By: Hannah Gabbard
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

ABUJA, Nigeria – On January 14th, 2019 terrorist organization Boko Haram attacked Rann in northeast Nigeria. 76,000 civilians living in Rann were internally displaced due to the conflict with Boko Haram.

In the attack over 100 structures were destroyed or damaged by fires that burnt south and west parts of the city. Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International in Nigeria, stated that he believed the attack may constitute a war crime as civilians in the city were intentionally targeted.

Internally displaced civilians living in Rann were dependant on aid agencies for necessities such as food and health services. Since the attack the humanitarian services have no ability to reach those still living in Rann.

72 hours after the attack about 9,000 civilians moved towards the Cameroon border. Many arrived in Bodo, Cameroon, seven kilometers from Rann, where Medicins Sans Frontieres was available with health services. Cameroon authorities forced many refugees to return to Nigeria. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Nigeria has begun to appeal to Cameroon not to send refugees back to Nigeria.

Attacks by Boko Haram have increased as the Presidential election in February nears. Current Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking a second term.

For further information, please see:

Premium Times – How Boko Haram attack destroyed Nigerian community, Rann – 20 January 2019

Channel NewsAsia – Boko Haram claims attack on northeast Nigerian town of Rann – 18 January 2019

Amnesty International – Nigeria: Satellite imagery shows charred remains of Rann after Boko Haram attack – 18 January 2019

Reuters – Tens of thousands cut off from aid in northeast Nigeria after attack – 18 January 2019

The Guardian – Thousands of Nigerian refugees fleeing Boko Haram forced back by Cameroon – 18 January 2019

Medicins Sans Frontieres – Thousands fleeing Rann attack seek refuge in Cameroon – 16 January 2018

By: Hannah Gabbard
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

TUNIS, Tunisia – On Friday, 7 December 2018, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) commenced its 51st Ordinary Session in Tunis, Tunisia. During the 51st Ordinary Session, the court rendered four judgements.

In the first matter, Ingabire Victoire Umuhoze was originally sentenced to eight years in prison for allegedly propagating ideologies of genocide and terrorism against the Republic of Rwanda. On appeal her sentence was increased by fifteen years. In 2014, Umuhoze applied to AfCHPR alleging that the government violated her rights. In 2017, the court ruled in favor of Umuhoze. They then ordered the government to restore her rights and delayed a decision on reparations. In the 51st Ordinary Session, the court dismissed Umuhoze’s request for an expunged record but ordered the Rwandan government to pay a total of 65,230,000 Rwandese Francs to Umuhoze and her family for material and moral prejudice suffered.

In the case of Armand Guehi v. United Republic of Tanzania, the court considered several allegations that during Guehi’s domestic proceedings the United Republic of Tanzania violated his rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Guehi alleged that the government deprived his right to a fair trial by not providing access to an attorney or a translator. Guehi alleged that he was in custody for an unreasonable amount of time and held in poor conditions. The African Court found that the United Republic of Tanzania violated the Charter in regards to the condition during Guehi’s custody and dismissed the other allegations. The court ordered the government to pay Guehi reparations amounting to $2,500 USD.

In the third matter, Wereme Wangoko appealed to the African Court alleging the United Republic of Tanzania violated the applicant’s right to equity, equal protection under the law, non discrimination, and a fair trial under the African Charter. The court made a decision on the merits after dismissing the government’s objections for jurisdiction and admissibility. The court found that the United Republic of Tanzania did not violate any articles of the African Charter.

In the case of Mgosi Mwita v. United Republic of Tanzania, the court ruled that the government had violated Mwita’s right to equality and equal protection under the law. The United Republic of Tanzania was ordered to release Mwita from prison and to provide him with copies of his court documents. Additionally, the court allowed Mwita thirty days to file for reparations against the government.

In addition to the four judgements, AfCHPR recently announced that in 2019 they would be implementing reforms. These reforms would focus on modernizing the court’s workflow and case management as well as a new organization of internal methods and court procedures. Additionally, African Court President stated that AfCHPR would work to strengthen cooperation with the States, stakeholders, academia and other regional courts.

AfCHPR meets during Ordinary Sessions four times a year. They will convene for their 52nd Ordinary Session in 2019. As of November 2018, the court has received 190 applications and has finalized 48 of their cases.

For further information, please see:

Modern Ghana – 2019 is year for human rights reform – African Court – 8 January 2019

African Union –  Ingabire Victoire Umuhoza v. Republic of Rwanda – 7 December 2019

African Union – Armand Guehi v. United Republic of Tanzania – 7 December 2019

African Union – Werema Wangoko v. United Republic of Tanzania – 7 December 2019

African Union – Mgosi Mwita v. United Republic of Tanzania – 7 December 2019

African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights – African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to Deliver Four Judgements on Friday in Tunis – 5 December 2018

By: Skylar Salim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

YAOUNDE, Cameroon — On October 7, 2018, a presidential election took place in Cameroon. This election occurred during a period of increasing violence in the Anglophone regions of the country. President Paul Biya is seeking his seventh term in office in this election. During his election bid Biya vowed to end the crisis and violence in the Northwest and Southeast regions of the country. The current president’s main opposition is Social Democratic Front party candidate Joshua Osih.

Two years ago, tension began to rise in Cameroon with protests and riots led by teachers and lawyers in the Anglophone regions. These protests surrounded the differences between the English and French systems in the country. In 2017, the protests turned into calls for secession. The separatist sentiments that were building led to a violent government crackdown. The government has been accused of using the military to kill armed separatists and English-speaking civilians. In their struggle to secede and form their own country, called Ambazonia, the armed separatists have been accused of killing both soldiers and civilians.

A report released by Amnesty International on September 18, 2018 notes that violence has been increasing in Anglophone regions as the election approaches. According to the report, tens of thousands of civilians have fled the region in the past year while at least 400 have been killed. In response to the crisis, the current government denounces the separatists as terrorists and says the government refuses to open any dialogue with them. As government forces are facing their own allegations of human rights abuses, communications minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said that officials are investigating incidents as they hear about them.

While the presidential candidates spoke of bringing peace to the country, violence was prevalent during the voting period. Fighting and threats from separatists kept many from voting in the English-speaking regions of the country. In response to this, the governor of the Northwest region, Deben Tchoffo, said “We shall not allow terrorists to disrupt the election…We are informed that armed men are shooting indiscriminately to frighten voters.” Fighting between armed separatists and the military picked up on October 6^th, and buildings that house voting materials were burned down. Two armed men were killed by the military in Bamenda in the Northwest region. While violence escalates between the military and separatists, at least 17 million people in Anglophone regions are put at risk as they are caught between the fighting.

Election observers such as the African Union are not working in the English-speaking regions due to the current level of violence of the crisis. While many are unable to reach polling location in these regions, it is expected for President Biya to win his re-election bid.

For further information, please see:

Washington Post — Cameroon Votes Amid Violence, Threats From Separatists — 7 October 2018

Al Jazeera — Death, Displacement, Trauma: Human Cost of the Anglophone Crisis — 6 October 2018

NYT — Cameroon on Brink of Civil War as English Speakers Recount ‘Unbearable’ Horrors — 6 October 2018

CNN — Amnesty International says 400 Killed in ‘Escalating Violence’ in Cameroon’s Anglophone Regions This Years — 18 September 2018