Why All NW/SW Atrocities Must Be Investigated

Ayaba Cho Lucas, a prominent leader of Cameroon’s Anglophone separatist movement living in Norway, is under arrest, igniting a wave of mixed reactions, one of which is that all atrocities must be investigated. The German national, with roots in Mankon, Cameroon, currently faces detention and investigation for allegedly inciting crimes against humanity in the country’s English-speaking regions, where armed militants fight to establish a state known as Ambazonia.

However, Ayaba Cho’s case is just one in a series of rights abuses that have plagued the Northwest and Southwest regions since the Anglophone crisis escalated into a full-blown armed conflict eight years ago.

Atrocities and Impunity in NW/SW Regions

Over the years, Cameroon’s security forces, armed separatist groups, and Fulani militias have inflicted severe suffering on the local population. Since 2016, these regions have become a battleground of atrocities, with little to no accountability. This lack of attention has fostered a culture of impunity, allowing perpetrators to continue their violent actions unchecked.

Many observers are now calling for Ayaba Cho’s arrest to serve as a turning point, demanding thorough investigations into all atrocities committed in these regions since 2016, with violators from both sides of the conflict held accountable.

Human Rights Violations by Both Sides

According to human rights organizations, Cameroon’s security forces have committed extrajudicial killings, engaged in widespread sexual and gender-based violence, burned Anglophone villages, and subjected those suspected of separatist ties to arbitrary detention, torture, and mistreatment. Armed separatists, on the other hand, have been responsible for killings, kidnappings, and terrorizing local populations.

Attacks on Health and Education

Separatists and government forces have been accused of deliberately attacking health facilities and humanitarian workers, severely limiting access to essential aid. Numerous international humanitarian organisations have suspended their operations in the region.

One particularly troubling aspect of the separatist campaign has been their ban on government-run education. Armed groups frequently target schools, abduct students and teachers, and burn down educational facilities.

Notable Atrocities Committed Since 2016

To understand the gravity of the situation, one only has to look at some of the most horrifying incidents. On February 14, 2020, security forces, aided by local vigilantes and Fulani militants, attacked the village of Ngarbuh in Ndu, killing at least 21 unarmed civilians, including a pregnant woman and 13 children.

On the other side, the Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF), a separatist militia, publicly executed at least 10 civilians on July 16, 2023, in Bamenda’s Nacho neighborhood.

In another tragic episode, on October 24, 2020, armed men on motorcycles stormed the Mother Francisca Bilingual Academy in Kumba, killing seven children and injuring 13 others. The victims were between 12 and 14 years old. The government blamed separatists for the attack, though no separatist group claimed responsibility.

Calls for Independent Investigations

Many atrocities have occurred since the onset of the crisis. No independent investigation has taken place to hold those responsible accountable. Armed groups operate with impunity in the Northwest and Southwest regions.

The Norwegian Refugee Council repeatedly emphasises that the Anglophone crisis ranks among the most neglected humanitarian crises in the world. More than 1.7 million people urgently need humanitarian assistance due to the ongoing violence. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that at least 583,112 people have faced internal displacement, and over 66,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring Nigeria.

UNICEF in 2019 reported that the conflict has forced the closure of more than 6,000 schools, leaving over 855,000 children without access to education.

With victims grieving and the population clamouring for justice and peace, it is hoped that the arrest of one of the leaders of the Separatist movement will open doors for justice to take its course and all perpetrators of crimes in the two regions brought to book.

Mimi Mefo Info