Anglophone crisis: Amnesty International accuses armed groups and military for atrocities against civilians

By Mike Klaus

Renowned human rights group, Amnesty International has again accused separatists and military over countless atrocities in the anglophone regions.

Amnesty International has this detailed in a 60-page document published on July 4, 2023. In it are accounts and instances of gruesome murders, rape cases, and arson perpetrated by both separatist fighters and the military in the two anglophone regions.

The armed conflict which began in 2017 has left thousands of innocent civilians sandwiched between the armed militia and the government forces. “The army and Mbororo Fulani militias have committed unlawful killings during operations, as sometimes acknowledged by the Cameroonian authorities,” the report claimed.

“Armed separatists have also murdered civil servants, workers in state-controlled companies, people accused of being “black legs” (traitors), and people who have not complied with their orders, such as “ghost towns”, school closures and other restrictions on movement. Several women were beheaded.” It adds.

The rights group has also expressed “deep concerns” over the failure of the authorities to cooperate effectively with international and regional human rights institutions. Repeated requests for fact-finding missions have most often been ignored by Cameroon’s government.

“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” Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa has pleaded.

The current crisis in Cameroon’s two English-speaking regions has claimed over 6000 lives so far and has had close to 1 million others displaced from their homes.

The Anglophone crisis has raged on for close to seven years and is still one of the most under-reported conflicts in the world.