UN expresses "deep concern" over human rights situation in Cameroon

The UN says it is deeply concerned by reports of human rights abuses in the two English-speaking regions and in the country's Far North, according to a UN statement released on Wednesday. July

"UN human rights leader Zeid Raad Al-Hussein expressed deep concern on Wednesday over persistent reports of human rights abuses and abuses. com placed in the English-speaking regions of North-West and South-West Cameroon " in the midst of a conflict between English-speaking separatists and the central government, " as well as in the Far-North " where Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram, the statement said.

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In the English-speaking areas, violence based on "structural discrimination" has been increasing since 2016, the UN recalls.

"The reports mention abductions, targeted assassinations against the police and local authorities, the destruction of schools by armed elements " and " also reveal that the government forces are responsible for killings, excessive use of force, fire of houses, arbitrary detention and torture " According to the text

" Heavy repression "

M. Zeid, who said he regretted that the Cameroonian government had not given the United Nations access to the English-speaking regions, asked Yaoundé to launch "independent investigations into human rights violations committed by the security forces. state security as well as the abuses perpetrated by the armed elements "

The UN condemns " attacks by armed elements " often identified as English-speaking secessionists by Yaoundé and in particular the convoy of the Minister of Defense on July 13.

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"But the heavy repression that the government seems to have used since October of last year will only worsen the situation for women, children and men caught in the midst of violence" UN High Commissioner

The conflict in the English-speaking zone has created 21,000 refugees in neighboring countries and 160,000 internally displaced persons, according to the international organization, adding that this figure is certainly underestimated because "many " people would be hidden in the forest.

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million. Zeid finally said "dismayed" by a video showing alleged members of the army executing summarily two women and two children accused of being jihadists of Boko Haram. The UN representative fears that these murders "are not isolated cases" in the Far North.

The Cameroonian army is regularly accused by NGOs of perpetrating abuses against persons suspected of belonging to the Boko Haram group, which it has always denied