Monthly News Updates: Southern Cameroons – April 2021
By: Fabiana Nunez del Prado Nieto, Junior Research Associate, PILPG-NL
THIS POST COLLECTS UPDATES FROM THE PAST MONTH CONCERNING RELEVANT DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTHERN CAMEROONS. THE INFORMATION IS DRAWN FROM LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ONLINE SOURCES.
VIOLENCE IN ANGLOPHONE REGIONS
Separatist Violence | Freed Civilians Claim to have been Tortured by Separatists
The Cameroonian military freed nine civilians allegedly held hostage by anglophone separatists for almost two months. The hostages claim that the rebels tortured them by chopping off their ears and fingers. Some separatists took to social media to disavow the actions of the kidnappers, claiming that the kidnappers were criminals, not their fighters. Nka Valere, commander of the military troops fighting separatists in the Northwest, denied any wrongdoing by his forces. [April 19, 2021]
Violence Against Humanitarian Aid | Non-State Armed Group Attacks United Nations Convoy
On March 26, 2021, a non-state armed group attacked a UN convoy composed of seven staff members. The UN staff was conducting a monitoring mission in the Munyenge village when shortly after entering the Ikata village, a group of armed men opened fire against them. There was no loss of life nor injuries, but two vehicles were seriously damaged. Although this attack is the first of this kind since the beginning of the anglophone crisis, several humanitarian workers have been threatened, abducted, injured, and killed to date in the two regions.
In Cameroon, the Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Matthias Z. Naab, strongly condemned the attack and called on all parties to the crisis to abide by their obligations under international human rights law. He also called on parties to refrain from any attacks against humanitarian organizations, educational and health care facilities, and their personnel and assets. [April 4, 2021]
OTHER REGIONAL VIOLENCE
Nigeria/Cameroon | Escalation of Violence by Boko Haram in Northern Cameroon
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), since December 2021, Boko Haram has been increasing its attacks against civilians in the Far North region of Cameroon. The Boko Haram insurgency began in Nigeria in 2009 and spread across several states of the Lake Chad basin, including Cameroon.
The Cameroonian military has deployed thousands of soldiers to the Far North region to prevent and repel Boko Haram attacks. Still, residents and humanitarian workers proclaim the presence of soldiers is not enough to protect civilians effectively. The violence has provoked a major humanitarian crisis, forcing over 322,000 people from their homes since 2014, including 12,500 since last December. [April 4, 2021]
COVID-19 RESPONSE
Use of Covid-19 Funds | Paul Biya Orders Improvement of Oversight Over Misappropriation of Covid-19 Funds
President Paul Biya’s recent orders to improve oversight and investigate misappropriation of Covid-19 funding appear to be related to Cameroon’s ongoing negotiations for a multiyear loan program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF has already approved two emergency Covid-19 loans to the state for a total of 382 million dollars.
On March 29, 2021, the Secretary-general of the Presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, sent a letter instructing the state auditing agency Contrôle supérieur de l'État du Cameroun (CONSUPE), to accelerate its audit of Covid-19 expenditures. According to Human Rights Watch, the audit performed by CONSUPE does not satisfy the government’s pledge to the IMF to conduct an independent audit of funds. After approving two emergency loans of 256 and 156 million US dollars in May and October of 2020, respectively, the International Monetary Fund is currently asking for accountability on the funds. [April 8, 2021]
Vaccines | Health Workers Claim to Distrust Efficacy of Chinese Vaccines
On April 11, 2021, 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine arrived in Cameroon's capital, Yaoundé. While some health care workers doubt the efficacy of the vaccine, Cameroon Health Minister Manaouda Malachi was the first one to get the shot. He said he understood people’s reluctance to take the vaccine due to reports of fake vaccines circulating in China. However, he reassured that the vaccines come directly from the manufacturers in China. [April 14, 2021]
HUMAN RIGHTS
LGBTQ+ Rights | Rise in Arrests of LGTBQ+ People for “Practicing Homosexuality”
Since February 2021, according to Human Rights Watch, the security forces have arrested, beaten, or threatened at least 24 people, alleging consensual same-sex conduct or gender non-conformity. Sexual relations between people of the same sex are criminalized in Cameroon and punished with up to five years in prison.
On March 25, the human rights organization shared its findings with the Justice Minister, the State Secretary at the Defense Ministry. The delegate general for national security requested answers about the situation. Cameroonian officials have yet to respond. [April 14, 2021]
POLITICAL OPPOSITION IN CAMEROON
Opposition | Armed Police Disperses Meeting of Opposition Leaders
Seven opposition leaders stated that the police forcefully removed them from a meeting held on March 30th, 2021. According to the leaders, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss election reforms to end the long-serving presidency of Paul Biya. The government said it ordered the disruption of the meeting because the opposition leaders did not obtain the required authorization, as stipulated by Cameroonian law. Three of the candidates who lost the presidential poll on October 7, 2018, were present in the meeting. [April 3, 2021]