National and International News Roundup – 20th January 2020

Heavy casualties in Bali Nyonga as government forces continue combing quarters in search of suspected pro-independence fighters. “In one of the raids today in Bali, a child was burnt alive in Ba Tankoh’s compound in Njenka Hausa,” a relative told Mimi Mefo Info. Another schocking incident was the burning to death of a mental patient whose name we got as Charlie. “An estimated 200 houses burnt down rendering approximately 1000 people homeless, just in Bali Nyonga. What has food stuff, domestic animals (pigs, goats), stores got to do with the war if it is not to kill the civilian populations,” another source questioned.

The Military has reportedly been raiding villages in the restive North West and South West regions. Today, soldiers stormed Babessi and Awing, forcing residents to flee into bushes for safety. A similar fate has befallen other villages that have seen houses burnt to the ground and villagers killed.

The Director of Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s Office, special envoy of the Prime Minister, Head of Government to Ndian Division has assured the population that their current transportion difficulties will soon be a thing of the past. Ebune Confiance was speaking in Mundemba on a “Peace for Development” visit during which the people presented their difficulties as a result of the ongoing armed conflict in the restive Anglophone regions..

The SDO of Kupe-Muanenguba Division, South West Region of Cameroon has called on the population in his area of command to snob any lockdown calls and turnout massively to vote on February 9, 2020. Jean Marie Tchakui was speaking during a security meeting in Bangem. He added, ELECAM has put in place measures to guarantee a hitch free polls, February.

At least five people have been killed in a new Boko Haram attack in Gongsoa Village, Kolofata, Mayo Sava of Cameroon’s Far North Region. Local sources say the heavily armed attackers stormed the village late Sunday, January 19, 2020, killing five persons, mainly family heads and leaving others severely injured.

The Cameroon Bar Council has formally launched a legal complaint following the death of Barrister Sylvain Souop. The Bar in its complaint against health officials at the Yaounde hospital where Barrister at law died said it does not believe his death was natural. Meantime, members of the MRC party which Barrister Souop defended during post electoral litigation have vowed to unveil the circumstances surrounding his death before any funeral arrangement.

Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health says “an administrative investigation” will be conducted to determine what killed Barrister Sylvain Souop. Minister Manaouda Malachie on twitter Monday, said he had reached out to the national medical council “to know the exact cause” of what he described as huge loss. The public health boss’ declaration comes at a time when MRC militants are raising eyebrows on the death of their party militant and lawyer.

The head of the CPDM Regional Permanent Delegation for the Littoral Region has called on party officials to put the CPDM party interest above individuals’. Minister Laurent Esso was speaking at the end of the party’s strategic meeting in Douala

Anglophone Christians at Saint Joseph Parish Emana in Yaounde were all in black outfits Sunday, to condemn the non-appointment of an English Speaking Catholic Priest at the parish for over four years. To the Christians, Anglophones started the church and deserve a fair treatment. They criticised the fact that Reverend Fathers posted in the church can barely communicate in English.

Hon. Jean Jacques Ekindi is accusing the Divisional Officer of Douala I for campaigning for the CPDM party ahead of the municipal and legislative elections. The DO, Christophe Fofie called on people to vote for the CPDM during his tour in the subdivision. Campaigns for the February 9^th  2020 twin elections are yet to officially begin.

The Cameroon Community Media Network, CCMN has launched the Littoral branch of the network today. CCMN seeks to promote peace journalism and objective reporting that develops and builds the society.  According to the National Coordinator, Roseline Akah Obah, Cameroon Communication Media Network journalists report for a positive change.

There has been the appreciation of strides made by Cameroon in the process of preparing to host 2021 African Cup of Nations and CHAN 2020. Constant Omari, Secretary General of the Confederation of African Football, CAF on RFI said Cameroon’s football facilities under construction are of international standards. He said he visited four towns in Cameroon hosting the construction works.

Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute is to preside over the National Decentralisation Board meeting this Thursday, January 23. This will be the first meeting after the adoption of a bill on decentralisation in Cameroon.

Local authorities say four hostages have been rescued in Buea. Going by a release from the communication unit of the national gendarmerie, six gendarmes and a military man rescued four persons in “Lower Bokova Mile 15” in Buea on January 18, 2020. According to the release, separatists fighters headed by one “General Zambe Augustine kidnapped the civilians.

Over the weekend, seven people were declared dead and 20 others injured in a traffic accident in Saha in the Massock Songloulou district in the Sanaga Maritime division. The accident happened when a truck carrying goods and about 34 people fell in the Lelep river some 11 kilometers from Edea. The bodies of the deceased, reports say, were deposited in the Edéa regional hospital mortuary, while the injured are receiving treatment in heath units in Pouma and Tombel district.

Over twenty passengers of the Cameroon Airline Corporation  (Camair-Co) spent the night at the departure hall of Garoua Airport in the North Region. The passengers after paying their tickets for Sunday January 19, 2020 10:30 pm flight from Garoua to Douala say they were replaced by other passengers. CAMAIR-CO is yet to comment on the situation.

Former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh will be arrested if he attempts to return to the country, a minister has told the BBC. Justice Minister Aboubacarr Tambadou said he would like to prosecute Mr Jammeh himself over his “brutal” rule.

Controversial Kenyan opposition MP Paul Ongili, popularly known as Babu Owino, will remain in custody for seven more days pending a bail ruling after he pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges at a court in the capital, Nairobi. The legislator was arrested last week after he allegedly shot a DJ, Felix Orinda in a club in the capital.

Primary and secondary school teachers across Malawi have downed tools in solidarity with their colleagues who were not paid their salaries for December 2019. The government last month removed some teachers – and thousands of other civil servants – from the government payroll for failing to produce national identification (ID) cards.

A tweeter in Sudan, who has been leading a campaign to save five starving lions being kept in cages in Khartoum’s Al-Qureshi Park, says one of the animals has been moved to a clinic because of its serious condition. Online calls have grown to help save five “malnourished and sick” lions kept in a park in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, AFP news agency reports. Crowds headed to the park to see the lions after their photographs went viral.

Long queues have formed in several centres across Tanzania as people try to beat Monday’s deadline to register their Sim cards. The measure is part of the government’s order for all users of mobile phones to register them under a new biometric system. (Source Foreign News: BBC Africa).