Ngarbuh Massacre Trial Falls Short of Justice, Rights Group Says

A recent court ruling over the 2020 Ngarbuh massacre in Cameroon has drawn sharp criticism from Human Rights Watch, which says the outcome fails to deliver justice for victims and their families.

In a statement issued from Nairobi, the rights group described the sentences handed down by a military court in Yaoundé as lenient, warning that they undermine accountability for one of the most shocking incidents in Cameroon’s ongoing Anglophone crisis.

Light Sentences, Limited Accountability

On February 20, 2026, the court sentenced three security personnel and a pro-government militia member—tried in absentia—for their roles in the February 14, 2020 killings in Ngarbuh, located in Cameroon’s North-West region.

The defendants received prison terms ranging from five to ten years, alongside relatively small fines, despite being convicted for crimes including murder, arson, and destruction of property.

According to Ilaria Allegrozzi, prosecutors failed to investigate those who planned or ordered the operation, leaving senior military officials unaccountable. She noted that the lack of reparations further deepens the suffering of victims’ families.

Trial Marred by Irregularities

The proceedings, which lasted over five years, were plagued by several shortcomings. Key suspects—including at least 17 Fulani militia members—remain at large, while senior officers linked to the operation were neither arrested nor charged.

Human Rights Watch also highlighted restricted participation by victims’ families, exclusion of critical evidence, and repeated delays caused by the absence of court officials.

Details of the Massacre

Investigations revealed that 21 people—including 13 children and a pregnant woman—were killed during what appeared to be a retaliatory operation by government forces and allied militia groups. Homes were burned, properties looted, and residents assaulted in the attack.

The violence forms part of a broader conflict that has gripped Cameroon’s Anglophone North-West and South-West regions since 2016, where separatist groups are seeking independence.

Disputed Compensation Claims

Legal counsel for the victims’ families had sought compensation amounting to 1.7 billion CFA francs. However, the court dismissed the claim, stating that victims had already received 80 million CFA francs—an assertion disputed by their lawyer, who said no proof of payment exists.

Calls for UN Intervention

Human Rights Watch has called on the United Nations to support victims in pursuing an appeal and securing reparations. The group urged the UN Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa to provide legal and technical assistance to ensure justice is served.

“The Ngarbuh trial has delivered neither full accountability nor meaningful redress,” Allegrozzi said, stressing the need for continued international engagement.

What Next?

Lawyers involved in the case have a limited window to file appeals, though uncertainty remains over whether the victims’ legal team will proceed.

The outcome of the case is likely to influence both domestic and international perceptions of Cameroon’s judicial system and its commitment to addressing human rights violations amid the ongoing conflict.