February 20, 2020, Mankon, Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia, Cameroon Occupation Forces carried out yet another brutal operation, abducting, torturing, and killing innocent civilians, including students. Eyewitnesses recount the horrific scene as armed soldiers stormed the area, targeting unarmed individuals with no regard for human life or dignity.

The victims, some of whom were young students pursuing their education, were forcibly taken, subjected to inhumane treatment, and ultimately executed in cold blood. Their families and communities were left in shock and devastation, as they witnessed yet another senseless massacre carried out under the oppressive rule of the Cameroon forces.

The targeted killing of students highlights a deliberate assault on education and the future of Ambazonia, as these forces continue to silence voices that seek change, justice, and freedom. The unjustified killings in Mankon are part of a broader pattern of systematic repression, extrajudicial executions, and acts of terror against civilians, meant to instill fear and submission. The community remains in grief and fear, while the perpetrators of these crimes operate with impunity, emboldened by the lack of international accountability.

The abduction, torture, and execution of civilians, including students, constitutes a grave violation of international law and is classified as a War Crime and a crime against humanity. The actions of the Cameroon Occupation Forces in Mankon violate multiple international treaties, including:

  • Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions (1949): Prohibits violence against civilians, including murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture.
  • The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998): Classifies torture, enforced disappearance, and extrajudicial executions as crimes against humanity (Article 7) and war crimes (Article 8).
  • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): Protects the right to life, liberty, and security, all of which were violated by the occupation forces.
  • The Convention Against Torture (1984): Prohibits the use of torture and degrading treatment under any circumstances, which the victims in Mankon were subjected to.
  • The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989): Safeguards the rights of children to education, protection, and life, all of which were brutally disregarded in the targeting of students.

The massacre in Mankon is a blatant war crime, demonstrating systematic repression, crimes against humanity, and state-sponsored violence. The indiscriminate killings of civilians, the suppression of education, and the widespread use of torture require urgent international intervention to hold Cameroon’s occupation forces accountable and bring justice to the victims and their families.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA