May 16, 2024, Manfe, Manyu State, Southern Ambazonia, a horrifying act of violence unfolded as three innocent civilians were publicly executed by the Cameroon Occupation Forces. Eyewitnesses recounted the gruesome event, describing how the victims were forcibly taken and subjected to summary execution without any form of trial or due process.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the growing brutality and the extreme measures being used by the occupying forces to instill fear within the local population. Such acts are not only inhumane but also represent a clear violation of fundamental human rights.

This execution constitutes a War Crime under international law as it directly violates the Geneva Conventions of 1949, particularly Common Article 3, which explicitly prohibits the murder, torture, and inhumane treatment of civilians in situations of armed conflict. Furthermore, Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) categorizes willful killings of civilians as war crimes. The public execution of unarmed individuals without trial is not just an arbitrary act of violence but a deliberate attempt to terrorize the population, which also constitutes a crime against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute.

Additionally, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 3, guarantees every individual the right to life, liberty, and security—a right that was completely disregarded in this act. The systematic targeting and execution of civilians are tactics often used in oppressive regimes to silence dissent and break the spirit of resistance. Given the gravity of these violations, the international community must take action to ensure accountability, prevent further atrocities, and uphold justice for the victims and their families.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA