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
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