The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concern Thursday about violent protests that erupted in Cameroon following the announcement of the presidential election results.
The OHCHR called on Cameroon’s security forces to refrain from using lethal force to quell demonstrations and urged them to abide by their obligations under international human rights law. It urged the country’s political leaders and their supporters to refrain from spreading hate speeches and inciting the masses to violence. The statement further called on authorities to conduct independent and thorough investigations into the violence that took place during the election-related protests, emphasizing the importance of ensuring accountability for all those found responsible.
The use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials is regulated by the principles of necessity, proportionality, and precaution, as outlined in the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force by Law Enforcement Officials. The principle of necessity requires security officials to employ non-violent means before resorting to force or firearms and restricts the use of firearms to situations where other methods are ineffective or unlikely to achieve the intended result. The principle of proportionality mandates that the force used must correspond to the level of threat or offense committed. Lastly, the principle of precaution requires law enforcement officials to minimize harm and injury when the lawful use of force is unavoidable.
Mass protests erupted in Cameroon after the Constitutional Council announced on October 17 that President Paul Biya had won the presidential election that took place five days earlier. In response, the opposition rejected the results and proclaimed their candidate, Issa Tchirola Bakary, as the legitimate winner, urging citizens to demonstrate peacefully. Thousands took to the streets demanding recognition of the opposition’s victory, but clashes between protesters and security forces led to fatalities and numerous arrests. The ongoing escalation of violence has further destabilized a country already grappling with a longstanding armed conflict between government security forces and separatist armed groups, both of whom have been accused of human rights abuses .
