National And International News Roundup – 4th December 2020

Cameroonian soldiers have once more ben accused of carrying out extrajudicial killings in the country’s English speaking regions. A video shows them questioning suspects beloved to be separatist fighters. Both men were later found dead, still in the same clothes, showing signs of torture before death. This is not the first time such light has been shed over the army’s activities though government has always refuted the claims in the face of clear evidence.

A greater part of Bamenda remained deserted today as some people respected a four-day lockdown called by separatist fighters. Ambazonians have called for a lockdown from 4th – 7th December to paralyse regional elections scheduled for December 6th. Despite this, vendors of perishable goods braved the odds coming out to sell though there were no ready buyers. The situation was different in the Buea, capital of the South West Region where business activities went on hitch-free.

Recent figures from the Ministry of Public Health show that COVID-19 cases in Cameroon are on a continuous surge. As of today, 24,650 positive cases have been reported so far with 775 active cases. The tests were conducted between March  6th to December 4th 2020 in Cameroon. The recovery rate for COVID-19 in Cameroon stands at 95%, and 441 have died. Respect of COVID-19 measures remain the surest way to stop the spread of the virus.

The final examination of 2021 finance bill is taking place at the National Assembly. This comes after members of the government defended respective budgets of their ministries. The budget stands at 48,652 billion francs. With this budget, MPs say it will guarantee a 3.3 percent growth rate in 2021.

Elections Cameroon says the respect of COVID-19 barrier measures will be a top priority as over 12,000 councillors and traditional rulers go to the polls this Sunday to elect pioneer regional councillors. There are 272 polling stations throughout the national territory. In the Wouri Division, the voting will take place at Lycée Joss Bonanjo Douala.

Cameroon football technician, Mauril Mesack has been appointed head coach of the Mauritanian Under-20 National team. Before his appointment, Maurile had made a name in Mauritanian football by winning 5 championship titles with local Club side FC Nouahdibou. His exploits saw him rewarded with an opportunity to lead the country’s junior team henceforth.

Players of Unisport de Sokode of Togo spent the night at Douala International Airport. Arriving Douala shortly before midnight Thursday December 3rd, the players and officials spent the rest of the night there before departure today to Garoua. They will take on Cotton Sports of Garoua this Sunday in a return leg CAF cup.

The University of Bamenda has matriculated a new set of over 6,500 freshmen into their degree programmes. These students are the 10th batch of the University of Bamenda and have been admitted into 12 faculties. The students were matriculated in the presence of the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Theresa Akenji and some traditional rullers.

First lady of the Republic, Chantal Biya today turned 50 years of age. She is the 3rd  First Lady that Cameroon has had and  has illustrated herself through various charity programmes. As the founder of the Chantal Biya Foundation, she also enjoys the special advisory status of the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Mayor of Njombe Penja and the founder of the recently created School TV Africa, Paul Eric Kingue has lashed out at critics making negative comments about the support his newly created media house recieved from the Head of State. The Mayor questioned the reason why other media houses recieved aid from the president but were not met with the same criticisms he is facing. He however reiterated that the negativity was not going to stop him from attaining his objective

Two women and a man have been detained at Mimboman Gendarmerie Brigade in Yaoundé. They are accused of killing a man to take away his vehicle. One of the two women confessed to having poisoned her supposed lover and later called her friend to help her take away his vehicle.

Three members of a leading Egyptian human rights group detained in Cairo last month have been freed following widespread international criticism. The men, who worked for the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), were accused of links with a terror group and “spreading false news”. The UN’s human rights agency had described the arrests as “chilling”.

A lawyer in Maryland, US, has been indicted for his alleged role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain control of more than $12.5m (£9.2m) held by financial institutions on behalf of the Somali government. Jeremy Schulman, 47, was charged in an indictment filed in the District of Maryland, according to a press statement from the US Department of Justice.

The governor of Kenya’s capital Nairobi, Mike Sonko, has been voted out of office over allegations of abuse of office and gross misconduct. Some 88 out of 122 ward representatives who sit in the Nairobi county assembly voted for a motion to impeach him on Thursday. Local media reports that Mr Sonko had gone to court to block the impeachment motion.

The United Nations says fighting in many parts of Ethiopia’s Tigray region is hampering efforts to deliver aid. UN officials said there was still no access to those in need, despite the announcement on Wednesday of a deal to deliver assistance in government-held areas. Residents of Tigray’s regional capital Mekelle have told the BBC that fighting is continuing in places close to the city, despite the government saying the conflict is over.

Nigeria’s police says it’s investigating its own legal department. The move comes after a lawsuit was filed by police lawyers challenging the legality of the panels of enquiry looking into abuse by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, or Sars. The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, ordered the investigation after news of the lawsuit trended on social media on Thursday.

A vaccine against coronavirus will be rolled out “free for all Algerians” starting in “a month’s time”, says a senior health official in the north African country. Prof Kamel Sanhadji, president of the National Agency for Health Security, told a regional radio station in the eastern province of Setif that having the vaccine will not be mandatory.

Foreign news: BBC