Cameroon has denounced a recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), accusing the country’s defense and security forces of abuses in the fight against separatists in the Anglophone Region.
In a statement by Atonfack Guemo Cyrille Serge military spokesperson, the report by US Based Rights Group was outrageous and provocative.
In the report published on August 11, Human Rights Watch allegedly documented allegations of destruction of Arson, execution of civilians, looting and Human Rights Violations, arbitrary detentions committed by defense and security forces between April and June in some localities in the North West Region.
They further accused Cameroonian soldiers of recent killings in the North west Region, torching 12 houses, destroying health centers in Chomba and killing several persons in Ndop.
Atonfack Guemo Cyril in his report denounced the act calling on Human Rights Watch to respect Cameroon, a country governed by laws. He however insisted that investigations have been opened to know the exact cause of these tragic incidences which occurred in the locality of Chomba and Ndop in the North West Region.
Since the crisis began, hundred of persons have been kidnapped, including teachers, students, medical staff, humanitarian worker, clergy and government officials. The strike has equally witnessed the killing and torturing of civilians hence depriving many of their rights to go to school. Based on Human Rights Watch’s field and open-source research, at least 4000 civilians have been killed by both government forces and armed separatists’ fighters, since late 2016 in the North West and South West Regions as separatists seek independence for the country’s minority Anglophone Regions.