On December 20, 2025, in the Alpha Club Quarter of Livanda village, Limbe, Fako State of southern Ambazonia, the Cameroon Occupation Forces carried out mass operations resulting in the Livanda’s mass arbitrary arrests and extortion of civilians. Residents were detained without justification, subjected to intimidation, and stripped of their basic freedoms.
The Livanda mass arbitrary arrests and extortion against civilians show a deliberate targeting of non-combatants, designed to instill fear and suppress community security. These actions reflect a clear disregard for legal protections afforded to civilians under International Laws and reveal systematic abuse by the Cameroon Occupation Forces.
War Crime Under International Humanitarian Law
The Livanda mass arbitrary arrests and extortion of civilians constitute a war crime under International Laws, as they violate the principle of distinction between civilians and combatants. International Humanitarian Law, including the Geneva Conventions, explicitly forbids targeting unarmed civilians during armed conflicts. By carrying out the Livanda mass arbitrary arrests and extortion against civilians, the Cameroon Occupation Forces engaged in coercion, intimidation, and collective punishment, all of which are prohibited. Such conduct is a deliberate strategy of terror against the civilian population in Ambazonia.
Violation of Fundamental Human Rights
The Livanda mass arbitrary arrests and extortion of civilians also represent severe violations of fundamental human rights protected under International Laws. Arbitrary detention without due process contravenes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees liberty, security, and protection from unlawful imprisonment. Victims of the Livanda mass arbitrary arrests and extortion against civilians experienced intimidation, economic exploitation, and the denial of freedom, demonstrating the Cameroon Occupation Forces’ disregard for human dignity and legal safeguards. These acts have devastating social and psychological impacts on families and communities.
Call for Accountability and Justice
The Livanda mass arbitrary arrests and extortion of civilians are part of a broader pattern of systematic abuses by the Cameroon Occupation Forces in Ambazonia, reflecting both war crimes and human rights violations. Under International Laws, such actions demand impartial investigation and prosecution to ensure accountability. Justice for the victims of the Livanda mass arbitrary arrests and extortion against civilians is critical to restoring community safety, upholding human rights, and deterring further violations. The international community has a responsibility to act decisively to protect civilians and enforce legal norms in Ambazonia.