February 2, 2019, Bole-Bakundu Meme State, Southern Ambazonia: On this tragic day, the Occupation Forces of Cameroon carried out a brutal operation, abducting, torturing, and executing more than fifteen innocent and unarmed civilians, including women, children, and elderly people.

According to eyewitness accounts, the attack was swift and indiscriminate, leaving the local community in shock and despair. Families who had gathered in their homes were forcibly taken away, and many were never seen again. Those who resisted were subjected to severe physical abuse, while others were mercilessly killed.

Women and children, the most vulnerable members of society, were not spared from the cruelty. Witnesses described harrowing scenes of mothers clinging to their children, only to be ripped apart by soldiers who showed no regard for human life.

The elderly, who could not flee, were subjected to horrific acts of violence before being executed. Eyewitnesses recounted hearing the desperate cries of victims as they were led away by soldiers, only to discover their lifeless bodies later, discarded in remote areas. Some of the victims were reportedly subjected to prolonged torture before being executed, an act meant to instill fear and suppress any resistance among the population.

The attack appeared to be a deliberate act of terror aimed at eliminating perceived opposition and punishing civilians. The widespread killings were carried out systematically, with no regard for international laws that protect civilians during armed conflicts.

The occupation forces made no effort to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants, violating the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law. The brutal nature of these crimes left the entire community in mourning, as families struggled to bury their loved ones and come to terms with the horrors they had witnessed.

The abduction, torture, and execution of civilians constitute serious War Crimes under international humanitarian law. These actions violate the Geneva Conventions (1949), particularly Article 3, which prohibits violence to life, cruel treatment, torture, and executions without due judicial process. Additionally, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) classifies such acts as crimes against humanity (Article 7) and war crimes (Article 8).

The deliberate targeting of non-combatants, including women, children, and the elderly, further violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), which guarantees the right to life, dignity, and freedom from torture and inhumane treatment.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA