,,iii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #fhd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #h1 #bjbj,mr4 ,risch 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,young1 ,mr4 ,lankford1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,warner1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 ,mr4 ,sullivan1 ,mr4 ,cruz1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,ms4 ,smith1 and ,mr4 ,murphy7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,january #a1 #bjba;,committee discharged2 considered1 amended1 and agreed to with an amended preamble ,,resolution ,calling on the ,government of ,cameroon and separatist armed groups from the ,english-speaking ,northwest and ,southwest regions to end all violence1 respect the human rights of all ,cameroonians1 and pursue a genuinely inclusive dialogue toward resolving the ongoing civil conflict in ,anglophone ,cameroon4 ,whereas ,cameroon is beset with multiple security challenges1 including a ,boko ,haram insurgency in the ,far ,north region1 cross-border conflict and criminality by ,central ,african militia groups to the east1 and a civil war involving the ,government of ,cameroon and ,anglophone separatist armed groups in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions2 ,whereas the official actions and policies of the ,francophone-dominated ,government of ,cameroon have repressed ,english-speaking ,cameroonians politically and economically throughout the history of ,cameroon1 dating back to the reunification of ,british-administered ,southern ,cameroons and ,french ,cameroun under a federal system in ,october #aifa2 ,whereas1 in ,june #aigb1 following a national referendum1 a new constitution was adopted that abolished the federal system1 changed the name of the country from the ,federal ,republic of ,cameroon to the ,united ,republic of ,cameroon1 and gave additional powers to the presidency2 ,whereas ,paul ,biya1 the oldest head of state in ,africa1 has been the ,president of ,cameroon since #aihb1 maintaining his grip on power by centralizing authority in the executive1 undermining the ,constitution of ,cameroon1 impeding democratic governance through corrupt practices1 using security services to repress the opposition1 and conducting elections marred by widespread irregularities and allegations of fraud2 ,whereas key decentralization reforms enacted in the ,constitution of ,cameroon in #aiif1 which mandated the establishment of a decentralized unitary state1 equality of all citizens before the law1 the equal status of ,french and ,english as official languages1 and the establishment of local authorities with administrative and financial autonomy1 remain largely unrealized1 though an enabling law was adopted in ,december #bjai2 ,whereas1 throughout his tenure1 ,president ,biya has spent extended periods in ,europe1 pursued government policies exclusively benefitting the ,francophone majority in ,cameroon1 and crippled many parastatals and private enterprises in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions1 further marginalizing ,english-speaking ,cameroonians2 ,whereas1 in ,october #bjaf1 ,english-speaking lawyers1 students1 and teachers in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions of ,cameroon took to the streets to peacefully protest marginalization of ,english-speaking ,cameroonians by the ,government of ,cameroon in the legal and education systems1 as exemplified by the appointment of ,french-speaking judges and teachers in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions and the publishing of important legislation solely in the ,french language2 ,whereas those peaceful protests by ,english-speaking lawyers1 students1 and teachers were met with excessive force by the police and gendarmerie of ,cameroon1 which led to gross human rights violations1 the arrest of lawyers1 teachers1 and ,anglophone civic leaders1 and their detention in the notorious ,kondengui prison in ,yaound2 ,whereas1 amid broader protests across the ,northwest and ,southwest regions demanding greater autonomy from the central government of ,cameroon1 on ,october #a1 #bjag1 the #efth anniversary of the end of ,british trusteeship over ,southern ,cameroons1 the ,anglophone crisis escalated as separatist armed groups declared independence from ,cameroon2 ,whereas1 in #bjag1 ,anglophone separatist armed groups responded to the repressive and violent actions of the ,government of ,cameroon by targeting government officials and facilities as well as civilians and traditional leaders seen as sympathetic to the ,government of ,cameroon and brutally enforcing ghost town operations 7general strikes7 and school boycotts in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions2 ,whereas lengthy government-imposed shutdowns of the internet and social media in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions1 totaling #bdj days between #bjag and #bjah1 had a devastating impact on the economies and educational institutions in the regions1 undermined freedom of expression1 prevented the free flow of information related to the conflict1 and restricted the ability of local communities to interact and communicate2 ,whereas the conflict in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions of ,cameroon has caused considerable instability and human suffering1 with more than #c1jjj deaths linked to the conflict as of #bjah1 with more recent figures difficult to ascertain due to lack of access to the ,northwest and ,southwest regions1 and according to ,united ,nations agencies1 as of #bjbj1 approximately #c1jjj1jjj people in ,cameroon are in need of humanitarian assistance1 approximately #fj1jjj ,cameroonian refugees have fled to ,nigeria1 and approximately #gjj1jjj persons are internally displaced2 ,whereas numerous credible reports from human rights monitors1 including the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,human ,rights1 have documented the excessive use of force by government security forces against ,cameroonian civilians living in the ,anglophone regions1 including the burning of villages1 the use of live ammunition against protestors1 arbitrary arrest and detention1 torture1 sexual abuse1 and killing of civilians1 including women1 children1 and the elderly2 ,whereas the ,department of ,state #bjai ,country ,report on ,human ,rights ,practices for ,cameroon documented killings of civilians1 kidnappings1 abductions1 and hostage taking1 beatings1 attacks on health workers and media1 restrictions on movements of persons and goods1 and use of child soldiers by armed ,anglophone separatists2 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,children's ,fund estimates that more than #hee1jjj children are out of school due to the conflict1 and the ,department of ,state added ,cameroon to the ,child ,soldiers ,prevention ,act ,list in the #bjbj ,trafficking in ,persons ,report as a foreign government identified during the previous year as having governmental armed forces1 police1 or other security forces1 or government-supported armed groups that recruit or use child soldiers2 ,whereas ,united ,states citizen ,charles ,wesco was shot and killed near the town of ,bamenda1 ,cameroon1 on ,october #cj1 #bjah1 and1 in ,november #bjah1 the ,department of ,state stated1 ,in memory of ,american missionary ,charles ,wesco and all others who have lost their lives in the ,anglophone ,crisis1 we urge all sides to end the violence and enter into broad-based reconciliatory dialogue without preconditions42 ,whereas1 in ,june #bjai1 the ,government of ,switzerland announced that1 together with the ,centre for ,humanitarian ,dialogue1 it was facilitating a dialogue between the ,government of ,cameroon and armed opposition groups to support a resolution of the ,anglophone crisis2 ,whereas1 in ,september #bjai1 ,president ,biya hastily announced a ,major ,national ,dialogue1 chaired by ,prime ,minister ,ngute from ,september #cj to ,october #d1 #bjai1 in ,yaound1 to examine the ways and means to respond to the deeply-held aspirations of the populations in the ,northwest and ,southwest2 ,whereas1 though the ,major ,national ,dialogue led to some concessions by the ,government of ,cameroon on broader democratization issues1 such as the release of some political prisoners1 including the leader of the ,cameroon ,renaissance ,movement1 ,maurice ,kamto1 and some of his associates after nine months of detention1 it failed to bring separatist groups to the table2 ,whereas1 since the ,major ,national ,dialogue1 the killing of civilians and other atrocities continue to be recorded across the ,northwest and ,southwest regions1 including in towns and villages such as ,babanki1 ,bamenda1 ,bangem1 ,buea1 ,mamfe1 ,muyuka1 ,pinyin1 and ,ngarbuh1 and the ,government of ,cameroon recently has resumed its attack on the political opposition1 placing ,mr4 ,kamto under house arrest and detaining dozens of his supporters2 ,whereas national and international outrage followed the massacre of at least #bc people1 including #ae children and #b pregnant women1 by government security forces and allied militia on ,february #ad1 #bjbj1 in ,ngarbuh1 ,donga ,mantung division1 in the ,northwest region1 and a commission of inquiry established by ,cameroonian authorities ultimately led to the arrest and charging of #c soldiers for murder2 ,whereas1 on ,june #e1 #bjbj1 amidst increasing concern over attacks on freedom of the press and detention of journalists on politically motivated charges in recent years1 ,cameroon authorities confirmed that an ,anglophone journalist covering the conflict1 ,samuel ,ajiekah ,abuwe1 known as ,wazizi1 who was arrested in ,august #bjai and transferred to a military facility1 died in custody shortly after his arrest1 an acknowledgment that led to widespread condemnation and calls for an independent inquiry2 ,whereas the ,rapid ,intervention ,battalion 7,,bir7 of the ,government of ,cameroon1 which has been accused of torture and extrajudicial killings and implicated in massacres like that of ,february #ad1 #bjbj1 has received training and support from the ,united ,states1 potentially in contravention of legal requirements that no assistance shall be furnished ''' to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country if the ,secretary of ,state has credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights2 ,whereas1 in ,february #bjai1 the ,department of ,state announced that it would withhold some security assistance to ,cameroon1 including equipment and training1 citing credible allegations of human rights violations by state security forces and a lack of investigation1 accountability1 and transparency by the ,government of ,cameroon in response2 ,whereas1 on ,december #bf1 #bjai1 the ,united ,states terminated the designation of ,cameroon as a beneficiary under the ,african ,growth and ,opportunity ,act 7#ai ,u4,s4,c4 #cgja et seq47 because the ,government of ,cameroon currently engages in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights2 ,whereas a ,european ,parliament resolution1 passed on ,april #ah1 #bjai1 urged inclusive political dialogue to resolve the ,anglophone crisis1 called for the conflict to be considered by the ,united ,nations ,security ,council1 and urged the ,european ,union to use the political leverage provided by development aid and other bilateral programmes to enhance the defense of human rights in ,cameroon2 ,whereas ,france maintains considerable interests in ,cameroon1 including significant economic and security cooperation1 but has not adequately used its influence to stem atrocities committed in the ,anglophone regions or support stronger international action to seek resolution to the conflict2 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,resident and ,humanitarian ,coordinator for ,cameroon stated on ,january #bd1 #bjai1 that ,cameroon can no longer be a forgotten crisis2 it needs to be high on our agenda1 and1 on ,june #bb1 #bjbj1 a group of former world leaders and #e ,nobel ,peace ,laureates called on the ,united ,nations ,security ,council and the ,united ,nations ,secretary-,general1 the ,african ,union1 the ,commonwealth of ,nations1 and ,la ,francophonie to ensure that ,cameroon's ,anglophone conflict is on the agenda of the forthcoming ,,un ,security ,council meeting and all ,,unoca sessions before the ,,unsc2 ,whereas1 on ,may #ac1 #bjai1 an ,arria-formula meeting on the humanitarian crisis in ,cameroon was held for the ,united ,nations ,security ,council1 but a formal meeting on the situation in ,cameroon has not yet been placed on the ,united ,nations ,security ,council agenda2 ,whereas1 on ,july #a1 #bjbj1 in ,resolution #becb 7#bjbj71 the ,united ,nations ,security ,council unanimously underlined its support of the appeal of the ,united ,nations ,secretary-,general for a global ceasefire in all conflicts as the world battles the ,,covid-#ai pandemic2 and ,whereas there is a significant ,cameroonian diaspora in the ,united ,states1 and ,cameroon is a longstanding security partner and aid recipient of the ,united ,states1 participating in the ,trans-,sahara ,counterterrorism ,partnership 7,,tsctp7 led by the ,department of ,state and in ,united ,states-supported efforts to counter ,boko ,haram and the ,islamic ,state-,west ,africa1 both of which have mounted terrorist operations in the ,far ,north region of ,cameroon since #bjad3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 strongly condemns abuses committed by state security forces and armed groups in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions of ,cameroon1 including extrajudicial killings and detentions1 the use of force against civilians and nonviolent protestors1 torture1 rape1 kidnappings1 and other forms of violence against women1 and violations of the freedoms of press1 expression1 and assembly2 7#b7 urges all parties to the ,anglophone conflict in ,cameroon1 including political opposition groups1 to-- 7,a7 conclude and uphold an immediate ceasefire2 7,b7 guarantee unfettered humanitarian access and assistance to the ,northwest and ,southwest regions2 7,c7 exercise restraint and ensure that political protests are peaceful2 and 7,d7 establish a credible process for an inclusive dialogue that includes all relevant stakeholders1 including from civil society1 to achieve a sustainable political solution that respects the rights and freedoms of all of the people of ,cameroon2 7#c7 affirms that the ,united ,states ,government continues to hold the ,government of ,cameroon responsible for safeguarding the safety1 security1 and constitutional rights of all citizens1 regardless of their region of origin or the regions in which they reside1 or their religious beliefs or political views2 7#d7 urges the ,government of ,cameroon to-- 7,a7 initiate a credible1 inclusive1 good-faith effort to end the armed conflict in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions of ,cameroon by addressing the root causes of the crisis and grievances and seeking nonviolent solutions to resolve the conflict1 including possibly involving an independent mediator in negotiations2 7,b7 follow through on initiatives developed to address the grievances that sparked the conflict1 including the ,national ,commission for the ,promotion of ,bilingualism and ,multiculturalism1 the ,ministry of ,decentralization and ,local ,development1 and the ,national ,disarmament1 ,demobilization1 and ,reintegration ,committee2 7,c7 fully implement recommendations of the ,major ,national ,dialogue held in late #bjai2 7,d7 respect the rule of law and the constitutional rights of all ,cameroonians1 including members of the political opposition1 civil society activists1 and journalists2 7,e7 allow for credible1 independent1 and transparent investigations of all allegations of human rights abuses committed in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions2 7,f7 release all political prisoners and journalists currently detained and immediately stop all arbitrary detention1 torture1 forced disappearances1 deaths in custody1 and inhumane prison conditions2 and 7,g7 work with ,united ,states law enforcement to thoroughly investigate and prosecute those responsible for the murder of ,charles ,wesco2 7#e7 urges the ,anglophone armed separatist groups to-- 7,a7 engage peacefully with government officials to express grievances and engage in nonviolent efforts to resolve the conflict1 including participation in a credible and inclusive dialogue1 possibly involving an independent mediator2 7,b7 immediately cease human rights abuses1 including killings of civilians1 torture1 kidnapping1 and extortion2 7,c7 immediately end coercive and violent enforcement of the school boycott in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions and attacks on schools1 teachers1 and education officials1 and allow for the peaceful and safe return of all students to class2 and 7,d7 publicly condemn the illegal detention and kidnapping of civilians2 7#f7 urges the ,department of ,state1 ,department of the ,treasury1 and ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 in coordination with other relevant ,federal departments and agencies1 to-- 7,a7 consider imposing targeted sanctions on individual government and separatist leaders responsible for extrajudicial killings1 torture1 or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights2 7,b7 press the ,government of ,cameroon to provide unfettered humanitarian access to vulnerable populations in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions of ,cameroon2 7,c7 support credible efforts to address the root causes of the conflict and to achieve sustainable peace and reconciliation1 possibly involving an independent mediator1 and efforts to aid the economic recovery of and fight coronavirus in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions2 7,d7 support humanitarian and development programming1 including to meet immediate needs1 advance nonviolent conflict resolution and reconciliation1 promote economic recovery and development1 support primary and secondary education1 and strengthen democratic processes1 including political decentralization1 enshrined as a fundamental principle of state governance in the ,constitution of ,cameroon2 7,e7 continue to limit security assistance to ,cameroon and ensure that ,united ,states training and equipment is not being used to facilitate human rights abuses in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions2 7,f7 prioritize efforts to help develop and sustain effective1 professional civilian oversight of law enforcement and security services in ,cameroon to ensure they are held accountable for abuses2 and 7,g7 engage in an ongoing effort to ensure that the crisis in the ,anglophone regions is discussed in international fora1 including the ,united ,nations ,security ,council1 that focus on urgent international diplomatic engagement and response2 and 7#g7 urges members of the international community to-- 7,a7 join in a strategic collective effort to pressure the ,government of ,cameroon and separatist armed groups1 including through the use of available diplomatic and punitive tools1 to immediately conclude and uphold a ceasefire1 participate in an inclusive and meaningful dialogue to address the root causes of the conflict and pending grievances1 and seek nonviolent solutions to the conflict1 including by possibly involving an independent and credible international mediator2 7,b7 mobilize and coordinate funding for local and international organizations to provide humanitarian and development assistance1 including to fight coronavirus1 to communities affected by the crisis in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions of ,cameroon2 7,c7 leverage bilateral relationships to encourage key partners of ,cameroon1 particularly ,france1 to help foster a peaceful resolution to the crisis in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions of ,cameroon1 potentially with the involvement of an independent mediator1 and implement a mutually agreed-upon program to address longstanding grievances and marginalization2 and 7,d7 use regional and international fora1 including the ,african ,union1 the ,economic ,community of ,central ,african ,states1 and the ,united ,nations ,security ,council to-- 7i7 discuss the ongoing crisis in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions of ,cameroon2 7ii7 push for a cessation of violence1 an expedient resolution1 and the implementation of a mutually agreed-upon program for addressing the root causes and pending grievances2 and 7iii7 maintain calls for the investigation and prosecution of human rights abuses and crimes committed against civilians4