November 2, 2018, Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia: Mr. Julius, affectionately known as Pa Julo, became a victim of a brutal and indiscriminate assault carried out by the Cameroon Occupation Forces. Alongside him, numerous innocent and unarmed civilians, including mothers and children, were subjected to unimaginable violence. Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes as the occupation forces unleashed random gunfire upon defenseless residents, sparking chaos, injury, and death within the community. The lives of vulnerable civilians were shattered in moments, as bullets tore through homes and streets, leaving a trail of trauma and devastation. This ruthless act demonstrates a callous disregard for human life and dignity, instilling terror in the hearts of the Ambazonian people.

The indiscriminate shooting of innocent and unarmed civilians, including vulnerable individuals such as mothers and children, is a clear War Crime under International Law. According to the Geneva Conventions (1949), particularly Common Article 3, acts of violence against persons taking no active part in hostilities, including civilians, are strictly prohibited. This includes murder, mutilation, and cruel treatment. The Cameroon Occupation Forces’ random and unprovoked shooting directly violates Article 8(2)(e)(i) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which explicitly defines war crimes as intentionally directing attacks against civilians not participating in conflict. Furthermore, Protocol II of the Geneva Conventions protects civilian populations during internal armed conflicts, forbidding indiscriminate attacks that do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

In addition to being a War Crime, such violence constitutes a violation of human rights, including the right to life enshrined in Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Targeting unarmed individuals, including women and children, reflects a systematic campaign of terror designed to subjugate and destabilize the Ambazonian population. These egregious actions by the Cameroon Occupation Forces violate the principles of proportionality and distinction in armed conflict, which require that civilians must never be the target of military operations.

The tragedy of November 2, 2018, underscores the urgent need for international accountability and justice. These atrocities demand thorough investigation and prosecution under international humanitarian law to end impunity and protect innocent lives in conflict zones.