A military court in Yaounde has sentenced three soldiers to prison for their role in the 2020 killing of 21 civilians in Cameroon’s English-speaking northwest.
The incident took place in February 2020 in the village of Ngarbuh during a military operation linked to separatist unrest. Human rights groups said government troops and an allied militia killed at least 21 civilians, including 13 children and a pregnant woman.
Initially, the government of Cameroon denied that its forces were deliberately involved. However, a legal investigation was later launched, leading to what observers describe as a rare conviction of military personnel.
According to the victims’ lawyers, Sergeant Baba Guida was sentenced to eight years in prison, Gendarme Haranga Gilbert received 10 years, and Corporal Sanding Sanding was sentenced to five years.
The violence occurred amid a long-running conflict in Cameroon’s two English-speaking regions. The crisis began in 2016 after protests over marginalisation were forcefully suppressed under President Paul Biya, who has been in power for more than four decades.
The case marks an important legal step in a conflict that has caused years of instability and civilian suffering.
SOURCE: TRT NEWS
