May 8, 2020, Buea, Fako State, Southern Ambazonia: Cameroon Occupation Forces carried out yet another heinous attack on innocent civilians, leaving a trail of devastation, fear, and mourning. Eyewitnesses recounted that on this fateful day, heavily armed soldiers stormed the community without warning, abducting several individuals, including women and children. These civilians, who posed no threat or resistance, were subjected to unimaginable suffering at the hands of their captors.

According to reports, the abductees were forcefully removed from their homes and public spaces, their hands bound as they were dragged away to undisclosed locations. The victims endured brutal torture, with some beaten, humiliated, and subjected to inhumane treatment before they were ultimately executed.

The anguish and terror inflicted upon these civilians left the entire community in shock and despair, as families desperately searched for their loved ones, only to discover their lifeless bodies discarded with no dignity or respect.

Among the victims were defenseless women and children, whose deaths serve as a chilling reminder of the indiscriminate brutality of the occupation forces. The violence against women, who are often pillars of their families and communities, has had long-lasting emotional and psychological effects on the survivors. Children, the most vulnerable members of society, were also ruthlessly murdered, further deepening the sense of horror and injustice.

This deliberate targeting of civilians, particularly women and children, demonstrates a complete disregard for human rights and International Law. The sheer scale of the suffering inflicted has left the people of Buea in a state of fear, grief, and uncertainty, as such attacks continue to escalate with no accountability. The wanton killings, abductions, and torture constitute clear violations of International Laws that protect civilians during armed conflict, and justice must be served for the victims of this atrocity.

The abduction, torture, and execution of innocent civilians, including women and children, are grave violations of 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, murder, torture, and cruel treatment against civilians. Additionally, Article 8(2)(c)(i) of the Rome Statute classifies such acts as War Crimes in non-international armed conflicts.

The targeting of women and children also violates the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The attack in Buea is a clear case of war crimes and crimes against humanity, necessitating immediate international intervention and accountability for those responsible.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA