Summary
Three Cameroonian soldiers received prison sentences for killing 21 civilians in the Anglophone region of Cameroon. The crimes occurred in 2020 and included murder, arson, and destruction. This case is notable because Cameroon's military personnel are rarely convicted for crimes against civilians, and there has been international pressure for accountability.
Key Facts
- Three soldiers received sentences ranging from five to 10 years for their roles in killing civilians in Cameroon's Anglophone region.
- The attack happened in February 2020 in the village of Ngarbuh, involving soldiers and a local militia.
- Among the victims were 13 children, according to Human Rights Watch.
- Cameroon's government initially denied responsibility but later accepted it after international pressure and an investigation.
- The military court did not grant compensation to the victims' families, as demanded by their lawyers.
- Human Rights Watch and victims' lawyers criticized that no senior officers were prosecuted despite soldiers acting on orders.
- This incident is part of a larger ongoing conflict in the Anglophone regions, which has caused significant displacement and deaths over nearly a decade.
