April 16, 2024, Batibo, Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia, Cameroonian Occupation Forces abducted, tortured, burned, and killed numerous innocent civilians.

Witnesses recounted that the forces carried out these brutal acts in a deliberate campaign of terror against the local population. Civilians, including women and children, were forcibly taken from their homes, subjected to inhumane treatment, and ultimately executed.

In addition to the killings, the soldiers set fire to numerous homes, reducing entire neighborhoods to ashes. The widespread destruction left many families displaced, struggling to find shelter and basic necessities. These acts of violence have further deepened the suffering of civilians in the region, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.

These atrocities constitute War Crimes and crimes against humanity under international law. The Geneva Conventions of 1949, particularly Common Article 3, explicitly prohibit the murder, mutilation, torture, and cruel treatment of civilians in times of armed conflict.

The deliberate targeting of non-combatants, including the burning of homes and villages, also violates Article 8(2)(b)(xiii) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which classifies intentionally directing attacks against civilian properties as a War Crime. Moreover, the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) prohibits acts of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment under any circumstances. These actions are not only illegal under international law but also amount to gross human rights violations that demand urgent accountability.

The burning of homes and mass executions serve as tactics of intimidation and collective punishment, which are forbidden under the Fourth Geneva Convention, particularly in Article 33, which prohibits reprisals against civilians and the destruction of their property.

The United Nations has long condemned such acts as grave breaches of humanitarian law, emphasizing that the destruction of civilian homes amounts to forced displacement, which is also a crime against humanity under Article 7(1)(d) of the Rome Statute. The international community must take immediate steps to investigate and hold those responsible accountable. Failure to act not only emboldens the perpetrators but also sets a dangerous precedent for impunity in conflict zones. The victims of these crimes deserve justice, and the world must ensure that such acts do not go unpunished.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA