Cameroon’s simmering conflicts in the Anglophone regions and the Far North exploded in the second half of 2023, leaving civilians caught in the crossfire, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported Thursday.
The organization’s annual review painted a grim picture of escalating violence, with increased “unlawful killings, abductions, and raids on villages” by both armed groups and government forces.
The Anglophone crisis, rooted in grievances over alleged marginalization of the English-speaking minority by the French-speaking majority, entered its sixth year with no end in sight. Despite President Paul Biya’s claim in January that separatist threats had diminished, the reality painted a different picture.
Clashes between separatists and government troops continued, punctuated by school attacks and a brutal boycott of French language education. The impact was devastating, with over 2,245 schools shuttered and 638,000 people displaced by mid-2023. Humanitarian needs ballooned, with 1.7 million people now reliant on aid.
HRW raised concerns about government tactics, highlighting “abusive army raids and killings of civilians” suspected of supporting separatists or retaliating for attacks against military positions.
This adds to the staggering human cost of the conflict, with an estimated 6,000 civilians killed by both sides since its eruption in 2016.
Meanwhile, the Far North region, grappling with Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) since 2009, witnessed a surge in violence. 246 attacks in 2023 claimed the lives of at least 169 civilians, making it a warzone where even humanitarian workers are not spared. The abduction of three French aid workers from Premiere Urgence Internationale on Wednesday underscored the region’s volatility.
HRW called upon the Cameroonian government to address the root causes of both conflicts, promoting dialogue and inclusivity while respecting human rights. The organization also urged stronger international pressure to ensure accountability for abuses and a peaceful resolution to these long-running crises.
As 2024 dawns, the shadows of violence still loom large over Cameroon. Addressing the grievances of both the Anglophone regions and the Far North remains paramount to ending the suffering of civilians and ushering in a new era of peace and stability.
