The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS has condemned the hostile take over by the army in Mali today. France it’s former colonial master has made similar condemning remarks. Soldiers seized the country’s president in a series of moves today.
The UN says it is willing to work with stakeholders to seek a political solution to Anglophone crisis. In its Daily Press Briefing today, the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General cautioned separatist fighters and asked government to ensure perpetrators of human rights abuses are brought to justice.
The applicability of the order of the Minister of Territorial Administration regulating the purchase of machetes and iron rods in the North West and South West has been found wanting. According to some lawyers, Minister Paul Atanga Nji in the order has violated the rights of people. They see this as a cosmetic solution that cannot put an end to the war.
Some workers of Buea Council are demanding the payment of their months of salaries through a sit down strike. They were striking today. On the placards, some of them say they were recruited by the former Mayor Ekema Patrick Esunge but are today considered as ghost workers by the present council administration.
The mother of Comfort Tumasang, woman killed by separatists in Muyuka in the South West region of Cameroon says she will not quit her home in Muyuka despite threats from separatists. She was speaking today as the director of civil cabinet at the Prime Minister’s office visited her. Confiance Ebune conveyed a message of condolences from the Prime Minister reassuring government’s determination to bring the culprits to book.
The Director of civil cabinet at the Prime Minister’s office is calling on separatist fighters to lay their arms and regain normal life. Ebune Confiance says killings and destruction is not helping the situation but is rendering the situation of civilians more vulnerable.
Some one hundred top officials of the national assembly have begun receiving training receiving training in information communication technology and the use of two official languages at the African Institute of Sciences in Yaounde. The training is to improve their performance while carrying out activities at the national assembly.
There are diverse reactions in Cameroon following an attempted military take over in Mali. To some Cameroonians, when a democratically elected president fails, it’s but normal for the military to put order. President Ibrahim Boubakar Keita has been arrested while Colonel Diaw has taken over power.
The construction of Douala/Yaounde double motorway stands at 60%. That has been disclosed today to reporters by officials of the ministry of transport. They say, the work will be completed by March 2021.
The discourse on Minister Nalova Lyonga’s decision to prohibit holiday classes is far from over. While some support the move, some teachers say it is an impediment to them who used it to make income for the months they are not being paid. The secondary education minister had cited the COVID-19 pandemic for her decision.
Mali President Ibrahim Boubakar Keïta has been arrested by mutinying soldiers, a government spokesman has confirmed to the BBC. Prime Minister Boubou Cissé has also been arrested, despite earlier appeals for “brotherly dialogue”. The coup attempt began with gunfire inside a key military base, some 15km (nine miles) from the capital, Bamako, on Tuesday morning.
There’s growing anger in Ethiopia after Amnesty International deleted and apologised for a Twitter post calling for justice for people killed and arrested in protests that followed the killing of popular musician Hachalu Hundessa in June. People mainly from the Oromo ethnic group have questioned why the rights group made the apology. In a report released last week, which it shared on Twitter, Amnesty called on Ethiopian authorities to ensure accountability.
Nigeria’s foreign affairs ministry has summoned Ghana’s Chargé d’Affaires to protest against the recent forceful closure of shops owned by Nigerian traders in Ghana, according to a ministry spokesperson. Ferdinand Nwoye told the BBC that the government expects “a quick resolution.” A viral video emerged this week showing forced closure of shops belonging to Nigerian traders in Ghana’s capital, Accra.
The head of the Africa CDC has said that antibody tests, which have begun in seven countries, will help in designing intervention measures. John Nkengasong told the BBC’s Newsday programme that the tests will give a clearer picture of who has been exposed to the virus and to what extend. He said antibody testing will allow the continent to coordinate
South Africa has launched a second Covid-19 vaccine trial. The vaccine from US-based biotechnology company Novavax is being trialled in a study by the University of Witwatersrand. Professor of Vaccinology Shabir Madhi said the trial would involve 2,900 participants and would help determine whether the medications being tested elsewhere work in an African context.
The campaign group Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) has said that a famous Congolese surgeon has been getting death threats and called for the UN to protect him. Dr Denis Mukwege is a Congolese gynaecologist who won the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for treating victims of sexual violence. PHR said Dr Mukwege has been “a target of an alarming intimidation campaign” including being sent death threats by text message.
Foreign news: BBC
