National And International News Roundup – 21st January 2021

Traders at Mokolo Market in Yaounde say a second grade police officer called Bouba has no sympathy for humanity. The officer accused of killing a commercial motorcycle rider in the market Tuesday this week, is receiving medical attention after he was lynched by the population.

Inhabitants of Douala are pointing accusing fingers at the administration for paralysing activities on match days for the African Nations Championship. Today, people trekked from Bonanjo to Yassa and other places given that authorities blocked the road from Bonanjo to Japoma for all vehicles except those transporting players, members of delegation and fans.

Alim Bouka takes oath of office as President of the North Region Council Assembly. This was at the Garoua Court of Appeal today in the North Region. Alim Boukar at 60 and graduate of ENAM says he is aware of the challenges ahead.

The Intermediate Lions of Cameroon have resumed training ahead of a crucial match against Burkina Faso this Sunday. The Lions need victory at all cost to maximise their chances of staying in the competition. In Group A at the moment, Mali and Cameroon have four points each, Burkina Faso three points while Zimbabwe has zero point.

Commercial motorcycle riders in Bangante; Ndeh Division in the West region of Cameroon blocked the road to Bafoussam this afternoon, asking for the immediate release of their colleague arrested. The town was totally paralysed as they wanted their colleague accused of stealing from a customer to be released.

There are fears that the number of COVID-19 cases in Cameroon may witness a tremendous increase after the African Nations Championship. Nine players and the head coach of the Democratic Republic of Congo have tested positive and many others from other delegations.

The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji has warned traditional rulers in the West region to distance themselves from anti-republican utterances. The Minister was speaking at a meeting with these chiefs together with West Region Governor, Augustine Awah Fonka following a memoranda that was published by the chiefs, in which they stated grievances on the state of affairs in the North West and the South West Regions.

Repentant separatist leader, General Nambere has decried the rent seeking attitude of the authorities of the South West Region, than seeking for solutions to resolve the Anglophone crisis. In a TV interview with My Media Prime, he complained that the people in charge of reintegration of former fighters at the DDR centres are not doing their jobs, causing most of the fighters to change their minds about dropping their weapons.

A total of 6 students today lost their lives in a road accident in Mbalmayo. The students were reportedly moving to school by the side of the road when a taxi which had gone out of control, ran into them, killing six of them on the spot. It was later discovered that the taxi driver was drunk at the time of the accident.

The population of Babadjou in the West Region were taken by terror as a gun battle between separatist fighters from the North West Region and security forces. These fighters had reportedly crossed into the region from Matazem on transit to Mbouda but were intercepted at Babadjou. Two of the vehicles used by the separatist fighters were seized, and one of them seriously injured from the gun battle, though he managed to escape.

Prominent South African politician Jackson Mthembu has died of Covid-related complications, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced. Mr Mthembu, who since 2019 had been serving as the minister in the presidency, was a parliamentarian and long-serving member of the governing African National Congress (ANC).

People behind an alleged baby-harvesting and child-trafficking syndicate operating at health facilities in Ghana have been arrested. It follows months of investigations that also led to the rescue of two babies. According to the Ghanaian authorities, some of the mothers may have been told their babies had died after delivery, or those who could not take care of their new-borns were encouraged to sell them.

Africa’s Covid-19 case fatality rate is now higher than the global average, which is “worrying and concerning”, according to the head of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The continent’s death rate stands at 2.5% against a global average of 2.2% and the number of nations recording higher rates is growing, Africa CDC Director John Nkengasong told reporters. Earlier during the pandemic Africa recorded lower death rates than the global average, Mr Nkengasong said.

The European Union (EU) says it is concerned about the continued harassment of politicians and civil society activists in Uganda after last week’s general election. The incumbent, President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, won his sixth elective term. In a statement, the EU Council of Ministers called on the government to restrain its security agencies, investigate allegations of abuses and bring to account all those responsible for violations.

Eswatini has extended a partial lockdown meant to prevent the spread of coronavirus by another four weeks and banned the sale of alcohol. The country, previously known as Swaziland, neighbours South Africa where coronavirus cases are surging because of a new Covid-19 variant. Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said alcohol sales would be totally banned for the four weeks.

Foreign news: BBC