Civilian casualties, non-combatants killed or injured during armed conflict or state violence. Also known as non-combatant deaths, these are not statistics—they’re mothers, students, farmers, and children caught in the crossfire of decisions they didn’t make. This isn’t just about wars overseas. From political crackdowns in Cameroon to military raids in Nigeria, civilian casualties are a daily threat where power goes unchecked.
Armed conflict, organized violence between state or non-state actors doesn’t just destroy buildings—it shatters families. When soldiers raid a home in Abuja, like in the case of ex-Minister Timipre Sylva, or when protests turn deadly in Yaoundé, the people who die aren’t fighters. They’re bystanders. Political violence, state or group-inflicted harm to silence dissent often hides behind claims of national security. But when a letter bomb kills an anti-apartheid scholar like Ruth First, or when road closures during a G20 summit leave civilians stranded and vulnerable, the line between order and oppression blurs.
War crimes, serious violations of international humanitarian law targeting civilians aren’t just legal terms—they’re the reason families in Mozambique, Nigeria, and Cameroon live in fear. These aren’t distant events. They’re part of a pattern: protests met with force, homes raided without warrants, media silenced, and communities left without justice. And when governments deny responsibility, like after the Abuja raid or during Cameroon’s election chaos, the silence becomes part of the violence.
What you’ll find here aren’t just headlines. These are stories that name names, trace patterns, and refuse to let civilian casualties be reduced to footnotes. You’ll see how these losses connect to bigger systems—how corruption, media control, and global indifference keep the cycle going. This isn’t about politics. It’s about people. And every article below is a reminder: behind every number, there’s a name, a face, and a life that mattered.
After a second U.S. military strike killed survivors clinging to debris in the Caribbean, lawmakers demand release of classified video. Over 80 have died in similar Trump-era operations.
