U.S. halts military assistance to Cameroon over human rights concerns -official

The United States said on Wednesday it was halting some military assistance to Cameroon over allegations of gross human rights violations by its security forces in the northwest, southwest and far north regions.

A State Department official said the United States had terminated a C-130 aircraft training program, and halted deliveries of four defender boats, nine armored vehicles and an upgrade of a Cessna aircraft for Cameroon's rapid intervention forces. Cameroon has cooperated closely with the United States in the fight against Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

"We do not take these measures lightly, but we will not shirk from reducing assistance further if evolving conditions require it," the official said. "For the time being, other programs will continue." (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)