Cameroon: Separatists are committing crimes against civilians

In a report dated 12 March 2021, Human Rights Watch has called on the UN Security Council to denounce Cameroon"s Anglophone separatists for crimes against the civilian population. The report states that separatists have obstructed the delivery of humanitarian assistance, kidnapped, threatened, tortured and killed civilians, particularly targeting those who they suspect of collaborating with the government authority and the security forces. Yonas Dembele, World Watch Research (WWR) analyst comments: "The conflict between the government and Anglophone separatists became violent in 2017 and has since claimed the lives of thousands, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Churches and Christian schools have been attacked and some Christians have been abducted. Even though the separatists are not anti-Christian per se,‚  they have either targeted Christians to put pressure on the government or because Christian leaders spoke out against the ongoing conflict and the damage it is causing. It is also important to note that Cameroon"s Far North Region is also grappling with deadly attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram. WWR has regularly warned (Open Doors Analytical, Cameroon) that the Anglophone crisis is giving Boko Haram an opportunity to recruit, train, arm and expand in the northern part of the country."