ReliefWeb

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Having killed at least 7,000 people in Nigeria since January 2014, armed fighters belonging to Boko Haram - now officially the “Islamic State’s West Africa Province” – have brought their violence to Nigeria’s neighbours, including people living in the Far North region of Cameroon.

Boko Haram has disrupted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in northern Cameroon since early 2014, committing crimes under international law and human rights abuses, including wilful killings, attacks directed against civilian objects, misappropriation, looting and abductions. In addition, about 81,000 people have been forced to flee from their homes. The Cameroon government increased its security presence to counter these growing attacks.

However, while playing an important role in defending people threatened by Boko Haram, the response of the Cameroonian security forces has too often been heavy-handed and has failed to put in place all necessary safeguards to prevent crimes under international law and human rights violations being committed during their operations. As a result, many people have been victims of both parties.
This report documents both Boko Haram’s violent attacks and abuses against the population, and the Cameroonian government’s response, including crimes under international law and human rights violations committed by its security forces, and should be read in close connection with previous Amnesty International reports on the situation in north-east Nigeria.

Over 160 people were interviewed for this report, including during three Amnesty International research missions in northern Cameroon in February, March and May 2015, as well as follow-up research between June and August 2015. Those interviewed include victims and eyewitnesses of attacks committed by both Boko Haram and Cameroonian security forces, government officials, including the Minister of Justice, members of the security forces, journalists, human rights defenders, diplomats, humanitarian workers, and other various experts.

Amnesty International shared its findings with government authorities, both verbally and in writing, and continued to engage with the Cameroonian authorities during the drafting of this report. On 8 July 2015, letters were sent to the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Defence, the Head of the military in the Far North region, head of the National Police and head of the National Gendarmerie, with copies to the Secretary-General to the Presidency, requesting updated information on various cases. However, no response has yet been received from the Cameroonian authorities.