May 29, 2019, Ndian, Meme State, Southern Ambazonia, the Cameroonian Occupation Forces carried out an attack characterized by abductions, torture, and the killing of innocent and unarmed civilians. Eyewitness accounts report that approximately 10 individuals lost their lives during this brutal operation. Many others were left with severe injuries while attempting to escape the violence.

The atrocity unfolded with no regard for the fundamental principles of human dignity or the safety of the civilian population, plunging the community into fear and despair. According to reports, those captured were subjected to inhumane treatment, with victims enduring intense physical and psychological suffering before their deaths.

This tragic event reflects a deliberate strategy of violence and terror, targeting individuals who posed no threat and were simply trying to live their lives in peace.

The indiscriminate killings, coupled with the cruelty inflicted on the victims, have devastated the community, leaving behind grieving families and a shattered sense of security.

The acts committed by the Cameroonian Occupation Forces in Ndian unequivocally qualify as War Crimes Under International Law. The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols explicitly prohibit the targeting of civilians and outline the principles of distinction and proportionality in armed conflict. Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions mandates the humane treatment of non-combatants, explicitly forbidding violence to life and person, including murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture.

Additionally, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Article 8) defines War Crimes to include the willful killing of civilians, torture, and the intentional infliction of severe suffering. By abducting and torturing civilians, followed by summary executions, the Cameroonian forces violated these fundamental protections, committing egregious acts against humanity.

The deliberate targeting of civilians during escape attempts further highlights the forces’ contempt for the rules of War. Such actions not only violate international humanitarian law but also underscore the need for independent investigations and accountability mechanisms to address the atrocities and prevent their recurrence.

The incident in Ndian exemplifies the critical importance of protecting civilian populations and upholding the principles of justice and human dignity during conflict.