March 8, 2020, Bamenda, Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia, what should have been a day of celebration and recognition for women turned into a horrifying tragedy. On International Women’s Day, a day meant to honor the contributions and resilience of women worldwide, the Cameroon Occupation Forces launched a ruthless attack on innocent civilians, including women and children.

The attack, characterized by abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings, left the community devastated and mourning the loss of their loved ones.

Eyewitnesses recounted how heavily armed soldiers stormed residential areas, forcefully dragging civilians from their homes and subjecting them to extreme acts of brutality. The victims, most of whom were unarmed women and children, had no means to defend themselves against the ruthless aggression. In the wake of the violent operation, several civilians were summarily executed, their bodies left to serve as a chilling reminder of the oppression they faced.

As the violence unfolded, 12 women sustained serious injuries, bearing both physical and psychological scars from the merciless attack. The timing of this atrocity—on a day meant to celebrate and empower women—underscored the deliberate nature of the assault, sending a clear message of terror and subjugation to the entire community.

The streets of Bamenda were left stained with blood, the air filled with the cries of grief and anguish. Survivors were left in shock, struggling to process the horrors they had witnessed. Families that once thrived in a tight-knit community now faced the grim reality of loss and fear, unsure of when the next wave of violence would strike. The attack was not just an assault on individuals but an attack on the very fabric of the society, seeking to break the spirit of the people.

The abduction, torture, and execution of unarmed civilians, particularly women and children, violate international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes under the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions strictly prohibits violence to life and person, including murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture of civilians and persons not taking part in hostilities. Additionally, Article 8(2)(c)(i) of the Rome Statute criminalizes such actions in non-international armed conflicts.

The targeting of women and children on a day meant to celebrate their strength makes this crime even more egregious, highlighting the urgent need for international accountability and justice for the victims.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA