By Nfor Nkfu
Fresh atrocities committed by government soldiers, armed separatists Ambazonia fighters and herdsmen in the raging armed conflict in Cameroon's Anglophone regions have been brought to light.
A Canadian based volunteer group, Cameroon Anglophone Database of Atrocities in a release dated December 9,2022 presented what it called verified atrocities committed by parties to the armed conflict.The database group has been chronicling alleged atrocities committed in the crisis hit regions in the course of the conflict.
The facts and figures were released, according to the group, ahead of the World Human Rights Day commemorated on Saturday December 10,2022.
The report covers the period from 2020 to 2022.
The research into the atrocities was carried out in partnership with Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa CHRDA and a network of higher institutions of learning.
According to the database group, defense and security forces allegedly burnt down seven villages while armed separatists launched six attacks against educational establishments and burnt down a hospital.
Armed fulani herdsmen are also implicated
"A raid and burning of homes in Bekondo village in Meme Division occurred on December 21, 2020.Sources identified the
Cameroon military as the perpetrator" Said the database volunteer group in a separate list of verified atrocities.
The list also said the military was responsible for the burning of of several buildings in Kikaikom near Kumbo on October 7, 2021, destruction of civilian homes and Livestock in Bali Nyonga on January 17, 2020, burning of Mbalangi Village on the night of February 3-4, 2021.
While faulting the military and fulani herdsmen for killing a youg man in Adere on October 20,2020,the report said the defense forces claimed responsibility over the killing of some four young boys in Meta quarter on January 23,2021.
Armed separatists Ambazonia fighters on the other hand were largely accused for attacks on learning institutions.Schools and students were repeatedly targeted.
"A school in Bali was burned on July 15, 2021. The Buffalos of Bali Nyonga, linked to the Ambazonia Restoration Forces, took responsibility, claiming it was used by the BIR. The Database found no evidence to confirm this claim,",the database group said in the list of atrocities specifying that it was GS Bali,a government primary school
Other learning institutions that suffered thesame faith include;Queen of the Rosary College, Okoyong reduced to arshes on February 11, 2022. GPPS Molyko, Group 1, Buea burnt down on February 7-8,2022;Kulu Memorial College, Limbe on November 2020 and PSS Mankon on August 21,2022 ahead of school resumption.
Noting that at Kulu Memorial College students were forced out of class to undress and flee before setting the school on fire,the report also said in Buea, "Students going to school were confronted by separatist fighters and forced to strip naked at gunpoint on January 13, 2022. Video and photo evidence implicate the Fako Mountain Lions of
'General Sagat' and a member of Southern Cameroons Defense Forces"
The Mamfe hospital allegedly serving about 85,000 people burnt down on June 18 2022 and the mbororo community of mbohngong set on fire on April 6,2022 was also placed on the shoulders of separatists fighters.
It should be recalled that the death toll in the conflict according to the UN is estimated at atleast 4000 deaths.
The crisis has been ranked the most neglected by the Norwegian Refugee Council three consecutive times.
ABOUT CAMEROON ANGLOPHONE DATABASE OF ATROCITIES.
Database of Atrocities, a volunteer initiative hosted at University of Toronto, collects and verifies information on atrocities being perpetrated in Cameroon’s Anglophone conflict. It aims to counter impunity; deter further violence; and store information for future international justice processes and a possible national truth, justice, and reconciliation commission.
The Database has received over 900 submissions to date. Where the level of evidence permits, the team investigates submitted incidents and produces verification reports. The Database team includes volunteer researchers at the Edinburgh International Justice Initiative, University of Exeter, Leiden University, and University of Toronto, with support from CHRDA and the Anglophone Crisis Monitoring Project