Cameroon: arrest of soldiers and militiamen suspected of massacre of civilians

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The Cameroonian presidency recognized Tuesday April 21 that the army and a vigilante group were involved in the massacre of civilians in mid-February last in the separatist English-speaking northwest. The killing had caused an international outcry and Yaoundé had previously denied any responsibility for the military. 

Publicity

Last February 14 , according to the UN, twenty-three civilians including fifteen children and two pregnant women were killed in Ngarbuh, a neighborhood in the village of Ntumbah.

Under international pressure, President Paul Biya then demanded an investigation into the killing. The first conclusions were delivered on Tuesday evening.

According to a press release from the presidency read on national radio, three soldiers and a vigilante group are involved. " After an exchange of fire " with separatists, they " discovered that three women and ten children " had died from their bullets. The presidency added that " panicked, the three soldiers helped by certain members of the defense committee, tried to hide the facts by burning ".

Until now, the authorities have always denied the involvement of the police in the massacre and rejected the accusations of the NGOs. 

Today, in its press release, the presidency therefore recognizes its error and justifies itself: " A sergeant voluntarily biased the report to his hierarchy (...) on the basis of which the government initially based its communication. "

The soldiers concerned are already at the disposal of the Yaoundé military court. The vigilance committee members concerned are actively sought

Press release signed by Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, secretary general of the Presidency of the Republic, and read on state radio

RFI

President Biya ordered the arrest of the three soldiers and ten militiamen.

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• Cameroon