The Involvement of Humanitarian Actors in the Ongoing Crisis of the Northwest and Southwest Regions of the Republic of Cameroon

The conflict-stricken North West and South West regions of Cameroon formally called West Cameroon is a British colony by virtue of the defeat of the Germans during the 1st world war of 1919 and the League of Nation Trusteeship Agreement. Due to the demand of independence and political infighting, on the 1st of October 1961 West Cameroon gained their independence by joining East Cameroon as a federated state and in 1972, the federated states were transformed to a unitary state under the name of the United Republic of Cameroon. 50 years thereafter as one nation though with differences in education, culture, language and legal system, the suppressed ideology of Anglophone marginalization sprang up resulting to the demand for separation call the Anglophone crisis under the banner of the Ambazonia struggle of independence through secession. This crisis has ignited the need for humanitarian intervention due to the gross violation of human rights. Due to the untold suffering, displacement of persons, mass graves, hunger, diseases and continues fighting, humanitarian actors saw the need to intervene so as to safe lives, encourage peace through dialogue and ensure accountability Since the outbreak of the crisis in late 2016 till present, humanitarian actors have saw an upsurge in violence between armed separatist fighters and State Defense and Security Forces (SDF). State DSF intensified crackdowns on anyone suspected of either being a separatist fighter or having any links with the latter. Also, separatist fighters likewise intensified attacks on any individual suspected to be collaborating with state DSF. Humanitarian actors have monitored and documented human rights violations and abuses including: arbitrary arrests and detention; kidnapping and ransom taking; extrajudicial killings; targeted killings; torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment; arson attacks and property destruction; attacks on protected areas like chief palaces and schools; attack on traditional and religious authorities; attacks on the right to education; rape and other forms of sexual assault.