November 24, 2021, Widikum, Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia: Cameroon Occupation Forces abducted, tortured, and killed innocent and unarmed civilians. Eyewitnesses recounted that Pa Livinus, a respected elder, and five other innocent civilians fell victim to a brutal assault perpetrated by the Cameroon occupation forces.

This heinous act took place amidst a backdrop of ongoing conflict in the region, where civilians have been subjected to systematic violence by the occupation forces. The atrocities committed against Pa Livinus and the others serve as yet another tragic reminder of the grave consequences faced by innocent individuals who are caught in the crossfire of the conflict.

These attacks on civilians violate fundamental human rights and international law, leaving lasting physical, psychological, and emotional scars on both the victims and their communities.

The events described above constitute clear violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and are classified as War Crimes. Under the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, which regulate the conduct of armed conflict and seek to protect civilian populations, the targeting of unarmed civilians, abduction, torture, and extrajudicial killings are strictly prohibited. Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, applicable in non-international armed conflicts, explicitly forbids violence to life and person, including murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture, and grants protection to all civilians not participating in hostilities.

Furthermore, these actions also violate the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), particularly its provisions on War Crimes, which include the murder, torture, and inhumane treatment of civilians. The actions of the Cameroon occupation forces in Widikum amount to a direct attack on individuals who were not taking part in the conflict, rendering them non-combatants protected Under International Law.

These violations not only breach the principles of IHL but also undermine the moral and legal foundations that govern the conduct of warfare. Given the widespread nature of these violations and the systemic targeting of civilians, these acts should be investigated and prosecuted as war crimes by international bodies like the ICC, holding the perpetrators accountable for their action.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA