A new shutdown imposed by non-state armed groups has once again paralysed life in the North West and South West regions, underscoring a nine-year cycle of rights violations and abuses that have become woven into daily existence since December 2016.
The latest shutdown, timed to coincide with the reopening of schools and political activities, has forced residents indoors. Streets are deserted, businesses shuttered, and pupils kept away from classrooms. While armed groups enforce the restrictions through threats and violence, state officials in cities like Buea and Limbe have responded with their own measures sealing shops, locking parks and blocking businesses seen to comply with the orders.
Human rights experts say the situation highlights a double bind for civilians caught between armed groups and state actors. Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees freedom of movement, yet residents are unable to travel freely. Mile 17 Motor Park in Buea, a hub for intercity travel, remains closed under state orders, while those who dare to move face intimidation or worse from fighters on the ground.
The right to education under Article 26 of the UDHR is among the most consistently undermined. Schools have been repeatedly targeted to enforce “ghost town” orders, depriving thousands of children of regular learning for nearly a decade.
For traders, transporters and farmers, the right to work under Article 23 is equally at stake. Market women in the Bamenda food market say they risk losing their goods if they attempt to sell during a lockdown, while others in Limbe complain on local media that shops sealed by officials leave them with no means to feed their families.
Health workers also report difficulties. Pharmacies and hospitals are often forced to operate at minimal capacity.
“We have seen patients die because they could not reach the hospital on time,” Lizette a nurse in the Nkwen neighbourhood said.
📌 Human Rights at Risk During Lockdowns in Cameroon’s Anglophone Regions (2016–2025)
| Right | Legal Instrument(s) | Violation in Practice | Actor(s) Responsible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | UDHR Art. 26; ICESCR Art. 13; CRC | Schools shut, children denied learning, intimidation of pupils and teachers | NSAGs |
| Work & Livelihood | UDHR Art. 23; ICESCR Arts. 6, 11; CEDAW | Traders, transporters and farmers prevented from working; shops sealed by officials | NSAGs & State |
| Freedom of Movement | UDHR Art. 13; ICCPR Art. 12 | Threats on streets, transport hubs closed (e.g., Mile 17 Motor Park in Buea) | NSAGs & State |
| Health & Essential Services | UDHR Art. 25; ICESCR Art. 12 | Patients blocked from reaching hospitals, pharmacies forced shut | NSAGs & State |
| Participation in Public & Cultural Life | UDHR Arts. 21, 27; ICCPR Art. 25 | National/International observances (Youth Day, Women’s Day, National Day, etc.) prevented | NSAGs |
| Protection from Violence & Degrading Treatment | ICCPR Arts. 6, 9; CAT | Intimidation, abductions, degrading treatment by armed groups and reported abuses by security forces | NSAGs & State |
| Special Protection for Children & Women | CRC; CEDAW | Children denied safe schooling, women traders disproportionately affected | NSAGs & State (indirectly) |
⚖️ International oversight: Treaty bodies (ICCPR, ICESCR, CRC, CEDAW, CAT), UN Human Rights Council, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, ICC.
The pattern extends beyond schools and businesses. Non-state armed groups regularly announce lockdowns to prevent national and international observances, from National Day on 20 May to Women’s Day, Youth Day, Teacher’s Day and other civic commemorations. The effect is that citizens end up without the right to participate in public and cultural life, protected under Article 27 of the UDHR and Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
What emerges is a complex picture of overlapping abuses and violations. Armed groups use violence and fear to impose control, while state authorities deploy coercive measures that often punish victims rather than protect them. The result is that civilians are caught in a perpetual cycle of rights violations and abuses.
Local activists argue that both sides must be held accountable.
“Lockdowns are not just an inconvenience—they are systematic attacks on basic human rights. Whether imposed by armed groups or enforced through heavy-handed state measures, the people pay the highest price.” Barrister Suh Richard, Bamenda-based lawyer told Hilltopvoices via a phone call.
International law clarifies that Cameroon has obligations under treaties including the ICCPR, ICESCR, CEDAW and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Yet repeated reviews at the UN Human Rights Council have flagged persistent violations and abuses. With the conflict now entering its ninth year, pressure is mounting for more decisive action from regional bodies like the African Union and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
For now, the lockdown continues. Schools remain empty, shops closed, and streets silent emblems of a crisis where rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration remain distant promises.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Newsroom
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