Rare Prison Sentences Handed to Cameroon Soldiers After Killing of 21 Civilians
Three Cameroonian soldiers have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in the tragic killing of at least 21 civilians in the Anglophone region, a conflict-ridden area of the country. This significant ruling comes after the soldiers were found guilty of various crimes, marking a rare event in a nation where military personnel are seldom held accountable for offenses against civilians.
Details of the Sentencing
– Prison Terms: The sentences range from five to ten years for each soldier.
– Crimes Committed: The military court convicted them of murder, arson, and destruction of property in relation to the incident that occurredsix years ago.
Context of the Incident
The convictions stem from a violent raid on February 14, 2020, in the village of Ngarbuh, where soldiers, accompanied by a local militia of ethnic Fulanis, perpetrated the horrific killings. Reports indicate that the attack resulted in:
– The deaths of 13 children.
– Schools and homes were burnt to the ground.
– Civilians were subjected to beatings and terror.
Government Response and Accountability
This case represents a rare acknowledgement by the Cameroonian government of the atrocities committed in the Anglophone regions, which have been embroiled in a separatist conflict for nearly a decade. Initially, the authorities denied any responsibility for the attack, but later retracted that statement due to international pressure and an investigation mandated by President Paul Biya.
In addition to the three soldiers sentenced, a militia member was also penalized for similar charges. However, the length of the sentences sparked disappointment among victims’ lawyers, who deemed the outcomes as insignificant.
– Sother Menkem, one of the victims’ lawyers, criticized the ruling, suggesting, The sentence was mild, even friendly, considering the severity of the massacre. He emphasized that under Cameroonian law, the minimum sentence for felonies like murder and arson is 10 years, expressing his expectation for at least 30 years of imprisonment.
Lack of Higher Accountability
The soldiers’ lawyers contended that their clients were merely fulfilling their duties. Meanwhile, one victim, who lost several family members in the February attack, expressed his difficulty in coming to terms with the court’s decision and has since relocated for safety.
The military court denied the victims’ demands for compensation, prompting outrage from legal representatives. Human Rights Watch and the victims’ advocates have highlighted that the soldiers likely acted under the orders of their superiors, raising concerns about why no senior military officers faced prosecution in this trial.
The Broader Impact of Conflict
This case has taken six years to reach a conclusion, with numerous delays in hearings. Since 2017, separatist fighters in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions have been striving for the establishment of a separate state, leading to widespread accusations of human rights abuses against both the rebels and state forces. According to the UN, the ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 6,000 people and displaced over half a million individuals.
The rare prison sentences handed down to the Cameroon soldiers serve as a flicker of hope for accountability yet underscore the ongoing challenges in addressing justice for victims in such a complex and tragic conflict.