UN Rights office denounces killings of demonstrators in Cameroon

GENEVA - 8 October 2017: The UN Human Rights office denounced the killings of demonstrators from Cameroon’s Anglophone community in towns across the Northwest and Southwest regions, The Voice of America (VOA) reported Saturday.

Government figures put the number of deaths at about 10. But other estimates report many more people than that were killed. UN Human Rights spokesman, Rupert Colville, said credible sources indicate some of the deaths were caused by the excessive use of force by the security forces.

"We call on the government of Cameroon to establish prompt effective and independent investigations to ensure accountability and, of course, impartial, as well," said Colville.

Cameroon’s Anglophone regions have seen multiple strikes and demonstrations over the past year as resentment and tensions have built at what English-speakers view as discrimination against them in favor of the majority French-speaking population.