Cameroon: CHRDA’s Human Rights Report Shows Sliding Trend in Rights Violations
May 09, 2024
Like in the last quarter of 2023, the month of January 2024 witnessed an upsurge in violence in the conflict-affected North West and South West Regions
In the first Quarter of the year 2024, CHRDA recorded a significant number of killings Arbitrary and extrajudicial killings as well as targeted killings
By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, Cameroon – The Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA has released its first quarter Human Rights Report for the year 2024 and shows a drop in the number of rights violations across the conflict-affected regions.
The report from CHRDA (January to March 2024) released on May 7, 2024, notes that among the most violated rights in January were the right to life, freedom of movement and association, freedom of speech, the right to own and dispose of one property freely among other rights.
In the first Quarter of the year 2024, CHRDA recorded a significant number of killings Arbitrary and extrajudicial killings as well as targeted killings, a total of 52 deaths were recorded. The majority of people killed in this first half include civilians, Defense and security forces as well as Separatist fighters.
There were at least 30 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention. CHRDA was able to intervene and secure the release of some persons arbitrarily arrested and detained while others remain under detention some of whom are incommunicado. There were also at least 37 cases of kidnappings, and at least 71 persons injured. Non-State Armed Groups carried out a good number of kidnappings and Ransom Taking. This was principally to secure funding for their activities
The North West and South West regions, primarily English-speaking have been embroiled in conflict since 2017, following a declaration of independence by separatists. The roots of the conflict lie in decades of perceived discrimination against the English-speaking population by the French-speaking majority.
Boko Haram Attacks abridged
Boko Haram attacks in the Far North Region have comparatively reduced significantly, but these attacks are far from being a thing of the past as propagated by some persons. Some of the key violations in this region include the violation of the right to life, the Right to freely own and dispose of one's property, and freedom of movement among other rights
In the Far North Region, CHRDA recorded a total of 48 deaths in the first quarter. To secure funding for their operations Boko Haram elements carried out a series of kidnaping and demand for ransom. CHRDA monitored and documented a total of 6 cases of kidnapping in the Far North Region.
CHRDA's Executive Director Dr Violet Fokum speaks during the launch of the organization's first quarter report
CHRDA continues to call for restraint
CHRDA continues to call for restraint on both camps, a call for a cessation of hostilities and a resolve to engage in meaningful dialogue. The organization notes that civilians who are not actively participating in hostilities as well as their property are not to be attacked and added that these violations are committed in total violation of International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law.
“We urge 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 noted as a recommendation.
CHRDA has called on separatist fighters and their leadership to stop attacks on school infrastructure, teachers, school children and other academic stakeholders while calling on judicial authorities to judiciously exercise their function of administration of justice and the promotion of the rule of law by the regulations in force as well as by the International Commitments that Cameroon is a party to.
In the Far North Region, the Cameroon Government should foster civil-military cooperation and also increase security measures in the region to curb the frequent attacks from the Boko Haram militias on the population and also educate the population on vigilante measures.
We encourage the Cameroon government to increase security measures in the Far-North Regions to protect civilians and their properties from the Boko Haram attacks in the region.
CHRDA has called on the international community to pressure the State of Cameroon to respect its international Human rights as well as humanitarian law commitments while urging the international community to continue to use all the available means to make the State of Cameroon as well as separatist fighters and their leadership to adopt a sincere, inclusive and negotiated dialogue as a means of resolving the conflict in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon.
The Rights organization has also called on the International Community to urge the state of Cameroon to investigate and prosecute persons suspected of committing crimes against humanity in the context of the Anglophone conflict, while publicly condemning human rights violations and abuses committed by Cameroon Defense and Security Forces and armed separatists.
