National And International News Roundup – 11th January 2021

Elements of the Nlongkack Gendarmerie have confirmed the arrests of some fake microfinance operators following a series of complaints made against them from numerous persons in Douala and Yaoundé. The men had allegedly swindled money that amounted to over 10 million FCFA from businesspersons in Douala and Yaoundé and were on the run when they were apprehended.

The Minister of Higher Education, Prof Jacques Fame Ndongo has reportedly given an eight-day ultimatum for the resolution of the strike action called by security guards at the University of Yaoundé 1. The strike erupted after over 104 security personnel of the campus were laid off by the administration. These workers equally complained of working without contracts and a portion of their salaries being deducted by the authorities.

The Ministry of Defence has debunked claims that there was an attack by Military forces in Mautu village that led to 8 deaths as social media footage claim. The Communication Director for the Defence Ministry, Colonel Cyrille Serge Atonfack published a communiqué stating that the military only confronted separatist fighters in Mautu and that they only acted in strict compliance with the rules of engagement.

The crisis in the neighboring Central African Republic is beginning to take its toll on Cameroon as more than 4,500 Central African refugees have entered into Cameroon so far. Engaged in multiple crises around the country, the Central African Refugee problem may prove to be a much bigger problem in the near future if not properly managed.

The sale of match tickets for the African football championship started today in Cameroon. In Douala, they are sold in all Total stations, Japoma and Bepanda stadia, Camtel, Camair-Co, regional delegation of sports and physical education, and sub-delegation of sports at Douala 4. The price ranges from 1000FCFA to 50.000FCFA.

Makeshift structures have been demolished at Douala 5. The operation launched by the mayor of the subdivision is to maintain hygiene and sanitation ahead of the African football Championship.

Bernard Okalia Bilia says defense forces in the South West are ready to maintain peace throughout the period of the African Football Championship. The governor of the South West region says the population is playing a leading role in combating terrorist activities. He denied claims that the recent Mautu village massacre and other related cases will scare visitors in the region.

Hundreds of Chinese fleeing insecurity in the neighboring Central African Republic are taking refuge in the East region of Cameroon. They have been offered some material assistance from the government. Meantime over four thousand refugees have entered Garoua Bulai in Cameroon as violence keeps escalating in CAR after a presidential election.

Blackouts have been reported in several quarters in Nkongsamba, Moungo division in the Littoral region of Cameroon. Inhabitants say many fallen electric pools have been abandoned, damaged transformers neglected. The electricity company equally accuses the people of wrong connection and illegal commercialization of electricity.

Civil servants in Chad began a nationwide strike on Monday to press for the restoration of their salaries which were cut four years ago, as well as the payment of various allowances. The decision to go on strike was taken in the capital, N’Djamena, during a meeting that brought together the four largest trade unions in the country. It follows the breakdown in negotiations with the government.

The Nigerian military says 13 soldiers died in an ambush at the weekend by jihadist fighters from a group linked to the Islamic State. Heavy gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades hit a military convoy in Gazagana village, in the north-eastern state of Yobe on Saturday. The army initially said that only one soldier had died and 28 jihadists had been – in its words – neutralised.

Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has taken personal blame for being among those responsible for the recent rise in Covid-19 cases in the country. There’s been a “collective sense of relaxation in adherence to Covid prevention measures among many Malawians including myself,” Mr Chakwera said in a radio address on Sunday.

Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi has concluded a one-day state visit to Tanzania where bolstering bilateral cooperation and security between the two neighbouring countries were top of the agenda. President John Magufuli and Mr Nyusi did not issue a joint statement as many observers had expected but Mr Nyusi said after the meeting that they had “talked about the security situation”. Mozambique’s northernmost province of Cabo Delgado, which borders Tanzania’s southern Mtwara region, has been riven by violence since 2017.

Foreign news: BBC