live as free people which is a fundamental human right.
The good world is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life is free and beautiful. Greed has poisoned the minds of Mr. Biya and his cohorts. He has barricaded the country with hate misery and blood shed,
Mr. Biya and his cohorts think too much and feel little.
We need humanity more than machinery. We need humanity more than cleverness. Without this qualities life will be violent.
Millions of despairing men, women and children are victims of the system. The government of Mr. Biya torture men, women and children and also imprison innocent people .The misery that we are passing through now is as a result of the bitterness of men, greed who fear the way of Southern Cameroons progress..
Mr. Biya has the power to fix things, he has the power to create happiness and have the power to make life free and beautiful for everyone. To make this life a wonderful adventure. But Mr. Biya have chosen to make life unbearable for the common Southern Cameroonian and for this generation in general who sees no hope. Youths loiter the street in desperation.
In the name of SELF-DETERMINATION let us all use the power to UNITE. Let us all fight for OUR FREEDOM For AMBAZONIA THAT WILL GIVE ALL MEN AND WOMEN ACHANCE TO WORK. That will give YOUTHS a future and serenity.
I remember when Mr. Biya took over power from Ahidjo, he had this wonderful program of RIGOUR AND MORALISATION. BUT HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO ASKED FOR PROOFS WHERAS MINISTERS WHERE EMBEZZLING PUBLIC FUNDS IN A LIVE TELEVISED PROGRAMM WITH ERIC CHINJIE ON CRTV.
PROMISING THIS THINGS MR. BIYA HAS BECOME A BRUT. HE HAS BECOME A DICTATOR. MR. BIYA LIVES LARGE. HIS FAMILY LEAVES FREELY AND ALL THOSE WHO HAIL HIM AS A GOD LEAVES FREELY but enslave the people.
Ambazonians let us fight now to free ourselves.
To do away with greed with hate and intolerance.
Let us fight for an AMBAZONIA OF REASON WHERE SCIENCE AND PROGRESS WILL LEAD TO HAPPINESS OF ALL.
LA REPUBLIC SOLDIERS stop killing innocent people ,You know the truth. In the name of this truth stop killing the very people you are meant to be protecting. Stop defending dictator Paul Biya. Paul Biya will die one day and you and only you will be held to pay for the crimes you are committing in Ambazonia. So long as men die liberty will surely come one-day. Liberty will never perish.
SO soldiers do not give yourself to brut like Paul Biya who despise you, enslave you, regiment your lives, tell you what to think and feel. Who drill you, treat you like cattle and use you as ’Canon fodder’. DON’T give yourselves to this unnatural man, machine man with machine mind and machine heart .
You soldiers have the love of humanity in your heart. You don’t hate .Only the unloved hate and the unnatural hate. Soldiers do not fight for slavery, fight for liberty.
In the17th chapter of St Luke, It says, the kingdom of God is within men not one man nor a group of men but in all men. In you the people of Ambazonia.
Ambazonians you are capable. You can do it. We can do it together. Oh yes we can.
Teenagers and a lot of other Southern Cameroonians are being killed on a daily basis by Paul Biya forces. On the 8 of March 2 teenagers were shot at closed range by forces in Mulang – Nkwen, Bamenda, Southern Cameroons.
Sources say, the motive for killing these kids were to commit first degree murder because they looked like Amba Soldiers.
This is the reality in Southern Cameroons on a daily basis. A people at the brink of extinction for standing up for the rights to self determination, the rights to be free, the rights to be properly decolonized, the rights for an identity, the rights to existence, preservation of cultural heritage and linguistic customs etc etc.
The people of Southern Cameroons/ SCNC urges the United Nations to send an independent fact finding mission to investigate crimes against humanity and also pressure president Paul Biya and his government to call for an immediately ceasefire to the war they declared on Southern Cameroonians.
Paul Biya government must unconditionally release all detainees of Southern Cameroons origin in connection to the war and withdraw her occupational forces from Southern Cameroons territory and commit to an all inclusive dialogue in the presence of a third party mediator to address the root cause of Southern Cameroon’s problem.
Ngarbuh Massacre in Donga and Mantung Division , British former Southern Cameroon
On the 14th of February 2020 in Ngarbuh , Ntumbaw, Donga Mantung Division , North West Region of Cameroon , a Massacre took place by the Cameroon military with the help of Fulani extremists which resulted to at least the death of 22 innocent civilians . 15 of the victims were Children and at least 9 of them were under the age of 5 . The attack was part of the Anglophone Crisis between freedom fighters of Ambazonia ( Former British Southern Cameroon) and Cameroon military.
Initially no one claimed responsibility for the attack, while the separatists blamed Cameroon.The Cameroonian government admitted that the Cameroonian Army had been responsible for the deaths, and claimed civilians were killed by an accidental explosion that had been triggered when stray bullets had hit a fuel tank during a firefight with separatists. The Cameroon Army claimed to have killed seven separatists during the incident
Opposition parties and human rights groups rejected this explanation, accusing the army of carrying out a massacre of civilians
Local residents said that 35 people were killed by the Army, who broke into residents houses, where they shot civilians and burned their houses. The Cameroon government (Biya regime) continued to insist that only five civilians had been killed, although independent sources were able to verify the names of 25 dead civilians already the day after the attack. Attempting to cover up the details of the incident, on 24 February, soldiers arrested a man who had given information about the Ngarbuh massacre to the media. An alleged eye witness to the massacre was murdered on February 29.
Human rights group carried out an investigation, interviewing more than 20 people, some of whom witnessed the attack. The investigation debunked the claims made by the government and established that Cameroon soldiers and armed Fulani had carried out a massacre of civilians. Human Rights Watch also confirmed that there had been no separatist fighters present during the massacre. The Cameroon government responded to the report by accusing the author of conspiring with the separatists to create false stories.
The United Nations condemned the attack, and encouraged Cameroon to carry out proper investigation and prosecute the perpetrators which was back by United states of America . One of the key opposition politicians in Cameroon Maurice Kamto called for a national day of mourning.
In early March, it was reported that the Cameroon Army had arrested and questioned nine soldiers about the massacre, including two colonels. After running its own investigation, the government concluded that three soldiers and a local vigilante group had accidentally killed 13 civilians during a fire fight with separatist fighters. After realizing their mistake, the report claimed, the soldiers and the militiamen set fire to buildings in order to erase any evidence. Three soldiers were subsequently arrested.
The report and the arrests were met with appreciation internationally and by human rights organizations, while the Ambazonia Governing Council accused the Cameroon government of “presenting false justification of the systematic killing of civilians”.
Death toll rises after Cameroon military raids Ngarbuh, kills several villagers including children. Reports say over 27 people have died so far.
The pictures below in Donga Mantung released by CNA show the kids who were still alive and when they were later killed by soldiers. pic.twitter.com/5jC0ROlOH6
If the people of Ngar-Buh village in the North West province of Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) knew what was going to happen, they would not have slept in their houses that night of the 14th February 2020. That night they were massacred by the military forces of the country that says they are their government.
Innocent and confused
On the 14th of February 2020, 28 innocent civilians, including pregnant women and toddlers, were massacred were massacred by the military forces of Cameroun. I know in my heart of hearts that these people would not have spent a second in that village if they had any clue that the Cameroun military would attack them. As innocent as they all were, going to sleep happy, hoping for a bright new day, but much to their surprise, they did not make it through the night. Imagine being burnt alive!… The innocent people of Ngar-Buh village woke up to a surprise by the military, arresting and burning human beings alive!… Is that not wickedness? to see your fellow humans roasted like roast chicken, goat or even pork? They were confused, running from one end of the village to the other, thinking of safety, but they met each other in confusion and did not know where else to run to, innocent and confused.
I thought Human rights Organisations are out there to make peace in the world. But since 22 September, 2016, the people of the former British Cameroons have been going through difficult times with their neighbouring country La Republique du Cameroun. No one is calling them to order. They keep killing innocent people, especially our young men who, I believe, are our future leaders.
I want to ask this question to the Human Rights Organisations: what is the difference between British Southern Cameroon and Iraq or Iran? Because we see how you are concerned about them, and even a gunshot there and the world will shake. But now it’s this small country! I am raising my voice with many other Ambazonians out there to call for peace and human rights, and not to stay silent as innocent people are dying.
The people need help
This situation has already taken too long to stop! The people of the Southern Cameroons are calling for any rescue to come to their help for as it is too much now to continue. All our male youths have been arrested and locked up, our able-bodied middle-aged men are shot dead in front of children of very young age. Human Rights Organisations, the UN, the BBC and all those in charge of the world’s human rights – please come to our help. It seems they have all abandoned us.
Conclusion
The nightmare that the people of Ngar-Buh have faced is a once in a lifetime event that will never leave their memories, especially those who watched how others were burned alive. The confusion that the Cameroun government is giving to these people can only be rescued by all these International Organisations that help other countries to come in and put Mr Paul Bvondo Biya to justice for violating human rights. I will continue to raise my voice, like other brothers and sisters from Southern Cameroons, to say we need HELP from the international groups which make peace in the world.
What actually happened at Tole health centre on 30 October 2019
As part of the SCNC-UK Human rights monitoring project ,we look at what happened when Tole Hospital was burnt down.
Background
Tole health centre was set ablaze in Buea ,Southern Cameroons on Wednesday 30th of October 2019. The act is believed to have been be carried out by Cameroun Soldiers. Their motive was that the Hospital was suspected to be used to treat Southern Cameroons revolutionary fighters wounded in the on going Ambazonia war of independence. So they wanted to make sure anyone wounded or sick should have no access to healthcare ,including the unfortunate civilians they assault everyday as they ravage villages. Unsurprisingly, the government of Cameroon decided to blame the same revolutionary fighters for burning the hospital.
The evidence:
The claim by Cameroun government that Ambazonians or even revolutionary fighters set their own Hospital ablaze is preposterous. Firstly, locals with eyewitness accounts have pointed the fingers at Cameroun Soldiers. The government’s account looks unreasonable since it is a well know fact that the Military of French Cameroun dress up like Ambazonian revolutionary fighters in other to Camouflage their true identity. Burning of houses , villages and Hospitals has been the modus operandi of the rogue military of Cameroun. Journalist Mimi Mefo was unequivocal of the culprits when she twitted about the incident. That same week, another group of BIR soldiers burnt almost an entire village in Bafut in the Northern Zone of Southern Cameroons. At least 20 homes were razed to the ground.
News Roundup: 30 October 2019
-Tole hospital in flames -Soldiers raid and burn atleast 20 houses in Bafut -Tension in the University of Bamenda, lectures interrupted -President Biya disburses 200 million to assist landslide victims in Bafoussam 👇👇👇https://t.co/EejhVWJLon
Anyone who doubts the veracity of these facts can watch the ground breaking investigative documentary by the BBC about the systematic burning of villages by Cameroun military in Ambazonia.
Interpretation of the facts:
The government of French Cameroun claims it is trying to protect civilians but there is no evidence to support this. On the Contrary, they seem intent to carry out a genocide in Southern Cameroons while the international community silently watches. France trains and supports Cameroun Military particularly the rapid intervention Battalion(BIR), the main unit sent to the front lines and already accused of numerous war crimes and acts of genocide.
The systemic pattern and frequency in which these soldiers burn villages can be no coincidence. They are trained to carry such acts . They have been seen on video carrying equipment to ignite houses. These acts are sanctioned by the military hierarchy, including Cameroun president Paul Biya and even their facilitators the government of France. French mercenaries are directly involved in the training, deployment and coordination of the activities of the BIR Soldiers. Additionally, despite the methodical pattern of burning villages and hospitals , rape of young girls and women,inhumane torture of civilians, there has never been any condemnation from France.
The recent money pledged by Mr Emmanuel Macron for reconstruction in Southern Cameroons is very laughable since France is directly involved in the continued destruction and genocide in Southern Cameroons. Are the villagers whose homes have been burnt down in Bafut ever receive such money to rebuild their homes or lives back? Properly never. Most are now living in bushes or depend on scarce humanitarian support in hope the international community can finally intervene to bring lasting peace.
Conclusion and recommendations
Lasting peace can only be possible by the recognition of the failed decolonisation process of the UN trust Territory of Southern Cameroons. By also acknowledging the ineligible right of Southern Cameroonians to determine their future .The United nations and UN security Council must set out a road-map for an independence referendum where the people can decide their destiny. In the meantime,the world must condemn these war crimes being committed by the military of dictator Biya and make sure those involved are arrested and tried before the international criminal court.
