Cameroon: Pentagon investigates torture allegations

The U.S military is investigating Cameroon following allegations of torture on detained civilians.

The allegations are contained in an Amnesty International report which says close to 100 cases of arrest and torture of civilians have been registered during Cameroon’s ongoing war against Boko Haram.

Amnesty International says the abuses occured around Salak near Cameroon’s border with Nigeria and Chad and were allegedly carried out by Cameroon’s elite army unit -the Rapid Intervention Battalion.

Pentagon officials also want to find the truth about allegations that U.S servicemen were present at the Cameroonian base while the tortured unfolded.

Close to 300 U.S military personnel in Cameroon are helping the government in the fight against terrorist group Boko Haram. A decision to deploy troops around the world taken by former president Barrack Obama in 2015 was prolonged by President Trump last month.

The forces were sent as part of Washington’s strategy to train and advise nations in need on how to fight terrorists.

Stationed in Cameroon’s northern region of Garoua, the forces help in airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations in the region.