Thursday, June 6, 2018, in Batibo Momo State, Northern Ambazonia, Cameroonian Occupation Forces engaged in a brutal operation marked by random shootings, abductions, torture, and killings of innocent and unarmed civilians.
Among the victims was Mr. Tiwu Titus, as revealed by eyewitness accounts. This tragic event underscores the indiscriminate use of violence by armed forces against civilians who had no involvement in the conflict. These actions not only violate human dignity but also instill fear and chaos within the affected community, leaving lasting trauma and devastation.
This violent operation constitutes a clear war crime under international humanitarian law. According to Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions (1949), acts of violence against persons taking no active part in hostilities—including civilians—are strictly prohibited. This includes murder, torture, and cruel treatment. By randomly shooting, abducting, and killing unarmed civilians, the Cameroonian Occupation Forces blatantly violated these international legal protections.
Furthermore, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Article 8(2)(c)(i) defines War Crimes as including “violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture” of individuals not actively involved in combat. The abduction, torture, and execution of civilians like Mr. Tiwu Titus are direct breaches of this statute.
Additionally, the principle of distinction—a cornerstone of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) —requires armed forces to distinguish between combatants and civilians. Random shootings, as witnessed in Batibo, constitute indiscriminate attacks that fail to make this distinction, violating Protocol II of the Geneva Conventions.
The actions of the Cameroonian forces on June 6, 2018, represent not only a war crime but also a gross violation of human rights, particularly the right to life, as enshrined in Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The abduction and killing of civilians are tactics used to spread terror and assert control over populations.
The incident in Batibo calls for international accountability. Proper investigations must be conducted, and perpetrators of such crimes must face justice under international humanitarian and human rights law. Such accountability is critical to ending impunity and protecting innocent civilians from further atrocities.