National And International News Roundup – 13th October 2020

The government of Cameroon has celebrated the killing of a prominent Ambazonian fighter, General Ayeke. He was killed this morning after a 48-hour operation carried out by elements of the rapid intervention battalion -the BIR. The Senior Divisional Officer for Meme Division, Chamberlain Ntou’ou Ndong has appreciated the military for braving the challenges to invade the Wabane forest to kill General Ayeke. The BIR equally rescued some hostages.

Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute has inaugurated new nautical equipments purchased recently at the Douala autonomous sea port. This was in the course of a ceremony in Douala today. Economic actors say the port will be more competitive now internationally and will ease import. The equipment are also expected to facilitate and decrease the amount spent annually in dredging the port.

The Deido community in Douala says while waiting for government’s security, they will also defend themselves against boys harassing people and fanning urban violence. The traditional rulers have put in place vigilante groups to stand against any unwanted behaviour. In the meantime, commercial motorcycles have been temporarily banned in the quarter.

Cameroon’s interim director of customs has reiterated the importance of phone tax in Cameroon. Gaspar Neba in a press conference in Yaounde said the phone tax is to recover custom duties the state is failing to collect from those who import phones. The tax is expected to go operational from Thursday October 15th.

A Roman Catholic priest has been detained for calling for peace in the Anglophone regions. Jesuit priest, Father Ludovic Lado was arrested during a march to Yaounde calling on authorities to find a solution to the crisis. The priest is known for having a critical stance over several societal issues.

Today, workers of the Cameroon Development Coporation (CDC) in Tiko went out in protest to demand for their 2 years wages. They protested by displaying placards and peace plants in front of the CDC management office in Tiko. CDC which is the second national employer after the government has been seriously hit by the Anglophone crisis which has taken a huge toll on the corporation’s finances.

UN human rights experts have called on the Cameroon government to release the MRC president, Maurice Kamto from house arrest he has been subjected to for over three weeks now. The UN made this call yesterday in Geneva alongside a call for the government to release all political prisoners especially those linked to the September 22, 2020 nationewide protest. The UN equally asked the government to conduct an impartial investigation into the cases of arbitrary detentions and tortures metted on the civilians by the forces of law and order.

One person has died and four others have remained in a critical state in a fire that broke out in the Makepe neighbourhood in Douala. The cause of the fire behind a Tradex filling station is still largely unknown. The four injured victims are currently receiving medical aid at the Douala Regional Hospital.

Cameroon’s embassy in Berlin, Germany has been vandalised. The act was carried out by supposed Brigade Anti Sardinade members as they called for President Paul Biya to step down. They also accused him of human rights violations and genocide.

Some three commercial motorbike riders in Bamenda, North West region were arrested today. They were among the many calling on authorities to lift the decision restricting the sphere of operation of bikes in the town. Colleagues say the riders arrested were tortured as security forces tool them away.

Renowned Nigerian poet and playwright, John Pepper Clark, has died at the age of 85. His family said the literary icon died on Tuesday in a hospital in Lagos where he had been receiving treatment. He was popular for his poems Abiku and Night Rain which were compulsory reading for students of English literature across Africa at different points.

At least nine civilians have been killed in the Mopti region of central Mali. Officials are blaming the attack on al-Qaeda linked jihadists. The attackers – on motorbikes and in 4×4 vehicles – opened fire on people in Sokoura village who are from the Dogon ethnic group. Separate reports say several Malian soldiers were also killed.

The Tunisian army has been deployed in the northern city of Sbeitla following clashes between police and protestors. The violence erupted after the authorities bulldozed an illegally-built cigarette kiosk and killed its owner, who was sleeping inside. Tunisia’s Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi has sacked the provincial governor in an effort to defuse the anger in the local community.

Education officials in Uganda have warned parents not to pack hand sanitisers for their children returning to school on Thursday, fearing that it could result in alcohol abuse, Daily Monitor reports. Schools should instead ensure there’s water and soap at different sites, Benson Kule, the commissioner directorate of education standards, said. Mr Kule said that if students were allowed to carry hand sanitisers some could use the opportunity to bring alcohol to school.

Liberia’s Information Minister, Ledgerhood Rennie, has defended the move to seek help from the US government to investigate recent deaths of four civil servants. The minister told the BBC’s Newsday programme that the government wanted a transparent investigation involving the best experts. “Ourselves as government do not know what happened that is why we have launched a full scale investigation,” he said.

At least 12 people have been killed in western Ethiopian state of Benishangul-Gumuz in the second round of violence in less than week, according to the authorities. State spokesperson, Melese Beyene, has told the BBC that the violence was a “conflict among individuals” and that arrests were made. But a senior official from the opposition National Movement of the Amhara, Desalegn Chane, told the BBC that the violence was a continuation of ethnic-related attacks against minorities.

Nigeria’s police chief has ordered the unconditional release of all demonstrators arrested during protests against police brutality. This was a key demand of protesters who have rallied against the hated Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars) in major cities for seven days. Amnesty International said that 10 people were killed in the protests. Rallies have continued despite President Muhammadu Buhari announcing on Sunday the disbandment of Sars.

Foreign news: BBC