Rights commission decries persistence of tribalism-related violence.

The discontent of the rights boss is the content of a declaration he made on Tuesday, April 7. 

The outing was to mark the 2026 edition of the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda which is commemorated annually on April 7. 

An estimated total of 800,000 to one million people are estimated to have died in the East African country between April and July 1994 during the genocide that was orchestrated by the Hutu against the Tutsi.

The United Nations enshrined the April 7 as a day of reflection in a bid to enshrine the deadly incident in the collective human memory to preserve its remembrance and draw necessary lessons therefrom.

This year’s commemorative activities focus among others on honouring the memory of the victims, expressing renewed solidarity with survivors, providing States and relevant actors with the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to related international instruments.

Focus was also on bolstering multilateral cooperation and reinforcing prevention frameworks, notably through education, early warning mechanisms and the effective implementation of international law.

In his statement, Prof Mouangue Kobila said the commission is proud of the steps that Cameroon has taken in joining the international community aimed at preventing a repeat of such incidents in future.

He, however, decried what he termed the persistence of tribalism-related violence in communities in Cameroon. He said what is happening in Cameroon is similar to that of Rwanda which turned extremely deadly, leading to the killing of 10% of the population of the East African nation at the time.

According to Prof Mouangue Kobila, despite the international and national commitments that have been undertaken by Cameroon, tribalism-related violence remains rampant especially in rural or border areas often under the guise of identity considerations, traditions, or discriminatory social norms.

“The commission notes with regret the continued prevalence of tribalist discourse and identity-based tensions in certain localities, a situation which, when compounded by the inadequacy of early warning mechanisms and the limited oversight of local stakeholders, is liable to undermine social cohesion and escalate the risk of communal violence,” partly read the statement.

Prof Mouangue went on to cite some of the communal conflicts that have recently ravaged Cameroon and demonstrated the dangers of such lapses.

He mentioned the January 14, 2026 killing of 14 people in Gidado in the Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region by those he termed armed elements affiliated with secessionist terrorist groups and the burning and destruction of houses on February 13, 2026 in Mbat village in the of the same Division reportedly by militias from a Mbororo herder community.

Prof Mouangue equally cited the demonstrations that were carried on July, 14, 2025 in Mbimbé village in Dizangué Subdivision in the Sanaga-Maritime Division of the Littoral Region by members of several villages against a local company regarding a land dispute.

Blames gov’t inaction, other shortcomings 

The rights commission boss blamed the rise in the incidents on government’s inaction and other shortcomings that continues affecting the country despite multiform efforts. 

he also blamed the situation on the “…absence of tangible advancement in the process of ratification, of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide by the Republic of Cameroon”. 

Prof Mouangue Kobila equally blamed the persistent challenges in preventing and repressing hate speech and the incitement of tribal violence on the “imperfect implementation of existing mechanisms, insufficient dissemination of applicable legislation and regulations, and prolonged procedural delays, which affect the effectiveness of institutional responses and compromise the prevention of mass violence”.

The rights official also cited the persistence and spread of tribalist hate speech in the media and on digital platforms as key contributing factors to “insufficient regulation, a lack of public awareness, and limited involvement of certain actors, notably civil society organizations, in early warning and conflict prevention mechanisms, which may exacerbate social tensions and increase the risk of mass violence”. 

Recommendations

To tackle the challenges, Prof Mouangue Kobila said the commission is positively contributing to the fight.

He recommended that the government takes steps towards the ratification of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide to ensure that it reinforces its commitment to human rights and the fight against impunity.

Prof Mouangue said the commission also recommends that the government strengthens “the prevention and repression of hate speech and incitement to violence based on tribal affiliation by ensuring the effective enforcement of existing legislative and regulatory provisions”.

He also mentioned accelerating judicial proceedings and improving the effectiveness of institutional responses to hate speech, establishing and supporting mechanisms for the regulation and monitoring of media and digital platforms.

Prof Mouangue proposed the promotion and support of education on peace, tolerance, human rights and harmonious coexistence at all levels of education, and the strengthening of protection mechanisms and psychosocial support for populations affected by inter-communal violence. 

This article was first published The Guardian Post Edition No:3756 of Friday April 10, 2026