April 4, 2018, Azi, Lebialem Menji State, Southern Ambazonia, Cameroonian Occupation Forces committed an egregious atrocity by setting the village ablaze.
This deliberate act of destruction reduced homes and livelihoods to ashes, leaving innocent civilians dead, injured, and homeless. Eyewitness accounts recount the chilling devastation, where the crackle of raging flames drowned out the cries of victims.
Among those who tragically perished were breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women, young people, and elderly individuals, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of this violence.
This act constitutes a War Crime under International Humanitarian Law (IHL) . War Crimes are defined as serious violations of the laws and customs of war, particularly the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols. In this case, the following violations are evident:
- Targeting Civilians and Civilian Property: Under Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions and Article 51 of Additional Protocol I, attacking civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, is strictly prohibited. The deliberate burning of homes and killing of non-combatants in Azi constitutes a clear violation of this principle.
- Destruction of Property: The destruction of homes, livelihoods, and civilian infrastructure violates Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which forbids the “extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly.” The mes and property destroyed in Azi had no military value, making the act both unlawful and deliberate.
- Violence Against Vulnerable Individuals: The deaths of breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women demonstrate a further violation of Rule 89 of Customary International Humanitarian Law, which prohibits violence against persons unable to defend themselves, including women and infants
The burning of Azi village is a war crime because it involved deliberate violence against civilians and their property, causing unnecessary suffering and death. Under international law, combatants are required to distinguish between military and civilian targets and to minimize harm to civilians. The targeting of innocent people—particularly vulnerable groups—alongside the destruction of non-military property directly contravenes these principles.
The atrocities committed in Azi by the Cameroonian Occupation Forces are a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions. These actions not only devastated the physical fabric of the community but also inflicted immeasurable psychological and emotional trauma. Holding perpetrators accountable under international legal mechanisms is essential to ensuring justice for the victims and preventing future violations.