Amnesty International accuses Amba boys, soldiers of raining death threats on rights defenders

By David Atangana

Amnesty International has called on the government of Cameroon to ensure that human rights defenders are able to work free of intimidation and reprisals.

The rights group made the call in a report published July 7, 2022.

The report came after the group recieved reports that activists are being targeted with death threats for exposing violation and abuses in Anglophone regions.

The threats according to Amnesty International, are from suspected armed separatists and government soldiers in the form of telephone calls and electronic messages.

Amongst those on the death threats list are Akem Kelvin Nkwiain, human rights officer at Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa – CHRDA, Nkongho Felix Agbor – human rights lawyer and founder of CHRDA, UN rapporteur on human rights defenders, lawyer for Organic Farming for Gorillas,N’zui Manto, cyber activist and Tarnteh Amadu Nganpanweh, a human rights defender for Conscience Africaine.

Meanwhile, Akem Kelvin Nkwiain and Agbor Balla are accusing separatists of threats on their lives.

Amnesty says threats on their lives are as a result of exposing rights violations and abuses by government agents, mostly soldiers.

According to Amnesty International, the safety and security of human rights defenders rest in government hands .

“Amnesty International is calling on Cameroonian authorities to guarantee the safety of these human rights defenders and ensure they can continue carrying out their work in a safe and enabling environment” said Samira Daud, Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

Adding that, there is need for authorities to urgently launch a thorough independent and effective investigation into these threats and other abuses, Daud frowned at government’s lacklustre attitude in tackling such issues.

“The apparent inaction of the Cameroonian authorities amidst reports of abductions, intimidations and repeated threats is deeply concerning”, Samira Daud echoed, reminding that “Cameroon must urgently meet its obligations under international humanitarian law by supporting and protecting human rights defenders and their work”.

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