Despite all attempts by the government and others to resolve the on-going armed conflict, the guns have still not been silenced.  The situation has even taken a critical twist with the mass killings of separatists by the Cameroonian military and counter killings with unarmed civilians, particularly women and children bearing the brunt of the price. Separatists’ leaders and fighters even appear to be more radicalised and galvanised with the increasing militarisation of cities by government security forces,

Violence and unrest escalated in late 2016 after a series of strikes and protests against what teachers, lawyers and students viewed as further discrimination against Anglophones. Between 22 September and 1 October 2017, large-scale protests were organized across the Anglophone regions to symbolically proclaim the independence of a new state of “Ambazonia.” These heightened tensions have continued to ravage the lifes of every citizen living so many wounded, lost and broken. The questions remains “for how long”?

A summary of Human Rights abuses gathered by BIHAPH indicate the heavy Human casualties and devastation. This information is gathered by sources on the ground, interviews of direct victims and documents. The focus here is to seek truth, accountability, and the need for respect for human life, It is also to call our attention on the deep humanitarian crisis and the call to  parties to end the carnage, seek durable solutions towards peace.

On January 1, two suspected separatists were killed by Cameroonian soldiers in Wum.

On January 6, separatist fighters ambushed the convoy of the Senior Divisional Officer of Momo near Njikwa, using improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Five soldiers and one civilian were killed.

On January 7, soldiers discovered and deactivated an improvised explosive device in Kumba.

On January 8, separatists killed three gendarme officers, one policeman and two civilians at a checkpoint in Matazem. Four others were injured.

On January 9, armed men killed a school principal in Ossing, Manyu. In Tinto, Manyu, armed men shot a student and a teacher.

On January 10, Cameroonian soldiers invaded Mautu, Muyuka and killed at least nine civilians. Human rights groups and France condemned the act and called for an investigation while the Cameroonian Army denied having massacred civilians, claiming that all the dead were separatists and that images of dead civilians had been collected by separatists from elsewhere.

On January 14, explosions were heard outside Limbe Omnisport Stadium. A separatist militia called the "Fako Action Forces" claimed responsibility.

On January 15, suspected separatists burned a beer truck in Likomba, Fako Division. Security forces pursued the attackers, and an ensuing shootout left two suspected separatists dead.

On January 16, 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN) started in Limbe, after having been postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Separatists had threatened to use force to prevent the championship from taking place within the Anglophone regions.

On January 18, two IEDs exploded in Mbengwi and in T-Junction, Bamenda. The same day, separatists declared a 10-day lockdown to sabotage CHAN, and clashes were reported in Buea. The Biafra Nations League, a Nigeria-based group that operates in Bakassi Peninsula, complained that some of its members as well as pro-Ambazonian activists had been arrested and tortured by Cameroonian soldiers. They also accused Nigerian authorities of allowing Cameroonian troops to conduct cross-border raids to arrest Ambazonians on Nigerian territory. The group declared that they would hoist the Biafran flag in the Bakassi Peninsula in February, and claimed that the locals identified more as Biafrans than as Cameroonians.

On January 20, unidentified gunmen abducted a radio host in Bamenda.

On January 21, separatist fighters attacked a gendarmerie facility in Babadjou, West Region. Cameroonian soldiers repelled the attack and also seized two vehicles.

On January 23, Cameroonian soldiers killed four children in Bamenda. The military later falsely claimed that the victims were separatist fighters.

On January 25, at least three policemen were wounded when a roadside IED exploded in Limbe.

On January 26, there was an explosion outside the stadium in Limbe, forcing spectators to take shelter.

On January 27, Cameroonian soldiers killed two people and arrested another two in Bambui.

On Janaury 28, A young man was killed by Separatist fighters in Mekaf village in Menchum Division North West Region and his house burnt to ashes. He was the chief vigilant group leader of Fungum. He died leaving behind a wife and six children.

The armed separatists repeated targeting of the general population demonstrates a total disregard for human life, and is another example of the threat faced by people in the Anglophone regions.

BIHAPH in strongest terms condemns these atrocities perpetrated on fellow human beings. Authorities must ensure accountability for crimes committed by the security forces as well as by the armed separatists. They must immediately end the use of unlawful, unnecessary and excessive force and ensure that people are protected