Five years have passed since the devastating Ngarbuh massacre in Cameroon’s Northwest Region, yet justice remains elusive for the victims and their families.
While many were celebrating love around the world on February 14, 2020, Cameroonian soldiers accompanied by an armed Fulani group raided the Ngarbuh village, killing at least 21 civilians, including 13 children and a pregnant woman. Homes were burned and looted in the process, leaving many without shelter or livelihoods.
The Ngarbuh massacre is a grim reminder of the ongoing Anglophone crisis in Cameroon, which began in late 2016. The crisis started as a peaceful protest against the marginalisation of the Anglophone minority but escalated into armed violence in the Northwest and Southwest regions. The conflict has resulted in widespread human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, rapes, and destruction of property.
According to Human Rights Watch, the Cameroonian authorities have failed to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the Ngarbuh massacre. “The Cameroonian government’s failure to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the Ngarbuh massacre sends a worrying message that security forces can commit serious abuses with impunity,” said Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
A mass grave where some of the Ngarbuh massacre victims were buried
“…the trial has faced numerous delays and has been marred by irregularities. Hearings have been postponed multiple times for various reasons, including the absence of judges and other court members. Victims’ families have had minimal participation in the proceedings and the court has refused to admit key evidence, including death certificates. Senior officers have not been arrested or charged, and 17 ethnic-Fulani vigilantes, who were also charged with murder, remain at large.
“The last hearing took place on October 17, 2024, and the next is scheduled for February 20. The glacial pace of the proceedings has victims’ families wondering if justice will ever be rendered”, HRW said in its report..
The organisation’s report highlights the government’s lack of transparency and accountability in investigating the massacre. “The government’s investigation into the Ngarbuh massacre has been marred by opacity, inconsistencies, and a lack of transparency,” the report states.
The slow pace of justice has left the victims’ families frustrated and disillusioned. “We are still waiting for justice, but it seems like the government has forgotten about us,” said a relative of one of the victims, as quoted in the Human Rights Watch report.
“The victims of the Ngarbuh massacre and their families deserve justice, and the Cameroonian government should ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” said Mudge.
