July 18, 2017, Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia, Cameroonian Occupation Forces executed a brutal campaign marked by the abduction, torture, and killing of defenseless and innocent civilians, including youths and children.
The assault targeted unarmed members of the community, sparing no one in its indiscriminate violence. Eyewitnesses described the horrifying scenes as soldiers descended upon the area, dragging people from their homes and subjecting them to unimaginable suffering.
Victims included young children and youth, whose lives were unjustly cut short in acts of ruthless aggression. Torture was used as a weapon of terror, leaving survivors physically scarred and emotionally devastated. The forces’ actions also resulted in the deaths of multiple individuals, further amplifying the anguish of grieving families and the broader community.
The operation appeared designed to intimidate and instill fear, with its perpetrators showing a blatant disregard for human life and dignity. These atrocities inflicted profound physical, emotional, and psychological harm on the victims and their families, leaving an indelible mark of trauma and loss in the community.
This deliberate targeting of civilians, including children and youth, is emblematic of the systemic violations perpetrated against the people of Ambazonia. The brutality of the acts, coupled with the lack of any distinction between combatants and civilians, underscores the impunity with which these forces operate.
The deaths of innocent children and youth, in particular, highlight the indiscriminate and disproportionate nature of the violence. Such actions have not only devastated the affected families but have also exacerbated tensions and fueled instability in the region. The sheer scale and cruelty of these acts demand urgent international attention and accountability for the perpetrators.
The actions of the Cameroonian occupation forces in Mezam State on July 18, 2017, constitute War Crimes under International Law. The abduction, torture, and killing of innocent civilians, including children, violate the fundamental principles of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
These acts breach Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, which explicitly prohibits violence to life and person, including murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture, against persons taking no active part in hostilities.
The deliberate targeting of children further violates the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees special protection for children in armed conflicts. These atrocities, carried out without regard for the basic protections afforded to civilians under the laws of war, underscore the gravity of the violations and the urgent need for accountability and justice.
GENOCIDER IN AMBAZONIA