By Andrew Nsoseka
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has welcomed the conviction of four perpetrators of the 2020 Ngarbuh massacre by a military court in Yaoundé, but insists that justice will only be meaningful if the sentences to be handed down next month reflect the gravity of the crimes and the victims’ families are adequately compensated.
“Today’s conviction in Cameroon of three members of the security forces and a militiaman for the 2020 Ngarbuh massacre is a partial step toward justice, but the remaining perpetrators also need to be brought to justice,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, Senior Sahel Researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The sentences imposed next month need to reflect the seriousness of the crimes and the victims’ families should receive compensation.”
The statement followed the verdict delivered on January 15, 2026, by the Yaoundé military court, which found three Cameroonian soldiers and a local militiaman guilty for their roles in the killing of civilians in Ngarbuh, a village in Donga Mantung Division of the Northwest Region.
The court convicted the accused on charges including murder, arson, and destruction of property, in connection with the killing of at least 23 civilians. Among the victims were 15 children and two pregnant women. Although the defendants have been found guilty, the court is yet to pronounce their sentences.
The judgment marks one of the rare instances in which members of Cameroon’s security forces have been held criminally responsible for abuses committed during the Anglophone conflict, which has raged since 2016 and claimed thousands of lives.
The Ngarbuh massacre occurred in February 2020 during a joint operation involving government forces and local Fulani militiamen. At the time, the incident triggered widespread international condemnation, with human rights organizations accusing the military of targeting civilians.
When local and international media first reported the killings, Cameroonian authorities dismissed the accounts as “fake news.” However, following sustained pressure, President Paul Biya ordered a commission of inquiry. The government later acknowledged that “uncontrolled” soldiers, acting alongside local militias from the Fulani ethnic group, carried out the attack and attempted to conceal the crime by burning down houses in the village.
Human Rights Watch says the convictions, while significant, fall short of full accountability. Allegrozzi stressed that justice should not end with the four convictions, noting those other perpetrators and those who may have ordered or tolerated the crimes remain unaccounted for.
For survivors and relatives of the victims, the upcoming sentencing is seen as a critical moment. Rights groups argue that lenient penalties would undermine confidence in the judicial process and reinforce a culture of impunity, while strong sentences and reparations could signal a genuine commitment by the state to protect civilians and uphold the rule of law.
