May 18, 2021, Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia, Cameroon Occupation Forces carried out a horrific attack on innocent and unarmed civilians. Eyewitnesses recounted that among the victims were pregnant women and children, highlighting the brutality of the assault.

A particularly harrowing account detailed the killing of a seven-months pregnant woman at close range, an act that underscores the indiscriminate and merciless nature of these crimes. The attack was not only an assault on individuals but also on families and the broader community, as it instilled deep fear and left a devastating emotional and psychological impact.

The deliberate targeting of civilians, especially vulnerable individuals such as pregnant women and children, reflects a calculated attempt to break the spirit of the people and impose a reign of terror. The severity of this act demonstrates the systematic violation of human rights and international humanitarian law by the Cameroon Occupation Forces, reinforcing the urgent need for accountability and justice.

These atrocities constitute War Crimes under multiple international legal frameworks, particularly the Geneva Conventions of 1949, which protect civilians during conflicts. Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibits violence to life and person, including murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture, all of which were committed in Mezam State.

Additionally, the killing of a pregnant woman and her child is a direct violation of international human rights laws, including Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which upholds the right to life. Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), these acts qualify as War Crimes under Article 8, particularly the intentional killing of civilians and inhumane treatment.

Moreover, the widespread and systematic nature of these attacks aligns with crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute, which condemns the deliberate extermination of civilian populations. The execution of a pregnant woman at close range further violates the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which protects women from violence and ensures their right to safety and dignity.

The international community must recognize these crimes and take immediate action to hold the perpetrators accountable, provide justice to the victims, and prevent further atrocities. Failure to address these violations only emboldens those who continue to commit such heinous acts, allowing impunity to flourish and prolonging the suffering of the people of Ambazonia.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA