Scholars International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice (SIJLCJ)
Volume-6 | Issue-12 | 586-591
Review Article
The Legal Status of Armed Separatists in Cameroon: Terrorists or Secessionists
Tekum Rechard Mba
Published : Dec. 1, 2023
Abstract
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) states that armed separatists are parties to the conflict. Hence, IHL applies to both armed separatists and government forces with equal force. Ambiguity comes in at the level of Cameroonian law, where armed separatists have been arrested and charged with the offences of terrorism and secession without consideration that there are parties to the conflict. The aim of this paper is to determine the status of armed separatist in NW and SW regions of Cameroon for the proper applicability of the law. This paper shall also examine whether the right to self -determination nullifies the offences of secession and terrorism within the context of the conflict in Cameroon. In order to attain the above objectives, doctrinal and analytical methodology has been adopted. The paper concludes that terrorism and secession are distinct offences under Cameroonian Law and the right to self-determination appears to be too abstract to shield these offences. To this end, it is recommended that they should be a clear line between secession, terrorism and self-determination. Equally, the law should clearly define the procedure for self-determination.