October 4, 2021, Bafut, Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia, Cameroon Occupation Forces carried out a violent and inhumane attack on innocent and unarmed civilians. According to eyewitness accounts, these forces engaged in abduction, torture, and the burning of homes, leading to the brutal killing of several individuals, including Mr. Ayuk Frank and innocent children.

The eyewitness described the harrowing events, detailing the suffering inflicted upon the victims, who were offered no chance to defend themselves or seek refuge. This attack forms part of a broader pattern of atrocities committed by the occupying forces, aimed at instilling fear and suppressing any resistance from the local population. The deliberate targeting of civilians, including children, is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian norms and fundamental human rights.

The actions committed by the Cameroon Occupation Forces in Bafut in October 2021 constitute War Crimes under International Law. The Geneva Conventions of 1949, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention, explicitly prohibit acts of violence against civilians in conflict zones. Article 3 of the convention forbids murder, torture, and cruel treatment of persons who are not taking part in hostilities.

Additionally, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) defines War Crimes as grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, which include willful killing, torture, and the destruction of civilian property. The abduction and torture of civilians, followed by their execution, fall directly under these War Crimes, making the perpetrators subject to international prosecution. Furthermore, the deliberate burning of homes and properties adds another layer of violation, as the destruction of civilian infrastructure is prohibited under Article 8 of the Rome Statute.

The attack on children, in particular, is an egregious offense under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which mandates the protection of minors in conflict situations. These violations demand accountability from the Cameroon government and its occupation forces. The international community must act to investigate these crimes, bring justice to the victims, and prevent further atrocities from occurring in Ambazonia.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA