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Long-standing discrimination in Anglophone Cameroon is reason for escalating crisis-UN Official

Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said the "long-standing structural discrimination in the Anglophone regions…

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said the “long-standing structural discrimination in the Anglophone regions is the reason behind continues clashes between security forces and separatist groups.

He made the remark during the 37th session of the Human Rights Council. While giving a  global update of human rights concerns in the world, the UN rights Offical said in Cameroon, “what appears to be long-standing structural discrimination in the Anglophone region of the country has led to continuing clashes between security forces and separatist groups”.

According to him, the arrest, in Nigeria, of 47 Anglophone community leaders, and their extradition to Cameroon has reportedly led to renewed violence in the south-west and north-west of the country.

He said allegations of summary executions of civilians by members of the security forces have been reported, and are generating widespread resentment.

The UN Official regretted that his Office has not been given access to verify these allegations. Acknowledging the complex challenges facing the authorities – including renewed displacement from the Central African Republic and the increase in Boko Haram attacks in the north, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ureg the Government of Cameroon to make every effort to de-escalate the conflict in the Anglophone regions, and to allow unimpeded access to human rights monitors so that accurate information on the situation can inform constructive engagement on the way forward.