Human Rights and the Rehabilitation of Prisoners of War in the Cameroon Anglophone Armed Conflict: Progress, Pitfalls, and Prospects

Abstract

The rehabilitation of prisoners of war remains a critical component of human rights protection in armed conflict, yet it is frequently overlooked in both legal analysis and post-conflict policy design, particularly in non-international armed conflicts. In the context of the Anglophone Cameroon crisis, the capture, detention, release, and reintegration of conflict-related detainees have generated complex legal and humanitarian questions. This article examines the rehabilitation of prisoners of war in the Anglophone Cameroon armed conflict through the combined lenses of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Adopting a doctrinal and qualitative analytical approach, the study evaluates the applicable legal frameworks and appraises existing rehabilitation measures by assessing progress achieved, identifying persistent pitfalls, and exploring future prospects. The analysis demonstrates that while notable progress has been made through State-led amnesty initiatives, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, and humanitarian interventions, significant challenges persist. These include legal ambiguity surrounding prisoner classification, fragmented institutional implementation, insufficient psychosocial and socio-economic support, and enduring social stigma. The article argues that without a comprehensive, rights-based and institutionalized rehabilitation framework, current efforts risk falling short of restoring human dignity and contributing to sustainable peace. It concludes by proposing legal, institutional, and policy reforms aimed at strengthening rehabilitation practices in conformity with international human rights standards and the long-term resolution of the Anglophone Cameroon crisis.