December 18, 2018, Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia: Cameroon Occupation Forces abducted, killed, and injured over six innocent civilians, including women and children. The actions of the Cameroon Occupation Forces on December 18, 2018, in Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia, amount to gross violations of international humanitarian law. The deliberate abduction, killing, and injuring of civilians, including women and children, directly contravenes Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, which prohibits violence to life and person, particularly murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture. Women and children, as especially protected groups under international law, are entitled to additional safeguards during conflicts, making these atrocities even more severe.

Cameroon Occupation Forces abducted, killed, and injured over Six innocent civilians, including women and children

The targeting of civilians—individuals not participating in hostilities—constitutes a failure to adhere to the principle of distinction under international humanitarian law, a foundational principle that requires parties to a conflict to distinguish between combatants and civilians. According to Article 8(2)(e)(i) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the intentional targeting of civilians, particularly through acts of abduction and extrajudicial killing, constitutes a War Crime. The harm inflicted on women and children also breaches Article 77 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, which emphasizes the protection of children during armed conflict.

The abductions carried out during this incident are a violation of the prohibition of hostage-taking, which is explicitly condemned in Article 34 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Forcing civilians into captivity, particularly under the threat of violence or harm, is a crime that has far-reaching impacts, including psychological trauma and fear within communities. Women and children, as vulnerable groups, are entitled to heightened protection under Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, further underscoring the egregious nature of this violation.

Additionally, the killing and injuring of civilians by armed forces violate their obligations under international law to limit the use of force.

Additionally, the killing and injuring of civilians by armed forces violate their obligations under international law to limit the use of force. Random or deliberate harm to unarmed individuals is illegal under the proportionality principle, which prohibits military operations that cause excessive harm to civilians relative to the anticipated military advantage. In this case, no valid justification exists for the abductions, injuries, or deaths inflicted upon innocent individuals, making the incident an unjustifiable and criminal act.

The events of December 18, 2018, in Northern Ambazonia highlight the Cameroon Occupation Forces’ blatant disregard for international norms and conventions governing armed conflict. Such crimes not only violate international laws but also erode the moral and ethical standards required in times of war. Accountability for these actions under international legal frameworks, such as the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute, is crucial to ensuring justice for the victims and preventing further atrocities

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