President Paul Biya has authorised Air France to operate amidst COVID-19 air port closures. Air France can land and take off from the Cameroon’s political capital Yaounde and economic capital Douala airports until June 30th despite the increase number of coranavirus cases in the country. This was contained in a letter addressed to the Director General of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority, where the Minister of Transport, Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe made the announcement with emphasis of passengers and Air personnel respecting strictly the measures of being COVID-19 negative and the wearing face masks and auto- confinement upon arrival.
Six volunteer workers of Survie Cameroon Survival Initiative have been accused of rebellion by the state prosecutor in Yaounde. They were arrested yesterday in Mokolo market – Yaounde while distributing face masks and sanitisers to the population. To the police men who arrested them, the motive is that they were guilty of sharing gifts without authorisation.
Christian Penda Ekoka, Coordinator of the Survi Cameroon Survival initiative, and Alain Fogue, National treasurer of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement political party have been summoned to appear before the judiciary police in Yaounde Tuesday May 13th 2020. It remains uncertain why they are convened but observers say the move is linked to the Survi Cameroon Survival Initiative. The 6 CRM militants arrested Monday during a process to distribute COVID-19 protective items, are still in detention
The Secretary General of the United Nations Organisation and Pope Francis have renewed pressure on President Paul Biya to declare a cease fire in the armed conflict in the Anglophone North West and South West Regions. According to CRUX, an inner news outlet of the Vatican, Pope Francis and Antonio Guteres have addressed the message to Paul Biya following the failure of the outcome of the major national dialogue to cease fire and restore lasting peace, seven months after. It should be noted that people are still being killed and properties destroyed in the regions
Fako Divisional CPDM Barrons have told President Paul Biya that no development will take place in the North West and South West Regions with this stalemate. Decrying continuous conflict and destructions in the Regions several months after the major national dialogue, the Fako Divisional CPDM members say only peace can make the Anglophone regions suitable for reconstruction. Their call was made during a gathering to express gratitude to the President for granting autonomy to the Limbe Sea Port Authority
Barely two months after election at the helm of the Eseka Council in the Nyong and Kelle Division of the Center Region, the PCRN Mayor and Councillors are at dangers drawn. In an ordinary council session in Eseka, the Councillors accused the Mayor of carrying out projects without consulting them. The Councillors say the attitude is egoistic and will only mar the image of the opposition PCRN party in the area. The council session took place in the presence of the PCRN National President Cabral Libii
Inhabitants in of Bot Makak of the Nyong and Kelle Division of the Center Region of Cameroon say they have been completely abandoned by the Biya government in all espects of socio-economic development. Expressing frustrations at the lone delapidated stretch which is today blocked, Bot Makak villagers say they lack social basic amenities such as portable water, health units, schools and the age long bad roads.
Former Cameroon’s indomitable lions’ head coach, Phillipe Redon has died today Tuesday May 12, 2020 at the age of 69.The French technician will be remembered by Cameroonians for leading the Indomitable Lions to the 1992 African Cup of Nations semi-finals.
Acute shortage of nurses and midwives in Cameroon. International Nurses day observed today on the theme “Nursing the world for health “. Nurses in Cameroon say they are paid meagre salaries as compared to enormous work done to safe lives. An average of 8000 nurses graduate yearly in health institutions while government recruits just 1000.
Four people confirmed dead as a result of cholera outbreak in Japoma Douala. At least twenty two cases have been recorded in the past three weeks in the area. Douala III Council has launched a project of disinfecting places to reduce the spread.
Separatist fighters in the North West and South West regions have intensified attacks on elected officials such as; Parliamentarians and Councillors. They have promised to kill those they consider as traitors for running for elections when they are fighting for total independence.
The Chief of Ntumbaw village in Ndu Sub Division – North West Region is accusing fulanis and Mbororo communities for killing people and looting property in the village. The palace has addressed the complain to the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Division.
Public Works Department (PWD) Bamenda football club has been declared winners of 2020 Elite League One football championship in Cameroon. The decision was taken by Fecafoot while officially closing the football season due to the inconveniences caused by coronavirus pandemic.
Water scarcity in Mokolo in the Far North Region of Cameroon. Villagers travel for long distances to fetch the precious liquid. Despite this, water fetched in streams and rivers is of doubtful quality.
The Sudanese prime minister has rejected an Ethiopian proposal to sign an initial agreement over a controversial dam which is nearing completion on the River Nile. Abdalla Hamdok said there were still technical and legal problems to overcome. Egypt and Sudan are concerned that the dam (in western Ethiopia) could severely reduce their water supply. Ethiopia wants to start filling the dam’s reservoir in July in order to start producing hydro-electricity.
Violent protests have erupted in the city of Kayes in western Mali after an off-duty police officer shot dead an 18-year-old. Overnight, angry youths then attacked a police station and seized weapons. Protests have continued throughout Tuesday, and there are unconfirmed reports that at least 10 people have been killed. A senior official from the police force has apologised for the killing of the man and said the officer had been arrested. Kayes has been volatile in recent weeks, with protests against a curfew that was introduced because of the coronavirus and demonstrations over a disputed parliamentary election.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has tweeted that nearly 1,000 health workers in the African region have been infected with coronavirus. The WHO urged governments to make sure that doctors and nurses had personal protective equipment (PPE). Anyone who comes into close contact with patients who may or do have coronavirus should wear some form of protection.
Clinicians carrying out tasks that could generate airborne droplets of saliva loaded with the virus should use an even higher standard of protection, including disposable gowns, filtering respirators and face-shielding visors.
East African heads of state have agreed to use digital trackers for cargo lorry drivers as part of measures to help curb the spread of coronavirus in the region. The decision comes at a time of increasing concerns in the region over high numbers of long-distance drivers testing positive for Covid=19 at countries’ borders. “The heads of state noted that information sharing is key during a crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic,” read part of the statement. So far, drivers’ movements have not been restricted in the region since they are considered essential workers as they transport goods such as food and medication across East Africa. The Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria has offered all its health facilities across the country as isolation and treatment centres for coronavirus patients. The Director of the Catholic Health Secretariat in Nigeria, Emmanuel Okechukwu, told the BBC that the church had more than 440 heath facilities and they were willing to allow them to be used for testing, isolation and treatment centres. Nigeria has been struggling with bed spaces and has called for the donation of properties from organisations and individuals.
A Congolese woman, who worked as a railway ticket office worker in London, has died of coronavirus after she was spat at by a man who said he had Covid-19. Belly Mujinga, 47, who had underlying respiratory problems, was working at Victoria station in the UK capital on 22 March when she was assaulted, along with a female colleague. Within days of the incident, both women fell ill with the virus. British Transport Police said an inquiry had been launched to trace the man who spat at the pair.
(Foreign news: BBC)
