National And International News Roundup – 22nd January 2021

Cameroon has been ranked 21st country in terms of military might on the African Continent by the Global Fire Power Index. The latest ranking reveals that Cameroon slipped from previous position 19th in Africa. The top ranking country in Africa remains Egypt. On a global scale, Cameroon ranks 108th out of 135 countries. The world leading powers remain the USA, Russia, China and India.

Government forces have been accused of involvement in another burning spree as resident homes were set ablaze in Bafia, in Muyuka Subdivision . This follows atrocities that were previously committed by these men such as the killing of 9 civilians in the village of Mautu, Southwest region.

The Incoming Joe Biden Administration of the US has promised to show interest in the ongoing conflict in the Northwest and the Southwest region. Unlike the Previous regime, Biden’s incoming secretary of state has said that the US will particularly have an eye on the atrocities that are being committed against the Anglophones in Cameroon. The statement by the Biden Administration will be particularly worrying for president Biya especially who has a poor human rights record.

Volunteers of African Nations Championship in Douala have threatened to boycott their activities in stadia in Douala following non-payment of allowances. They staged a protest in front of the office of the Governor of the Littoral region in Bonanjo, Douala. According to them, transport and pocket allowances meant for them have been embezzled by officials.

Polycarpe Banloh has pledged to create wealth and make life better for people in the Littoral region. The pioneer president of the Regional Council Assembly, other executives and all regional councillors were commissioned to office today in Douala by Governor Samuel Dieudonne Diboa. The Regional President promised to work with all for a better Littoral.

The Governor of the Centre Region of Cameroon says there will be no conflict of functions between elected regional executives and appointed ones. Paul Naseri Bea while installing the President of Centre Regional Council and other councilors, insisted that the law specifies the place of each official.

The government of Japan has expressed concerns to assist Cameroon reconstruct part of the North West and South West regions. The country is concerned with education, provision of water and other social works. The Japanese ambassador met PM Dion Ngute in Yaoundé, today.

Health ministers of the CEMAC sub-region are considering possibilities of adopting COVID-19 vaccine to help the health situation.

Protesters have stormed the Littoral Governor’s office demanding for payments as they were hired to support teams at the ongoing African Nations Football Championship. The supporters say they were hired by the Douala municipal authorities to cheer up teams at the Japoma Stadium, but have not been given a dime by these authorities as they had promised.

Team Mali has arrived Douala from Yaoundé ahead of their match against Zimbabwe. It is to be a decisive match given that Mali already counts four points after two matches.

Morocco has played a goalless draw against Rwanda this evening at the Bepanda Omnisport Reunification stadium. CHAN defending champions Morocco tried in vain to overpower Rwanda.

Lovers of football in Cameroon have been raising concerns on how the team can secure victory over Burkina Faso this Sunday in the crucial African Nations Championship. To some, coach Martin Ndtougho Mpile should draw a line-up based on competence, experience and superstition.

The UN refugee agency says more than two million people have been displaced within their own countries by what it called the unrelenting violence in the Sahel region in Africa. The UNHCR said this was the highest number ever, and warned that the communities hosting the refugees in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger were at breaking point. The four countries are among the least developed in the world.

A court in Ethiopia has dropped six charges against prominent former media mogul Jawar Mohammed related to the possession of illegal firearms. He was detained, along with several other people, last July following the ethnic unrest that swept the country after the killing of prominent ethnic Oromo singer Hachalu Hundessa. Bekele Gerba and Dejene Tafa, both from the Oromo Federalist Congress party, are among leading opposition figures charged alongside Mr Jawar.

The prison authorities in Mozambique say they have captured eight out of 15 inmates who escaped a prison in the central Zambezia province. The National Prison Service Provincial Director in Zambezia, José dos Santos, said the eight were found within the province and that the operation to capture the remaining inmates was ongoing. The prisoners, who had been serving different jail terms for different offences, escaped from the Ile district prison in May last year.

Serious allegations of sexual violence are being reported in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, including a high number of alleged rapes in the city of Mekelle, Pramila Patten, the UN envoy on sexual violence in conflict, says. Government forces seized control of Mekelle, the regional capital, on 28 November after several weeks of fighting. “There are also disturbing reports of individuals allegedly forced to rape members of their own family, under threats of imminent violence,” Ms Patten said in a statement.

The confiscation of alcohol during raids conducted by Mozambique’s police to enforce Covid-19 restriction measures has been condemned by the main opposition party Renamo. Last weekend, police raided bars and restaurants and confiscated alcoholic drinks. Bars had been ordered to close under new measures and restaurants had their opening hours shortened.

The authorities in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, have started distributing food rations to vulnerable families affected by a 15-day coronavirus lockdown that started on Tuesday. All movements outside homes require an approved permit from the police, except for essential service providers. Households started receiving sacks of rice, maize flour and beans on Thursday evening, a BBC Great Lakes reporter in the city says.