Cameroon: CHRDA’s 2023 Human Rights Report Shows Spike in Rights Abuses.

In 2023, at least 300 deaths were recorded; at least 100 days of ghost towns called by separatist fighters; more than 500 people arbitrarily arrested and at least 200 persons kidnapped with at least 150 arson incidents recorded

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

BUEA, Cameroon – The Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA has released its 2023 Human Rights Report and shows a spike in rights abuses committed by both defence and security forces (DSFs) and Non-state Armed Groups (NSAGs) in the North West and South West Regions and that of Boko Haram in the Far North Regions. 

Following a press conference on Wednesday, February 28, at CHRDA’s head office in Buea, South West, statistics show that at least 300 deaths were recorded in the NW.SWRs. Among the victims were civilians, security forces and separatist fighters. 2023 saw at least 100 days of ghost towns called by separatist fighters; more than 500 people were arbitrarily arrested and at least 200 persons kidnapped with at least 150 arson incidents recorded.

Security forces and separatist fighters faulted for rights abuses

At least six thousand civilians have been killed by both government and non-state armed groups since late 2016 in the North West and South West regions, as separatist fighters seek to create an independent state for the minority Anglophone regions. CHRDA has consistently faulted both Cameroon’s defence and security forces and separatist fighters for carrying out human rights abuses with the crisis in its seventh year.

Felix Agbor Nkongho, Founder of the Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA said: "The report of 2023 shows that there is not much reduction in violence. The pendulum is indeed swinging more to the NSAGs committing more atrocities than the state of Cameroon, but it doesn't change the fact that the civilian population is the victims."

“It is an oblique picture that we should not be proud of these numbers. People see them as statistics but they are human beings we are talking about. When we talk about three hundred killed; we are not talking about animals that were killed but three hundred human beings and that is one killing too many. It is high time the conflicting parties try to protect the civilian population and put civilians first. They should have a civilian-centric approach to conflicts.”

The situation in the North West and South West Regions is not getting better but officials of CHRDA said their mission will continue to bring to the limelight what is happening in the Anglophone regions. According to Felix Agbor Nkongho, NSAGs should protect civilians while those sponsoring the crisis must be held accountable.

He added: "The international community needs to put more pressure on the state to ensure that they with the NSAGs find a solution to the crisis. They can also make sure that those who are living abroad and incite violence, use hate speech and perpetrate such violence should be held accountable. It is left on the state to use its diplomatic manoeuvres to ensure that they are brought to justice in their various countries."

Killings, and kidnappings rife in the Far North

According to CHRDA, the Boko Haram insurgency group has continued to commit atrocities against civilians. Suicide bombings and indiscriminate attacks against civilians are major tactics used by the Islamist group and have led to an increase in civilian casualties.  At least 100 persons were killed in the restive Far North region. At least 8 fishermen in the locality of Darak, Lagone and Chari Division were killed in 2023. 3 civilians were also killed in Lamram II village, Mokolo Canto de Tourou subdivision, Mayo Tsanaga Division.

A need for restraint in civilian attacks

As a recommendation, CHRDA has called on the State Defense and Security Forces and Separatist fighters to exercise restraint and desist from committing human rights violations and abuses, especially attacks against civilians and their properties.

CHRDA has also urged all parties to the conflict in the North West and South West regions to stop attacks on journalists and human rights defenders as it will permit the civil society to function properly and reverse the issue of shrinking civic space, while also calling on the separatist leadership to stop attacks on school infrastructure, teachers, school children and other academic stakeholders.

To the international community, CHRDA has called for pressure on the state of Cameroon to respect its international human rights as well as humanitarian law commitments. While urging the international community to pressure the state of Cameroon to investigate and prosecute persons suspected of committing crimes against humanity in the context of the Anglophone conflict.