National And International News Roundup – 12th June 2020

Family, friends, colleagues and civil society groups in Cameroon are demanding for the corpse of journalist Samuel Wazizi. A week after government’s declaration that Samuel Wazizi died while in detention, Cameroonians want his body given to family for a decent burial. Members of Stand UP for Cameroon are asking for justice that should be attained through a political transition.

SDF politician, Awudu Mbaya says if given a second chance, he won’t hesitate to refuse running for elections. He was speaking after being honoured politician of the year 2019 at The Guardian Post awards today in Yaounde. The former MP had denied running for elections stating that he could not do politics on the blood of his people.

About 11 persons have been killed in Mbokam, a village in the Bui Division, North West Region. This was as a result of a military raid on the village today. Houses were also set ablaze as locals took to the bushes for safety.

One of Cameroon’s 29 lawyers to have died in six months was buried today. Late Barrister George Tiafack was buried in M’muock- Leteh village, Lebialem Division of the South West Region. He was a father of two at the time of his demise.

Members of the Brigarde Anti Sardinads (BAS) carried out a protest today in front of the French embassy in London, UK. In a live video on social media, the protesters could be seen with megaphones and Cameroon flags. “We are here to pass a message to France … Let it leave Cameroon … We dont want them to impose a leader we have not chosen” one of the activists said.

For 25 years, medical facilities in Cameroon have been contributing to an emergency fund dubbed the ‘Health Solidarity Fund’. Human Rights Watch says the government should show accountability for the fund, as well as channel the resources for the COVID-19 fight.

“Stand Up for Cameroon” civil society group is calling on Cameroonians to adopt non violent protests to flush out the regime of President Paul Biya and usher in a political transition. The group in a press conference today in Douala denounced several cases of injustice practiced by the government of Cameroon.

There have been worries about Cameroon’s first daughter Brenda Biya. In her recent outings on social media she has indicated that she’s being held against her will at the presidential palace. First lady Chantal Biya has been silent about the outings, leaving Cameroonians more concerned.

Marcus Ebilitu Atube has been detained incommunicado for nineteen months. Kidnapped in Buea by the military since November 2018, the family is demanding justice for their father. In the process of looking for their father, the daughter says some individuals have been extorting money from them with fake promises to get Marcus Ebilitu released.

Prof. Joseph Owona has taken oath of office as a member of the constitutional council. In a parliamentary Congress today in Yaounde, Joseph Owona promised to respect the constitution of the land. He was appointed on April 15th by President Paul Biya.

Disgruntled workers of Nexttel mobile telephone company enter day two of their strike action today in several towns in Cameroon. Holding placards in front of the office in Douala, the workers criticise the biggest share holder in the company Al Hadji Baba Danpollu for showing off wealth by donating 100.000 million fcfa for the fight against coronavirus while workers of his company work under deplorable conditions.

Cameroon afro- sahelian artist is no more. Claude Ndam died today at his cité verte residence in Yaounde after a prolonged illness. News of his demise has been received with a lot of sadness by his colleagues.

Reports say another Anglophone Cameroonian Journalist is being held at the Buea Central Prison in the South West Region of Cameroon for the past 15 months. According to media reports, Ashu Daniel Tando is a journalist with Word Empowerment radio Buea, who was arrested since 15 months ago.

The lifeless body of a man has been found on a rooftop at Ngangue Quarter in the New Bell neighbourhood of Douala II Sub Division. It is not clear what caused his death but local sources say his body had signs of physical torture. Insecurity is growing in Douala

Barrister Dominique Fousse says she and her team have been molested at the gendarmarie in Bonaberi Douala. She made the revelation on her Facebook page, though failing to give details on what happened. Barrister Fousse is a member of the Cameroon Bar.

Cameroon’s Head of State, Paul Biya has offered a consignment of anti-Coronavirus material to the Ministry of Public Health to help medical personnel fight the Coronavirus pandemic which has so far claimed two hundred and seventy lives in the country. Paul Atanga Nji, Administration Territorial boss in a release issued Friday June 12th, said he has handed over a “special” anti-COVID-19 gift to the Ministry of public health on behalf of the Head of State.

A member of Belgium’s royal family has defended the role played by King Leopold II in the exploitation of the colony that became the Democratic Republic of Congo. Prince Laurent – brother of the present King Philippe – acknowledged in an interview with the Sudpresse newspaper that abuses were committed in the Congo colony but not by his ancestor. He said King Leopold could not have hurt people there because he never went to Congo, though he owned it as his personal estate.

UK’s Prince Harry has written a letter of encouragement and support to Private Joseph Hammond, a 95-year-old Ghanaian WW II veteran, who set himself a challenge of walking 3.2 km (two miles) every day for one week. The objective was to raise about $600,000 (£500,000) to buy Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers and and vulnerable veterans in Commonwealth countries. Mr Hammond said he was inspired by Capt Sir Tom Moore, a British veteran, who raised more than $35m for the UK’s National Health Service.

Burundi’s Constitutional Court has ruled that President-elect Evariste Ndayishimiye should be sworn in as soon as possible as the country’s next head of state. Pierre Nkrunziza, who had been president for 15 years and was due to leave office in August, suddenly died on Monday. According to the constitution, the speaker of parliament, Pascal Nyabenda, should have been appointed interim leader – but that did not happen immediately.

A court in Uganda has reinstated Stella Nyanzi as a research fellow at Makerere University after she was suspended two years ago. Dr Nyanzi, who is known for her anti-government protests, will also be paid 120m Ugandan shillings ($32,000; £25,000) as compensation by the institution. She once stripped naked outside her university office after she was locked out. Dr Nyanzi had accused the university administration of various ills. She was later suspended and proceeded to court.

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered that flags be flown at half-mast across the country from Saturday in honour of the late Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza. The order on Kenyan and East Africa Community flags will remain in effect until Mr Nkurunziza is buried. Local media has reported on the close friendship between President Kenyatta and the late Nkurunziza.

Four men are in police custody in Uganda suspected to have killed a well-known silverback mountain gorilla in the south-western Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Rafiki was the head of a 17-member group, the oldest to ever be habituated in the country. There are at least 19 such groups in Uganda, each one led by a male silverback. Rafiki, estimated to be 25 years old, was reported missing on 1 June and his body found the following day. He had been injured in the upper left part of the abdomen.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is optimistic on the country’s economy, the largest in Africa, despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Buhari says the pandemic has had a “moderate” effect in the country compared to other economies around the world. Nigeria heavily relies on oil revenues and the economy has been struggling following the sharp fall in global oil prices.

A Gambian man living in the US state of Colorado has been charged over his alleged role in abusing suspected plotters of a failed 2006 coup in his home country against then President Yahya Jammeh. Michael Sang Correa, 41, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit torture and six counts of inflicting torture, according to court documents. He was a member of an armed unit known as the “Junglers” that answered to the Gambian president. He arrived in the US in December 2016.

A police camp in Kenya’s Naivasha town, west of the capital Nairobi, was set on fire by angry residents who were protesting against alleged harassment. The residents set the house of the officer in-charge on fire before flames spread to the other houses. Fire fighters put out the fire but property of unknown value had been destroyed. No one was injured in the incident, according to Naivasha sub-county commissioner Mathioya Mbogo.

(Foreign news: BBC)