July 23, 2018, Muyuka Village, Fako State, Southern Ambazonia: On this harrowing day, Cameroon occupation forces abducted, raped, and tortured a 17-year-old breastfeeding mother in broad daylight.

This heinous act reflects a pattern of widespread violence, as she represents just one among hundreds of victims of sexual assault perpetrated by these forces. The brutality inflicted upon her is not an isolated incident but part of an ongoing campaign of terror, which leaves lasting physical, emotional, and psychological scars on victims, their families, and the community at large.

This incident is a clear war crime under international law, as it involves the deliberate targeting of civilians and the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. According to Article 8(2)(e)(vi) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), rape, sexual slavery, and other forms of sexual violence committed during armed conflict are classified as war crimes. The act also violates Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions (1949), which prohibits violence against persons not taking part in hostilities, including cruel treatment, torture, and outrages upon personal dignity, particularly humiliating and degrading treatment.

Moreover, the abduction and rape of a young, breastfeeding mother constitute a violation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which obligates states to protect women from violence and ensure accountability for perpetrators. Additionally, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), under Article 7, prohibits torture, inhuman, or degrading treatment. The targeting of women, especially mothers, reflects a gross violation of human dignity and underscores a systematic effort to destroy the social and familial fabric of Ambazonian communities.

The use of sexual violence in this conflict is not just a crime against an individual but a strategic tool of terror to subjugate and destabilize the population. It instills fear, shame, and trauma, which reverberate across generations. Justice for the victim and countless others demands international intervention, investigations, and accountability under international humanitarian law to end impunity for such egregious acts.