CHRDA Email: [email protected] Website: www.chrda.org Cameroon: The Anglophone Crisis 206 Villages burnt in the North West and South West Regions April 2019 SUMMARY The Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) has analyzed data from local sources and identified 206 villages that have been partially, or completely burnt since the beginning of the immediate crisis in the Anglophone regions. Cameroon is a nation sliding into civil war in Africa. In 2016, English- speaking lawyers, teachers, students and civil society expressed “This act of burning legitimate grievances to the Cameroonian government. Peaceful protests villages is in breach of subsequently turned deadly following governments actions to prevent classical common the expression of speech and assembly. Government forces shot peaceful article 3 to the Four protesters, wounded many and killed several. Geneva Convention 1949 and the To the dismay of the national, regional and international communities, Additional Protocol II the Cameroon government began arresting activists and leaders to the same including CHRDA’s Founder and CEO, Barrister Agbor Balla, the then Convention dealing President of the now banned Anglophone Consortium. Internet was shut with the non- down for three months and all forms of dissent were stifled, forcing international conflicts. hundreds into exile. Also, the burning of In August 2017, President Paul Biya of Cameroon ordered the release of villages is in breach of several detainees, but avoided dialogue, prompting mass protests in national and September 2017 with an estimated 500,000 people on the streets of international human various cities, towns and villages. The government’s response was a rights norms and the brutal crackdown which led to a declaration of independence on October host of other laws” 1, 2017. While approximately 900,000 unarmed protesters were celebrating this declaration, government troops shot at thousands with AGBOR NKONGHO automatic rifles and helicopters. Human Rights Lawyer CHRDA This marked the start of military attacks upon villages. A government official asked his citizens to evacuate their village causing mass exodus of villagers into Nigeria. Other villages followed suit, and today, we estimate that there are more than 50,000 refugees and 500,000 internally displaced persons. The civilians in response started an armed campaign to defend their villages and homes, leading to full-blown armed insurgency. In what the head of state has referred to as ‘neutralizing’ and ‘eradicating’ the armed fighters, many villages have been raided and partially or severely burnt down by state defense forces. The citizens of some villages live in fear. They no longer see the military as a force of peace. It is on this note that CHRDA, with its main objectives to promote the respect of human rights and democratic principles within our society, denounces such inhumane acts by the Cameroon military. CHDRA urges both parties in this conflict to conduct a ceasefire and engage in an inclusive dialogue so that justice can reign supreme while giving chance to peace. 1 THE NUMBERS Of the 206 villages burnt, • 134 were severely affected (major or complete burning of the villages), • 57 were affected (minor burning of a few houses and property), and • 15 were slightly affected (spotted arson attacks). “When brutal fighting displaces hundreds of thousands of civilians, it usually sets international alarm bells ringing. But, the shocking unmet needs of tens of thousands of people fleeing violence in South West and North West Cameroon has resulted in no systematic mediation efforts, no large relief programme, little media interest and too little pressure on the parties to stop attacking civilians.” JAN EGELAND Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council 2 MAP OF VILLAGES BURNT The North West and South West Regions (sometimes referred to as Anglophone Cameroon) are located between The Federal Republic of Nigeria and the former East Cameroon. The map illustrates and puts into context the specific areas whose villages have been burnt. 3 It must be noted that since October 2017, the number of villages burnt as published by the Center of Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) has increased in all categories: • 206 villages have now been burnt as compared to 106 in October of 2017 • 107 villages in the North West Regions have been burnt as compared to 65 • 99 villages in the South West Region have been burnt as compared to 41 Village burns in 2019 vs 2017 206 Villages North West Region 107 106 99 South West Region 65 41 2017 2019 4 DATA – NORTH WEST REGION Region Division Sub Division Count of Villages/Towns Count of Affected Level North West Region Boyo Belo 16 16 Bum 2 2 Fundong 2 2 Njinikom 3 3 Boyo Total 23 23 Bui Jakiri 4 4 Kumbo 15 15 Mbven 1 1 Nkum 4 4 Noni 2 2 Oku 3 3 Bui Total 29 29 Donga Mantung Ndu 7 7 Nkambe 3 3 Nwa 4 4 Donga Mantung Total 14 14 Menchum Fungom 5 5 Menchum Valley 1 1 Wum 1 1 Menchum Total 7 7 Mezam Bafut 1 1 Bali 2 2 Bamenda 1,2,3 1 1 Tubah 2 2 Mezam Total 6 6 Momo Batibo 8 8 Mbengwi 5 5 Ngie 2 2 Njikwa 3 3 Widikum-Menka 3 3 Momo Total 21 21 Ngo-Ketunjia Babessi 1 1 Balikumbat 1 1 Ndop 5 5 Ngo-Ketunjia Total 7 7 North West Region Total 107 107 **Full details can be found in the interactive dashboard located on CHRDA cloud data platform. Click here for details. 5 DATA – SOUTH WEST REGION Region Division Sub Division Count of Villages/Towns Count of Affected Level South West Region Fako Buea 3 3 Muyuka 8 8 Tiko 1 1 Fako Total 12 12 Kupe Muanengouba Bangem 1 1 Nguti 3 3 Tombel 5 5 Kupe Muanengouba Total 9 9 Lebialem Alou 1 1 Fontem (Menji) 2 2 Lebialem Total 3 3 Manyu Akwaya 7 7 Eyumojock 4 4 Mamfe 4 4 Upper Bayang 8 8 Manyu Total 23 23 Meme Konye 6 6 Kumba 1,2,3 5 5 Mbonge 27 27 Meme Total 38 38 Ndian Bamousso 3 3 Ekondo Titi 4 4 Mundemba 4 4 Toko 3 3 Ndian Total 14 14 South West Region Total 99 99 **Full details can be found in the interactive dashboard located on CHRDA cloud data platform. Click here for details. 6 .