February 12, 2019, Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia, Cameroon Occupation Forces carried out a brutal operation targeting innocent civilians, including women and elderly individuals.
Eyewitnesses recount how armed soldiers stormed communities, forcibly abducting residents from their homes and public spaces without any justification. Those taken were subjected to inhumane torture, enduring physical abuse, psychological torment, and degrading treatment at the hands of their captors. Many of the abducted victims never returned; their lifeless bodies were later discovered, bearing the horrific marks of torture and execution.
The killings of these defenseless civilians, including vulnerable groups such as women and the elderly, represent a flagrant disregard for human rights and international humanitarian law. This massacre has left an indelible scar on the affected communities, with families grieving their loved ones and living in constant fear of further atrocities by occupying forces.
This act constitutes a War Crime under International Law and is in direct violation of multiple legal frameworks designed to protect civilians in armed conflicts. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), the willful killing, torture, and inhumane treatment of civilians in occupied territories are strictly prohibited.
Article 27 of the convention mandates that all civilians, including women and elderly persons, must be treated humanely and safeguarded from violence. Furthermore, Article 32 explicitly bans any form of corporal punishment, murder, or brutality against protected persons, making the systematic abduction, torture, and execution of civilians a gross violation of international law.
Additionally, the killings fall under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which defines the targeted killing of civilians in a conflict zone as a war crime. The abduction, torture, and execution of non-combatants also align with Article 7 of the Rome Statute, which classifies such acts as crimes against humanity when they are committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population.
The deliberate targeting of elderly individuals and women, who are particularly vulnerable in times of conflict, highlights the indiscriminate nature of these crimes and further strengthens the case for accountability under international law.
The international community must take urgent action to investigate these crimes, prosecute those responsible, and ensure justice for the victims. Failure to hold perpetrators accountable will only embolden further human rights violations and deepen the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict.
GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA COMMITTED BY CAMEROON OCCUPATION FORCES