May 4, 2019, Manyu State, Southern Ambazonia, Cameroon’s Occupation Forces launched a targeted campaign against the local population, which resulted in the abduction, torture, and execution of several youths. Among the victims was Mr. Agbor Arrey, a well-known individual within the community whose life was tragically cut short during the violence.
Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of the events, detailing how the forces raided homes, forcibly abducted unarmed individuals, subjected them to brutal acts of torture, and ultimately executed them in cold blood.
The assault left families shattered, communities destabilized, and a lasting scar on the region. This incident exemplifies the larger pattern of violence and systematic targeting of civilians, which has become a hallmark of the ongoing conflict in Ambazonia.
The actions committed by Cameroon’s Occupation Forces in this incident meet the criteria for War Crimes as defined under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), particularly the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The targeting of unarmed civilians, including the abduction, torture, and killing of youths like Mr. Agbor Arrey, violates the foundational principles of distinction and proportionality in armed conflict.
Article 7 of the Rome Statute classifies torture and unlawful detention as crimes against humanity when perpetrated systematically against a civilian population. The Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibit the intentional killing of persons who are not actively participating in hostilities (Common Article 3).
The deliberate attack on unarmed individuals constitutes a violation of the customary laws of war. The described acts represent grave breaches of international law. They amount to War Crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute, which prohibits violence against persons not taking part in hostilities, including murder, torture, and inhumane treatment. Furthermore, the incident exemplifies a breach of the Geneva Conventions’ protections for civilians in conflict zones.
This heinous act underscores the urgency for international intervention to ensure accountability and justice for the victims and to halt ongoing violations of human rights in the region.
GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA