National and International News Roundup – 20th February 2020

At least 300 Cameroonians are on the verge of being infected by the deadly coronavirus in China. Instead of seeking ways to repatriate them, Yaounde government has instead disbursed FCFA 50 Million (€76.181) for its citizens trapped in Wuhan, China as the virus spreads. In a release announcing the gesture, Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations, Felix Mbayu noted that the assistance is set to “enable the Cameroon embassy in Beijing to provide assistance to Cameroon citizens”. Weeks after the outbreak of the coronavirus in China, Cameroonians resident in the Asian country and their parents back home complained of being ignored by Cameroon’s embassy in Beijing. Official figures reveal that the epidemic has so far resulted in about 2000 deaths and over 72438 confirmed cases of infection. Is the money what they need? Have your say!

In the wake of more violence and killings in the restive North West and South West regions, the United Kingdom has been tasked with taking the lead to end atrocities by the Biya regime. The call was made by Jackie Fearnly at Justice First, adding that “instead of standing helplessly by and watching the escalation of a genocide, perhaps a helpful step would be if Great Britain could initiate a resolution for a referendum to be conducted through the good offices of the UN with questions to ascertain how many anglophones from NW and SW Cameroon would like to remain in this union”. (DETAILS LATER).

The President of the Ayah Humanitarian Foundation is expected at SED tomorrow Friday for further interrogation. Today, Ayah Ayah Abine spent over four hours answering questions on accusation of supplying arms to separatist fighters in the restive Anglophone regions of Cameroon. Dr Success Nkongho and ex-Separatist ‘General’ Nambere filed a complaint against the Foundation.

A truck driver was early Thursday, shot dead in Muyuka, South West Region of Cameroon by government soldiers, a source has told Mimi Mefo Info. The driver whose name we got as Cornelius was on his way to Douala when he was gunned down. The source added “he was shot along Muyuka–Yoke motorway.

Death threats have forced Mbacha Eric to back out of the 2020 mountain race. In a social media video today, Eric said he had been receiving threats since he emerged winner of the competition last year. Being a household name in mountaineering in Cameroon, Mbacha Eric won the Mount Cameroon Race in 2011, 2014 and 2019 and has participated over ten times. “If I was home I will not still run on Saturday because I will be mourning the death of those little kids killed in my division, I feel bad because we do not have our industry or company but we have our natural God-given talents, those kids would have been great tomorrow. May their souls Rest In Peace,” he told Mimi Mefo Info.

Following the Ngarbuh Massacre, US Diplomat Herman Cohen has called on the International Criminal Court, ICC to investigate Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya.  Victims and rights groups said over 35 people were killed when government soldiers raided and burned houses in Ngarbuh-Ntunbaw. This is not the first time Cohen has spoken up against excesses in the ongoing crisis that has leftover three thousand dead.

According to official statistics, more than 550 athletes of the junior, senior and veteran categories will challenge the “Chariot of the gods” this weekend in Buea. Inhabitants of Buea say preparations are timid ahead of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope.

Banks in Cameroon lost an estimated FCFA 500 billion (over 820 million Dollars) due to unpaid loans. This greatly affected the economy. The figures were advanced by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Daniel Mekube Sone while opening the 2020 judicial year. He decried the sale of justice in Cameroon, arbitrary arrest and detention and exaggerated bail fee.

The problem of financing small and medium-size enterprises remains rife in Cameroon. Five members of the government were in Douala today to launch a project called “Crowd Funding “. Ministers explained that the project permits members of the public to participate in the funding of small and medium-size enterprises.

The German embassy in Cameroon says it will no longer give visas to Cameroon students. Published on its official site Wednesday, February 19th 2020, the German embassy in Yaounde said, many demands have been received from Cameroonian students, and no other demand will be received for category B for the semester 2020.

Child Advocacy Organization has lamented over the killing of children in the troubled Anglophone regions, calling for concrete action to be taken. Child Advocacy Organization, CAO following last week’s massacre in Ngarbuh has joined other civil society organizations and the international community to mourn the death of over 35 persons killed, including kids and pregnant women.

After rumours of the presence of Coronavirus, COVID 19 in Cameroon, the Ministry of Public Health is putting Cameroonians on high alert. In a press release Wednesday, February 19th, 2020, Dr Manaouda Malachie said Cameroonians travelling abroad, especially into countries affected by the virus should identify themselves to competent health authorities for monitoring. He further called for maximum vigilance on the part of Cameroonians. 

MRC party members arrested in Bangangte about three weeks ago for calling on locals to boycott the legislative and municipal elections of February 09, 2020, appeared in court today. Jimegni Rosange, Mbieda Laurent, Fonga Jean and Kamtchouang Jean Marie, are being accused of “rebellion and electoral fraud”.

Diplomatic relations between China and Cameroon are tensed following the arrest and incommunicado detention of some Chinese Nationals at the dreaded State Defense Secretariat SED in Yaounde.  Sources in Yaounde Cameroon say the Chinese nationals are being accused of establishing and issuing fake national identity cards to Cameroonians. Chinese officials in Cameroon are said to be angry that their nationals have been detained incommunicado for over four days, without trial.

A woman whose name we got as Muma Ndagha is currently hospitalized in Pinyin in the Mezam of the North West region, after being shot by alleged soldiers. Local sources say the woman was allegedly shot in the leg by government soldiers earlier Thursday, February 20th.

Two Persons have been crushed dead in an accident in Buea South West region late Thursday, February 20, 2020. The two, a taxi driver and female passenger died on the accident scene after being crushed by a heavy-duty truck at the Bakweri Town neighbourhood. Their bodies have been placed at the Buea regional hospital mortuary.

One person is reported dead and two bikes were taken away by unknown armed men at a fuel filling station in Akwa Nord, Douala 1 Subdivision. Sources say the man discovered dead was a worker at a fuel filling station in Akwa Nord, attacked by thieves. Haven refused to heed to demands from the three men of the underworld to hand over money, he was stabbed him to death. The bandits took away two commercial motorcycles parked in the petrol station.

The elective council session to vote in the Mayor of Messok in the East region of Cameroon ended prematurely. Some councillors of the Messok staged a walkout, in protest of what they call the poor behaviour of CPDM party envoys.

Lesotho’s Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, 80, is to be charged with the murder of his estranged wife Lipolelo Thabane, police have said. Mr Thabane announced he would be stepping down in July because of old age, without commenting about the case. His current wife Maesaiah Thabane has already been charged with the murder. He would be the first African leader to be charged with a domestic murder while in office, in a case that has shocked the tiny mountain kingdom.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and his rival Riek Machar have agreed to form a unity government by Saturday’s agreed deadline. This latest development follows a meeting at State House in the capital, Juba, on Thursday. President Kiir has promised protection for opposition leaders. Mr Machar’s allies had sought assurances about his safety should he formally return to the capital.

Rwanda has rejected demands by human rights organisations for an independent investigation into the death of Kizito Mihigo, a popular gospel singer, who was found dead in a police cell on Monday morning. He died three days after he was arrested near the border with Burundi, with police accusing him of attempting to flee the country and join rebel groups fighting against Rwanda.

Ugandan academic and activist Stella Nyanzi, who was earlier acquitted of insulting the president, fainted after a scuffle ensued between her supporters and police officers. Ms Nyanzi, who was ordered to be released immediately by a judge on Thursday, fainted after the trouble between her supporters and prison officials who tried to take her back into prison, according to Reuters news agency. Her supporters managed to help her outside the court compound, put her in a car and drive off.

Namibia has become the first African country to export red meat to the US, after nearly two decades of negotiations. The state-owned Meatco’s first shipment of meat, 25 tonnes of beef, set off towards Philadelphia on Wednesday, news agency Reuters reports.

Tunisia is the latest country to officially submit a bid to host this year’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League final. The announcement from the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) came on 20 February (Thursday), the day CAF put forward as its deadline to receive bids. (Source Foreign News: BBC Africa).

Mimi Mefo Info

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