Cameroon is facing a security crisis on three fronts that it must address before the holding of the presidential election.
Visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, declared at the end of a two-day visit to Cameroon, that to organize credible and peaceful elections in Cameroon, the country must address three of the most difficult challenges. He named the situation in the North-West and South-West regions characterized by severe and persistent human rights violations and abuses; the impact of attacks by Boko Haram and affiliated and dissident groups in the Far North region; and the consequences of the crisis in the Central African Republic in the East region.
Located in a region heavily affected by the climate crisis, Cameroon is experiencing drought, irregular rainfall, and increasing desertification in the Lake Chad basin, which have triggered tensions and violence, sometimes between herder and farmer communities.
Furthermore, Cameroon needs humanitarian aid due to its large refugee population, according to Türk. As of June this year, the country had about one million internally displaced persons. In total, 3.4 million people needed humanitarian assistance, out of a population of approximately 28 million.
“The international community must mobilize to ensure that humanitarian needs are adequately funded,” he stated.
Volker Turk urged the Cameroonian authorities to take measures that consider the interests of the victims. Following is an excerpt from his speech:
Good evening and thank you for coming.
I have just concluded a brief but important visit to Cameroon. I thank the President and the government for their invitation and their openness to discuss a wide range of human rights issues with me and my office here. I have close ties with Cameroon, as I have personally engaged for many years with the people of this rich and diverse country.
Today, Cameroon faces multiple complex human rights challenges, but also opportunities, particularly due to the extreme youth of its population, with more than 40% of Cameroonians under the age of 15, and the vitality of its civil society. Around the world, young people are influencing action on national and international issues, driving social change – on climate change, equality, accountability, and more.
The electoral process in Cameroon, leading to the 2025 and 2026 elections, is a unique opportunity to strengthen political inclusion and facilitate the participation of all segments of society, including young people, women, populations in conflict-affected areas, displaced persons, and people with disabilities, to ensure the free expression of political opinions. Ensuring that space is protected for robust discussion and debate on how to address challenges together, as a country.
Among the most difficult challenges are three simultaneous security crises in different parts of Cameroon: the situation in the North-West and South-West regions, with severe human rights abuses and violations against the civilian population; the impact of attacks by Boko Haram-affiliated groups and dissident groups in the Far North region; and the spillover of the crisis in the Central African Republic, in the east of the country.
Cameroon is also located in a region heavily affected by the climate crisis, particularly in the Far North region. As seen today in many parts of the world, drought, irregular rainfall, and increasing desertification in the Lake Chad basin have triggered tensions and violence, sometimes between herder and farmer communities.
Cameroon is a significant host country for refugees. In June of this year, about 1 million people were also internally displaced, and a total of 3.4 million people were in need of humanitarian aid, out of a population of 28 million. The international community must get involved to ensure that humanitarian needs are adequately funded.
In the North-West and South-West regions, what began as peaceful protests in 2016 has turned into a major crisis for the civilian population, with clashes between separatist groups, other armed groups, and security forces, including the army, resulting in thousands of deaths, hundreds of thousands of displaced persons, and the denial of the right to education for more than 700,000 children. Reports continue to indicate human rights violations and abuses, including unlawful executions, ill-treatment and torture, kidnappings for ransom, and restrictions on freedom of movement. The imposition of ‘lockdown days’ by separatist groups, preventing children from going to school, people from accessing their livelihoods, under the threat of being shot, is unacceptable and must be firmly condemned.
No avenue should be overlooked to silence the guns and end this unsustainable crisis – through dialogue with those who have grievances and demands, by holding perpetrators of human rights violations accountable, and through reconciliation measures, including an assessment of existing disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) processes for some members of armed groups.
Unfortunately, impunity persists for serious violations. Combating impunity is absolutely essential – regardless of the affiliation of the perpetrators – as it will greatly contribute to building trust between citizens and the state. When state security forces have been involved in violations, it is essential that investigations are conducted independently, promptly, and transparently, and that perpetrators are brought to justice, while ensuring the protection of victims and witnesses. The government has given me assurances in this regard.
A victim-centered approach must guide all efforts to resolve this prolonged crisis, and I have asked the government to facilitate access to humanitarian aid in conflict-affected areas. I have also urged My office is ready to provide advice and assistance. I have asked the authorities to facilitate an assessment mission by a team of UN human rights specialists in the North-West and South-West regions to evaluate the progress made following the recommendations of our 2019 report, and to conduct a more in-depth assessment of the situation.
