May 16, 2021, Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia, Cameroon Occupation Forces carried out yet another gruesome act of violence against innocent and unarmed civilians, including children. Eyewitnesses recounted that among the victims was Mr. Ndibang Samuel, who was brutally killed and roasted alive like a goat in an act of unspeakable cruelty.

This horrific event exemplifies the systematic brutality inflicted upon civilians, aimed at instilling fear, submission, and psychological terror. The deliberate targeting of civilians, particularly vulnerable individuals, showcases the Cameroon Occupation Forces’ complete disregard for human life and dignity.

Such barbaric actions not only leave devastating emotional and physical scars on the affected families but also serve as a chilling reminder of the oppressive conditions under which the people of Ambazonia continue to suffer. The use of torture, extrajudicial killings, and extreme brutality in this attack further demonstrates a pattern of gross human rights violations, calling for urgent international attention and accountability.

This heinous act constitutes a war crime under several international legal frameworks, particularly the Geneva Conventions of 1949, which provide specific protections for civilians during armed conflicts. Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibits violence to life and person, including murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture, all of which were committed in this atrocity.

The act of burning a person alive falls under inhumane treatment and murder with extreme cruelty, both of which are explicit violations of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) under Article 8, which criminalizes war crimes, including willful killing, torture, and cruel treatment of civilians. Additionally, the execution of children and innocent civilians is a grave breach of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which protects children from violence, abuse, and inhumane treatment.

Moreover, the widespread and systematic nature of these acts categorizes them as crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute, which includes murder, torture, and other inhumane acts deliberately carried out against civilian populations. The international community has a legal and moral obligation to investigate these crimes, hold the perpetrators accountable, and ensure justice for the victims. Impunity only fuels continued atrocities, and failure to address such crimes allows for the perpetuation of mass human rights abuses. Urgent intervention, accountability measures, and reparations for victims are essential to restoring justice, dignity, and security for the affected people of Ambazonia.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA