National And International News Roundup – 8th December 2020

The Party President for the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), Maurice Kamto has finally been ‘set free’ after living for several months under house arrest. Kamto was placed under house arrest since the eve of a protest march which he had programmed on September 21, 2020. He remained under ‘arrest’  till today December 8; two days after the Regional Elections he had promised to foil.

Some militants of Cameroon Renaissance Movement party have described government’s announcement to ease measures against militants of the party arrested on September 22nd as a non-event. They describe Biya’s regime as a dictatorial one that has openly shown hostility against real opposition parties in the country.

Some municipal councillors in Widikum, Momo Division in the North West Region are relocating to Bamenda for safety. After participating in last Sunday’s regional election, separatist fighters have promised to kill those who participated, describing them as betrayers. After voting last Sunday, councillor Encho Elias of Widikum was killed.

Another traditional ruler dies again after voting in the just ended regional elections. Din Dika, King of Akwa died today December 8, 2020, two days after voting. He is the 2nd chief in 48 hours to die after casting his vote. The first traditional ruler died in Garoua some hours after casting his vote.

Administrative, military and indigenes of Douala have been streaming into the Palace of the King of Akwa to pay homage to the fallen King, and to condole with the family. The demise of King Din Dika of Akwa today, has come as a surprise to many. His last public appearance was on Sunday, December 6th, 2020 at Lycée Joss in Bonanjo; where he voted for Cameroon’s first regional election.

Cameroon Democratic Union (CDU) party harvests 17 of the 90 council seats at the West regional council. The Party headed by Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya won the seats in Noun Division.

After the adoption of Cameroon’s 2021 state budget at the National Assembly,  members of the government have been defending their budgets with the Finance Committee of the Senate.

Rumours of the death of former Indomitable Lion player, Jean Manga Onguene have been debunked by his wife. Though she affirms that Jean Onguene is still sick, she insists that her husband cannot die in France without the sport media reporting it.

Reports say a young man was apprehended last week in the Batcham Sub-Division, West Region as he tried exhuming the bones of his late father for money ritual purposes. It is said that the apprehended culprit, Pauline Lontsi returned just a week earlier from Congo where he does business.

A student today reportedly stabbed his friend in Mangang in the Centre Region over Christmas money. It is alleged that the young boy attacked his girlfriend after he got frustrated with his girlfriend’s unending demands for Christmas presents.

The International Monetary Fund has released a brief statement on the meeting with Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu that we reported on earlier. The meeting came after Zambia defaulted on debt repayment last month. The IMF said that the “Zambian authorities have formally requested a financing arrangement… to support their reform efforts.

Doctors in Kenya want the health ministry to pay the outstanding bills of medics who have died from complications arising from Covid-19. They also want the government to pay compensation to their families. The demands come in the wake of Dr Stephen Mogusu’s death after he contracted coronavirus. So far, at least a dozen doctors have died from the disease.

Ethiopian troops shot at and detained UN staff after they drove through check-points in the conflict-hit northern Tigray region, government spokesman Redwan Hussein has confirmed. The UN team ignored instructions not to be in the area, he added. Government forces have been battling the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in the region since 4 November.

Fighting has broken out in parliament in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the second day running. The police had to be called in to break up supporters of President Félix Tshisekedi and those backing the previous head of state, Joseph Kabila. Three people were hurt as the rival groups flung objects at each other, AFP news agency says.

The Nigerian government has denied allegations that it’s engaging in systematic and egregious religious freedom violations after the US placed the country on a religious freedom blacklist. The US move comes in the context of Christian groups talking about growing insecurity. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the rare inclusion of a fellow democracy is part of an effort to shame Nigeria into action. It is the second time in a row that Nigeria has been included in the US list.

A Senegalese court has sentenced three fathers to a month in prison for paying smugglers to take their sons to Europe. One of the boys died at sea in October. The court in Mbour, south of the Senegalese capital, Dakar, found the men, who are all fishermen, guilty and gave them two-year suspended sentences for endangering lives.

Foreign news: BBC