Both parties to the Cameroon conflict must protect civilians, HRW says

Human Rights Watch on Monday urged Cameroonian authorities to protect civilians caught up in a conflict between the central African country’s army and separatists in the west, denouncing atrocities committed by both sides.

More than 3,500 people have been killed and more than 700,000 have fled their homes to escape the conflict that erupted in 2017 in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon.

“Cameroonian security forces killed two civilians, raped a 53-year-old woman, destroyed and looted at least 33 houses, shops, as well as a traditional chief’s palace in the North West region on June 8 and 9,” the human rights group said in a statement.

He said he interviewed several victims, their relatives and witnesses, as well as local journalists and civil society activists.

The alleged rape victim said her ordeal began when soldiers asked her and her husband where the separatist fighters were located.

“We said we didn’t know,” she said, according to HRW. “They said my husband had a gun. We said we didn’t have a weapon. They said they were going to kill us, then one of them raped me.

Her husband’s body was found three days later with a bullet in her mouth, HRW said.

“Cameroonian security forces have an obligation to legally counter attacks by armed separatist groups and to protect the rights of individuals during times of violence,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior researcher at HRW.

“But again, we learn that they have responded to the threat from separatist groups with attacks on civilians and serious human rights violations.

Map of Cameroon locating the English-speaking regions and their capitals. By Valentina BRESCHI (AFP)

The Defense Ministry declined to comment on the report when it was reached by AFP.

The statement also detailed the killings – including that of a 12-year-old boy – and kidnappings by separatist fighters.

The abuses committed by both parties to the conflict “highlight the urgent need to protect communities at risk and to hold those responsible for abuses to account,” the statement said.

Other humanitarian groups, including Amnesty International and Médecins sans frontières (MSF), have also recently sounded the alarm on the risks to civilians.

Members of the English-speaking minority in the western provinces have long complained of being marginalized by the French-speaking majority and President Paul Biya, 88, in power for 38 years.

Their protests degenerated into conflict in 2017.