Cameroon’s Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) held a press conference on Wednesday to address the ongoing conflict in the country’s Far North, North West and South West regions. The conference coincided with the launch of CHRDA’s 2023 Human Rights Report, which paints a grim picture of the conflict’s impact on the region.
2023: A year of “enormous challenges”
According to CHRDA, 2023 was a year of “insecurity, economic instability, and violence” in the Anglophone regions and the country’s Far North Region. Their investigations revealed that “both parties” to the conflict, including state actors and non-state armed groups, have been responsible for “gross human rights violations and abuses.”
The report details violations of various fundamental rights, including the right to life, freedom of movement, education, and protection from arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, and gender-based violence.
CHRDA’s recommendations for ending the conflict:
CHRDA presented a series of recommendations aimed at various stakeholders:
- Cameroon’s state authorities: They urged increased transparency in investigations into alleged human rights abuses by state agents, particularly the military and security forces.
- State and non-state actors: Both sides were called upon to end attacks on journalists and human rights defenders.
- The international community: CHRDA appealed to the international community to pressure Cameroon to uphold its human rights and humanitarian law obligations.
- In the far North region, the Cameroonian government should foster civil-military cooperation.
CHRDA President calls for continued advocacy and citizen engagement:
In an interview with MMI, CHRDA President Barrister Agbor Nkongbo emphasised the organization’s unwavering commitment to human rights protection and promotion. He stressed the importance of documenting, monitoring, and reporting on human rights violations by all parties to the conflict.
Nkongbo further emphasised the role of citizen engagement in addressing the crisis: “Citizens have to engage to make sure that the situation gets better and at no point in time, in a state can there be human rights violations.” He acknowledged that human rights violations occur even in developed countries, but urged Cameroonians to strive for a significant reduction to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians.
The role of the media:
The conference concluded with Nkongbo’s call to action for the media. He urged journalists to engage more actively with the conflict, creating documentaries that “weep sentiments and attract the right help needed by the affected regions.”
CHRDA’s recommendations and Nkongbo’s statements offer a glimpse into the complexities of the Anglophone crisis and highlight the urgent need for a multi-pronged approach to achieve lasting peace and stability in Cameroon.
