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Cameroon Rejects Evidence of Forcing Civilians to Fight Boko Haram

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   YAOUNDE - Cameroon has rejected a [1]Human Rights Watch report that
   says its military forces civilians to serve on guard duty against Boko
   Haram militants. The rights group says Cameroon's military has abused
   villagers along the border with Nigeria who refused to join militias.

   Governor of Cameroon's Far North Region Midjiyawa Bakari insists that
   members of military-organized civilian militias are all volunteers.

   Speaking via a messaging application from the region's capital, Maroua,
   he saidthe state encourages the militias to keep a watch out for Boko
   Haram.

   He saidPresident Paul Biya asked all Cameroonians to help stop Boko
   Haram terrorism by denouncing suspects and strange visitors in their
   communities.Bakari saidpeople who join militia groups are volunteers
   who have agreed to collaborate with the military and government by
   sharing information on any potential attack.

   Last week, Human Rights Watch reported that the military in the
   northern border town of Mozogo was forcing civilians to perform night
   guard duty against Boko Haram terrorists.

References

   1. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/07/10/cameroon-civilians-forced-do-guard-duty

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