investigative Journalist at Sele Media Africa.Cameroon Military Court Jails Three Soldiers Over 2020 Ngarbuh Massacre of 21 Civilians
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Reported by Afilawos Magana Sur, investigative Journalist at Sele Media Africa.
A military tribunal in Cameroon has sentenced three soldiers to prison for their roles in the 2020 Ngarbuh massacre, a killing that left 21 civilians dead, including women and children, and sparked international outrage. The ruling, delivered by a military court in the capital, Yaoundé, marks one of the most significant judicial actions taken by the Cameroonian state in response to allegations of human rights abuses committed during security operations in the country’s restive Anglophone regions. The Ngarbuh killings the massacre occurred on February 14, 2020, in Ngarbuh, a village in Cameroon’s conflict-affected North-West region. Initial government statements denied responsibility, attributing the deaths to a confrontation with armed separatists. However, investigations by local and international human rights groups challenged that narrative. A subsequent government-commissioned inquiry acknowledged that Cameroonian soldiers, alongside armed vigilantes, were responsible for the killings and for attempting to cover up the incident by burning homes. According to findings cited by rights organizations, the victims included 13 children and a pregnant woman. The attack drew sharp condemnation from the United Nations and prompted renewed scrutiny of the military’s conduct in the ongoing Anglophone crisis. Legal accountability and sentencing the three convicted soldiers were found guilty of involvement in the killings and related offenses. While the exact length of the sentences has varied in different reports, the court’s decision represents a rare case of prosecution of state security personnel in connection with alleged extrajudicial killings. Human rights advocates have welcomed the convictions as a step toward accountability but continue to call for broader investigations into command responsibility and systemic abuses in the conflict zones. The Cameroonian government has maintained that it remains committed to upholding the rule of law while confronting armed separatist groups who have waged a campaign for independence in the English-speaking regions since 2017. Broader context: The Anglophone Conflict the Ngarbuh massacre occurred against the backdrop of a protracted separatist insurgency in Cameroon’s North-West and South-West regions. The conflict, rooted in grievances over political marginalization and cultural rights, has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and claimed thousands of lives. International observers have repeatedly urged both government forces and armed separatists to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians. While the convictions may signal progress in addressing past abuses, analysts note that restoring public trust will require sustained transparency, independent investigations, and meaningful reforms within the security sector.International reaction global rights organizations and diplomatic missions have closely monitored developments in the case. Reports by outlets such as BBC News, Reuters, and Al Jazeera have documented both the initial denials and the eventual acknowledgment by Cameroonian authorities of military involvement. The case has become a benchmark for assessing accountability in conflict-affected regions across Africa, where balancing national security and human rights remains an enduring challenge. As Cameroon navigates ongoing instability, the sentencing of the three soldiers stands as a critical—though partial—step toward justice for the victims of Ngarbuh and their families. Sources BBC News; Reuters; Al Jazeera.
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