Cameroon must end violence and human rights violations in Anglophone areas: Amnesty International News
Moki Edwin Kindzeka (VOA), CC-BY-SA 4.0
Cameroon must end violence and human rights violations in Anglophone areas: Amnesty International

Amnesty International Tuesday urged Cameroonian authorities to look into human rights violations committed in Anglophone regions of Cameroon. According to their report, armed separatists and the military have been accused of killing, torture, rape and destruction of property.

Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Samira Daoud commented: We call on Cameroonian authorities to investigate allegations of human rights violations and other crimes under domestic law committed in the context of the armed violence in the Anglophone regions, and to prosecute and punish those responsible for such violations in fair trials and before independent, impartial, and competent tribunals. Victims of these crimes and violations have a right to justice and reparation.

According to the report, armed groups continue to rampage across broad swaths of territory, attacking state officials or central government supporters. As a result, armed separatists have attacked the Mbororo Fulani tribes in North West Cameroon, whom they perceive to be loyal to those in authority. Military formations comprised of Mbororo Fulani tribes have carried out human rights violations against the populace in reprisal.

The report also details instances of sexual violence perpetrated on women by defence forces, as well as other crimes committed in Bui division. Military tribunals have prosecuted and condemned civilians and journalists, in violation of both domestic and international law. Authorities have also attempted to silence those who have spoken out against the horrors caused through arbitrary detention, judicial proceedings and threats.

Armed conflict broke out between militia and separatist organizations as a result of protests demanding an end to the discrimination of Anglophone minorities and the self-declared independence of Ambazonia state. Initially, armed brutality was used to quash the protests, but this has subsequently escalated to human rights crimes against the civilian population caught in the middle.

Amnesty International has urged Cameroonian authorities to free all arbitrarily detained individuals, to ensure fair trial standards are followed during court proceedings, and to put an end to all forms of violence.

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