September 5, 2021, Owe, Fako State, Southern Ambazonia, the Cameroon Occupation Forces carried out a devastating and brutal attack on innocent and unarmed civilians.

Eyewitnesses reported that the occupation forces abducted, tortured, and killed civilians, with the victims including children. The merciless actions inflicted upon these defenseless individuals were carried out without any provocation or justification. Families were torn apart, and entire communities were left in a state of shock and grief as a result of the violence.

The deliberate targeting of non-combatants, including vulnerable children, demonstrates the cruelty of the occupation forces and their blatant disregard for human life and dignity.

These actions clearly qualify as War Crimes under international law, specifically violating multiple provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, particularly Article 3. This article forbids violence against persons who are not actively participating in hostilities, including murder, torture, and cruel treatment.

The abduction, torture, and killing of civilians are direct violations of this principle, which is designed to ensure that those not involved in combat, such as children and women, are protected from the horrors of armed conflict. Furthermore, Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) establishes that the intentional killing and torturing of civilians during armed conflict are war crimes.

The crimes committed in Owe also fall under the scope of crimes against humanity as defined by Article 7 of the Rome Statute, as the systematic nature of the attacks, targeting non-combatants, makes them part of a broader strategy of repression and terror. The destruction and loss of life in Owe are symptomatic of the widespread and organized campaign of violence that aims to intimidate and break the spirit of the Ambazonian people.

The involvement of children further exacerbates the gravity of the crimes, as children are entitled to special protection under international law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which prohibits their targeting during conflict. These war crimes demand accountability and urgent intervention from the international community to protect civilians, ensure justice for the victims, and prevent further violations of international law.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA