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Soldiers sentenced for Ngarbuh village killings
A military court in Cameroon has handed prison terms of five to 10 years to three soldiers convicted of murdering at least 21 civilians, including 13 children, in the Northwest region six years ago. The attack, which also involved arson and destruction of property, occurred in the village of Ngarbuh on 14 February 2020.
Rare convictions amid ongoing conflict
The verdict marks a rare instance of military personnel being held accountable for crimes against civilians in Cameroon. The soldiers were found guilty of murder, arson, and destruction, with a local militia member also receiving a prison sentence for the same charges. The case stems from a raid conducted by soldiers and ethnic Fulani militias, which left homes burned and residents beaten.
Government response and international pressure
Cameroonian authorities initially denied responsibility for the Ngarbuh attack but later acknowledged the atrocities following international pressure and an investigation ordered by President Paul Biya. The conflict in the Anglophone regions, which has raged for nearly a decade, has seen both separatist fighters and state forces accused of widespread abuses.
Victims' families and lawyers express disappointment
Lawyers representing the victims criticized the sentences as too lenient, arguing that the minimum penalty for such crimes under Cameroonian law is 10 years. Sother Menkem, one of the victims' lawyers, described the sentences as "insignificant" and "friendly," stating that he expected at least 30 years' imprisonment given the severity of the massacre.
"The sentence was so mild, I even qualify it as friendly because we are talking of a massacre."
Sother Menkem, victims' lawyer
Another lawyer, Richard Tamfu, condemned the court's rejection of compensation for the victims, calling the decision unjust. A survivor who lost multiple relatives in the attack told the BBC he needed time to process the ruling and had since relocated for safety.
Calls for higher-level accountability
Human Rights Watch and the victims' legal team have argued that the soldiers acted under orders from their superiors, criticizing the lack of prosecution for senior military officers. The trial, which faced multiple postponements, lasted six years before reaching a verdict.
Broader context of the Anglophone crisis
The separatist conflict in Cameroon's English-speaking regions has resulted in at least 6,000 deaths and displaced over half a million people since 2017, according to the UN. Both rebels and state forces have been accused of human rights violations during the ongoing violence.
