National and International News Round-up: University Students In Bamenda Launch Peace Campaign, AAC III And Stakes, Renowned Cameroon Artist Murdered…..

The Minister of Arts and Culture pays tribute to a renown Cameroonian artist, Avenir Avar, who died following an attack this weekend.
“I have just been informed of the death of Avenir Ava, a musician whose talent and quality I have had to appreciate. The tragic circumstances of his death, plunged us further into affliction. Cameroon’s artistic community has lost a remarkable figure, and many young people must be inspired by values ​​and exemplarity. My deepest condolences to the depressed family.”
Narcissus Mouellé Kombi, MINAC said.

Diabetes awareness month continues in Cameroon.
Medics have called on the need for a healthy lifestyle which they say, can improve and prevent the disease.
“Every one, even kids can be affected by diabetes…
Take care of yourself to avoid kidney problems, sight defects and other symptoms…” a health specialist adviced.

Three school heads missing in Buea:
The whereabouts of a teacher at Government Bilingual High School, GBHS Muea in Buea, Ngala Bernard Ndzi, who was kidnapped on November 13, 2018, is still unknown.
School administrators have filed a complaint before competent authorities.

The University of Buea, UB has announced the abduction of two staff members of the institution.
George Ongey went missing on November 10 while Dr Doumta Charles was picked up on
November 16.

The organizing committee of the Anglophone General Conference is finalising preparations ahead of the two-day meeting, aimed at discussing on the possible solutions to the prolonged impasse in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon.
The government is yet to formally approve the holding of the conference which is due to hold amid the resignation of Dr. Simon Munzu as chairperson of the organising committee and security threats.
Buea and major towns and villages in the anglophone regions are greeted by ghost town this Monday,with business and other activities on a standstill.

The entire student community of the University of Bamenda is on a one week social media strike. They have been flooding their various social media platforms with messages, calling for peace and security to be restored in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon. This, as Bambili is becoming much unsecured for students and inhabitants. The campaign which started today, came after the following release:
“Fellow students of the University of Bamenda, accept heartfelt greetings from the UBa SAs. In a bid to address students plight on the prevailing sociopolitical unrest which has occasioned an undesired halt in all our curricular activities, it has been resolved that;
1) From Monday the 19th of November 2018 at 7am, there shall be a social media demonstration by ALL STUDENTS OF UBa across ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.
2) That this demonstration shall run for a period of one week
3) That through out this period, ALL STUDENTS OF ALL THE 12 ESTABLISHMENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY shall carry the same display or profile pictures on all their social media accounts and shall upload and post the same messages on their pages across all the networks (FB, Instagram, Twitter and WhatsApp)
4) That this messages shall carry no contents of violence or insolence but shall aim at mounting pressure diplomatically, and respectfully on the head of state and his administration to adhere to a peaceful solution to the crisis thereby creating an enabling environment for studies at all levels
5) That to make this demonstration effective, students shall search and follow the official social media accounts of the authorities that be (especially on twitter and Instagram) so our message can be conveyed directly.
6) That the messages and profile pictures shall be designed and sent to all students group chats before the said date.
7) And finally that this will serve as an indication of our solidarity with our lecturers who have not been relenting in seeking solutions to the plague.
In this regard, students should therefore inform and mobilize their mates to join this approach intended at getting not only us back into our classrooms but revamping the whole system.
God Bless you”
UBa Student Association.

Over 50 women and youths in the Bamenda I council area, Mezam division of the North west region have been empowered to be promoters of peace and to see the need to engage in preventing and protecting their communities from conflict and violence. It was during a training workshop organized by Mother of Hope Cameroon (MOHCAM), aimed at training women and youths as mediators and peace actors in local governance and in the building of peaceful and resilient communities in crisis stricken North West and South West Regions of Cameroon.
According to the organisers, the current crisis situation in the Northwest region is primordial for women to change their narratives and take initiatives geared towards enhancing peace.
Participants at this workshop said it is an opportunity for them to improve their knowledge as peace advocates and learning new ways of resolving conflict.
The training workshop is the first in the series of workshops and participants will implement necessary actions needed for their communities and the region as a whole to regain peace.

For the past 4 days, Kumbo has seen some of the worst brutality since this crisis started according to some local sources.
Over 12 military trucks reportedly moved in from Ndu and Bamenda to try and reopen the highway which had remained blocked and damaged by gunmen. They did finally arrive Kumbo from both directions on 16th of November.
A Brasseries du cameroun truck driver Mohamed Mansour was shot dead, and about 15 houses destroyed, shops burnt.
MMI cannot independently confirm those behind the atrocities which have left locals in panic.
The house of assistant commissioner of police for Kumbo Mbinkar Ernest at Ntseni was also set ablaze.
Thousands have continued to flee Kumbo as the onslaught intensifies.
Police officer Kinkoh Anthony was this sunday 18.11.18 kidnapped from his house at Tobin, Kumbo by suspected
Amba boys. His whereabouts is still unknown.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is to repay $35,000 (£27,300) given to his leadership campaign by a firm accused of corruption.
The donor, a firm called Bosasa, has won lucrative government contracts but is under investigation.
Mr Ramaphosa initially told MPs the money had been paid to his son, Andile, for consultancy work for Bosasa.(BBC)

Dozens of increasingly desperate migrants rescued by a cargo ship in the Mediterranean have been refusing to leave after it docked in a Libyan port.
Some told journalists they would rather die than be forced to disembark in Libya where they say they were held captive and tortured by smugglers.
The ship brought them to Misrata on 10 November after picking them up from a boat off Libya’s western coast.(BBC)

Female AFCON Ghana 2018. Incessant surprises countinue as the almighty Equatorial Guinea bowed to a 5 -0 spanking from little know Zambia in the second match of group B, despite Sunday November 18 at the Cape coast stadium.
Early on Sunday the Super Falcons of Nigeria, current cup holders were beaten by the Bayanabayanas of South Africa.

Cameroon’s Minister of communication Issa Tchiroma Bakary is leading a delegation of the local organising committee of the African cup of nations Cameroon 2019, to Garoua, North Cameroon.

The five-man shortlist for the 2018 BBC African Footballer of the Year award has been announced.
This year’s nominees are Medhi Benatia (Morocco), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal), Sadio Mane (Senegal), Thomas Partey (Ghana) and Mohamed Salah (Egypt).
The vote opened on Saturday, 17 November at 19:00 GMT and closes on Sunday, 2 December at 20:00.