Government forces in Cameroon’s
Anglophone regions killed no fewer than 170 civilians over the past six months,
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday. “Soldiers, special army units and gendarmes
used indiscriminate force and torched hundreds of homes and public buildings in
the former French colony’s English-speaking North-West Region and South-West
Region between October and March,’’ the rights organisation said.
HRW researchers say they interviewed 140
assault victims, family members and witnesses to support their claims. One
witness told researchers that security forces attacked the village of Abuh in
the North-West Region in November, burning down an entire neighbourhood. “When
I came back to the village, my house was gone, with everything inside. I am
left with nothing but my clothes,” a mother of five told researchers after
hiding for three days in the bush after the attack.
Satellite images and photographs seen by HRW
show the destruction of about 60 structures. According to HRW Central Africa
director Lewis Mudge, due to the ongoing violence and difficulty accessing
remote areas, the number of civilian deaths is likely to be much higher.
“Cameroon’s authorities have an obligation to respond lawfully and to protect
people’s rights during periods of violence,” Mudge said.
28, March 2019
Biya regime forces kill 170 civilians in Southern Cameroons 0
Government forces in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions killed no fewer than 170 civilians over the past six months, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday. “Soldiers, special army units and gendarmes used indiscriminate force and torched hundreds of homes and public buildings in the former French colony’s English-speaking North-West Region and South-West Region between October and March,’’ the rights organisation said.
HRW researchers say they interviewed 140 assault victims, family members and witnesses to support their claims. One witness told researchers that security forces attacked the village of Abuh in the North-West Region in November, burning down an entire neighbourhood. “When I came back to the village, my house was gone, with everything inside. I am left with nothing but my clothes,” a mother of five told researchers after hiding for three days in the bush after the attack.
Satellite images and photographs seen by HRW show the destruction of about 60 structures. According to HRW Central Africa director Lewis Mudge, due to the ongoing violence and difficulty accessing remote areas, the number of civilian deaths is likely to be much higher. “Cameroon’s authorities have an obligation to respond lawfully and to protect people’s rights during periods of violence,” Mudge said.
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