National And International News Roundup – 2nd November 2020

MMI News Brief – Monday, 2nd November 2020

The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie has today revealed that Cameroon has recorded a 96% recovery rate from COVID-19. The Minister indicated that between October 15 to November 1, 2020, positive cases of COVID-19 moved from 21,430 to 22,103. Death toll stands at 429 against 424 recorded early last month. Recoveries stand at 21,151 as compared to last months’ 20,333.

Four persons are receiving medical attention in Yaoundé following an artisanal bomb explosion last evening. The bomb exploded in a drinking spot at the Nsam neighbourhood. This is the fourth time that local bombs have exploded in the City of Yaoundé. The explosion was from a locally-made bomb which was carefully planted in the area by anonymous individuals. Many of the victims of the explosion received serious injuries on their hands and legs. They were rushed to the Efoulan Hospital where they are currently receiving treatment.

Dozens of asylum seekers have gone ‘missing’ in Cameroon weeks after they were deported from the US. Before their arrival, the government through the national media had already described them as illegal migrants that have taken advantage of the war in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon to seek a permanent stay in the United States of America. Till date no official word has been put out over their whereabouts.

Some Cameroon artists yesterday in Yaoundé, organised a peaceful demonstration at the Lyceé Bilingue Essos in memory of the 7 school kids that were massacred in Kumba, South West Region. The initiative was brought about by famous musician Maahlox and was able to pull hundreds of young Cameroonians to the protest ground with messages of hope and a demand for a return to peace in the Anglophone regions.

Credible reports from Yaoundé reveal that an Anglophone detainee at the Secretary of State for Defence (SED) has died due to the horrible conditions he was placed under. Divine Kwoa from Mankon gave up the ghost yesterday due to the excessive torture he endured while in detention. The same source also reveals that the spokesperson for the CRM party, Olivier Bibou Nissack occupies one of the underground cells of SED from which he has been completely cut off from communication.

The people of Ndop are mourning the death of a councillor killed by armed men. Emmanuel Njunkang was shot dead in Bamali village on accusation of collaborating with the military against the fighters.The killing happened on Saturday, 31st October when Cameroonians were observing a national day of mourning to denounce all forms of killings.

The chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) party says Cameroonians need to speak the truth and forgive one another for peace to reign. Ni John Fru Ndi was speaking in Yaoundé in the course of an ecumenical service to pay homage to fallen SDF militants and people killed in the Anglophone crisis. The political party leader says each Cameroonian has fallen short of contributing for peace.

Parents of children killed in a private school in Kumba have been given financial assistance. This was during a visit today in Kumba by the Minister of Territorial Administration. Paying homage to the seven students by lighting seven candles in a classroom where they were killed, Paul Atanga Nji stated that the killers will be brought to book.

Bodies of seven children killed at Mother Francisca International Memorial Academy Fiango, Kumba will be removed from the mortuary this Thursday, November 5th. Gregory Mewanu, Mayor of Kumba city says an ecumenical service will take place at Kumba Amusement Park before burial by respective families.

Efuet Therese Nkong is responding to treatment. The 12 year old girl survived the Kumba massacre on the 24th of October and today is receiving medical attention at the Douala General Hospital. Contrary to social media reports, the mother of the girl says Therese has not undergone any head surgery.

There is controversy on how successful Cameroon local professional football league will be. The launch of the championship follows the Cameroonian elite league division which was launched yesterday November 1, 2020 at the Yaoundé Omnisport Stadium in an opening match pitting Cotton Sport de Garoua, against Panthére Sportif de Ndé. The first match between Cotton Sports and Panthère du Ndé took place yesterday officiated by foreign referees. Cameroon Football Professional League is in a power struggle with Cameroon Football Federation – Fecafoot.

Ivory Coast’s election on Saturday was marred by intimidation, violence and electoral malpractice, an observation group has said. “An election is the moment when a society comes together to experience and live out democracy, but the context that prevailed on election day… shows that a large segment of the Ivorian population did not experience this election in peace,” PTI Advocacy Group said in a statement.

Algeria’s electoral body says voters have backed changes to the constitution, in a referendum marked by historically low turnout. It says 66.8% of people voted “yes”. However only 23.7% of people eligible to vote took part in the poll, which took place amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus. The country’s president meanwhile is abroad for medical treatment for an undisclosed illness, having already self-isolated after his colleagues tested positive for the virus.

Police in Tanzania say they will charge the opposition leader Freeman Mbowe and several of his colleagues with planning violent protests, accusing them of planning to blow up petrol stations and markets in the biggest city, Dar es Salaam. Chadema party chairman Mr Mbowe and other senior members of the main opposition group were arrested after calling for mass protests against the landslide victory of President John Magufuli in last week’s election. A BBC correspondent in Tanzania says people do not appear to have heeded the protest call.

Restrictions have been put in place as schools in Rwanda gradually reopen from Monday, but social distancing will likely prove difficult. Students must wear masks and follow strict hygiene rules – their temperatures are taken and they wash their hands before being allowed in. Authorities have ordered a maximum of 23 children per class, but this is quite impossible in many affordable public schools that usually have huge numbers.

A Kenyan lawyer has surrendered to the International Criminal Court (ICC) five years after it issued a warrant for his arrest. The court had charged Paul Gicheru and two others with obstructing the course of justice, accusing them of interfering with the prosecutors’ witnesses in the case against alleged organisers and funders of post-election violence in 2007.

Uganda’s electoral commission has cleared incumbent President Yoweri Museveni to begin official campaigns for the elections scheduled for January 2021. Mr Museveni has ruled the country since 1986 when he rose to power through an armed struggle. A law passed in 2017 removed a constitutional age limit for presidential candidates making it possible for Mr Museveni – who is 76 – to run again.

Foreign briefs: BBC