National and international news roundup – 17th April, 2020

A total of 177 people have recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon so far. The figures were given by the Public Health Ministry COVID-19 control centre in Yaounde this evening.

There are possibilities for a treated COVID-19 person to be reinfected. Scientists say this is one of the particularities of coronavirus. Contrary to other pandemics where treated persons develop immune system to the virus, recovered people of COVID-19 can still be infected.

Calm is yet to return to Bambili- North West region after the brutal killing of the tranditional council chairman and the secretary of the council Tuesday April 14th 2020. As calls highten for revenge against suspected families, the population has been called by their Fon to bury their anger and embrace peace. This was during a ceremony to cleanse the land.

The Governor of the West Region of Cameroon has warned against the illegal and unauthorised transportation of death bodies in his area of command. Warning against all forms of burials and death ceremonies, Awa Fonka Augustine said any corpse moved into the West Region or from one part of the Region to the other must present an authorisation from his services or from a SDO. Observers see this measure as a bitter pill to swallow for inhabitants of the West region who are culturally very inclined to funeral and death celebrations.

Few days after the demise of Momo Bernard, former Mayor of Dchang from COVID-19, the wife Momo Bernadette has followed him. She died in Yaounde as a result of COVID-19. Note that she was the hospital care taker of her husband. Momo Bernard was also the coordinator of National Growth programs at the Prime Ministry in Cameroon

Mr Bonkung Victor, 3rd Deputy Mayor of Nwa Council -Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region of Cameroon is no more. Local sources say, the Municipal officer was kidnapped by suspected Amba boys in Ntambru, killed between Ntambru and Mbah, and later abandoned along the road. Mayor Bonkung Victor was reportedly returning from the burial of the head master of G.S Kwi Gom, Mr Mbilah Julius

Former Prime minister Yang Philemon has been appointed Grand Chancellor of National orders. He was appointed Friday April 17th 2020 by a Presidential decree signed by Paul Biya. Yang Philemon takes over from another former prime minister Peter Mafany Musonge

Former Prime Minister Philemon Yang has been appointed Grand Chancellor of National Orders. He replaces Peter Mafany Musonge.

Thirteen (13) newly elected members of parliament have received their parliamentary attributes today thereby making them full law makers. They were elected during a legislative parliamentary rerun in some constituencies in the North West and South West Regions.

The population of New Bell and Deido in Douala has appreciated Samuel Eto’o Fils for assisting them during this health crisis. Workers of Samuel Eto’o Foundation began the distribution of health kits today. 50.000 homes of vulnerable persons in the towns of Douala,Yaounde, Buea and Bafoussam are the main objective.

The UN says it is likely the coronavirus pandemic will kill at least 300,000 people in Africa and push nearly 30 million into poverty. The UN Economic Commission for Africa called for a $100bn (£80bn) safety net for the continent. Although Africa has reported fewer than 20,000 confirmed cases, the World Health Organization says there could be as many as 10 million in the coming months.

The Nigerian government has threatened to close private healthcare centres and hospitals caught secretly treating coronavirus patients. Some wealthy people are ignoring protocol by seeking private care instead of contacting the Centre for Disease Control, it says. Nigeria’s health minister said that private facilities must be accredited to treat highly infectious disease.

The UN says at least 14 people have been killed and 15 others injured in a fire incident at a camp for people displaced by Boko Haram violence in north-eastern Nigeria. It says the fire on Thursday in Ngala – a town in Borno state that borders Cameroon – is the worst in a series of similar incidents in recent weeks. The Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) says in the past month more than 12 fire incidents have been recorded in various camps for people displaced by the insurgency in Borno state.

Rights campaigners are urging Mozambique’s government to find a radio journalist who went missing last week. “Ibrahimo Mbaruco’s apparent forced disappearance is of grave concern, particularly given the Mozambican security forces’ alarming record of wrongfully detaining journalists,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement. Mr Mbarauco was heading home after work on 7 April when he encountered a group of soldiers, his brother told the rights group.

A Nigerian taxi driver who stripped himself naked on the highway to protest his arrest by security operatives has been sentenced to six months in prison. Officials had arrested Emmanuel Imhoudu in Abuja for flouting a ban on non-essential movement in the city where there is a lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus. On Thursday, a magistrate court in the city found him guilty of three charges brought against him and sentenced him to jail, but gave him the option of paying $78 (£62) as fine and an apology on national television.

All 20 million people living in Nigeria’s second-biggest city, Kano, are under a seven-day lockdown starting from Friday. Poverty and religion are the major issues at play with some saying obeying the government’s stay-at-home order will mean dying of hunger at home.

(Foreign news: BBC)