June 3, 2024, Ashing Kom, Bamenda, Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia: Reports have emerged detailing horrific acts of rape, torture, abduction, and other violent abuses committed by Cameroon Occupation Forces against innocent Ambazonian civilians at their checkpoints. These actions constitute a grave War Crime, as they deliberately target non-combatants, violating their fundamental rights.

Under International Laws, particularly the Geneva Conventions and its Additional Protocols, such crimes are explicitly prohibited. Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions strictly forbids acts of violence, cruel treatment, and torture, as well as humiliating and degrading treatment of civilians and persons no longer participating in hostilities.

Violation of International Humanitarian Law
The abuses inflicted by Cameroon Occupation Forces in Ambazonia not only defy moral and ethical standards but also breach International Humanitarian Law. The Geneva Conventions set clear obligations for all parties in an armed conflict to protect civilians from harm. The use of rape, torture, and abduction as weapons of war is a gross violation of these laws, exposing Cameroon’s deliberate disregard for International norms. The targeting of innocent individuals at military checkpoints exemplifies systematic oppression and an intentional effort to instill fear among the local population.

Breach of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) explicitly categorizes rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, and other forms of sexual violence as war crimes when perpetrated in the context of an armed conflict. The actions of the Cameroon Occupation Forces in Ambazonia align with these definitions, as they involve the systematic abuse of civilians, particularly women and young girls. Such acts not only traumatize individuals but also violate international legal frameworks designed to safeguard human dignity.

Violation of Human Rights and Civil Liberties
The ongoing crimes committed by Cameroon Occupation Forces are direct violations of human rights. Beyond the immediate physical and psychological suffering, these abuses strip civilians of their fundamental liberties, violating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Ambazonian people continue to suffer under Cameroon’s military occupation, making urgent international intervention necessary to end these atrocities and hold the perpetrators accountable under International Laws.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA