National And International News Roundup – 9th November 2020

Hundreds of houses destroyed in Logone and Chari Division in the Far North Region of Cameroon since the beginning of the month of November. Rising water levels is responsible for the flood. Thousands have been rendered homeless.

Three out of nine killers of students in a private school in Kumba have been killed. Minister Delegate in charge of Justice, Joseph Beti Asomo mentioned that in Kumba today. He has reassured bereaved families that all perpetrators of the massacre will be brought to book. Bereaved families accused the government of security lapses in Kumba that led to the killing of their kids.

The Minister Delegate in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo is currently on a tour in the two Anglophone regions of Cameroon. His visit is to serve as a moral boost to the defense and security forces operating in the regions in the face of the recent attacks and hostilities witnessed in the North West and South West Regions of late.

The First Lady of the Republic, Chantal Biya has reached out with gifts to survivors of the Kumba School massacre, currently receiving treatment in hospitals in Buea and Mutengene. The gifts were handed to the survivors by the Regional Delegate of Public Health for the South West, Dr Ebongo Zacheus.

Council authorities in Bamenda, North West Region, have retrieved the body of an unidentified man who died around Mobile Nkwen. Local sources say the person came from Buea and was apparently sick but could not go to the hospital. The place was immediately surrounded by Policemen after an alert from witnesses.

Over a hundred students with outstanding results in the G.CE Advanced Level and the Baccalaureat Examinations for the 2019-2020 School Year have received scholarships. These beneficiaries received some financial aid, during the 8th edition of the Excellence Award, organised by the CPDM member of the National Assembly for Koung-Khi, Honorable Albert Kouinche.

COVID-19 is still present in Cameroon. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, 673 new cases and six deaths have been recorded in the past week. The Public Health Minister, Dr Malachie Manaouda has observed that Cameroonians have abandoned COVID-19 preventive measures despite all warnings to the contrary.

Cameroonians are expressing concern regarding politics in United States of America. To some, America is a model of democracy and therefore incumbent president Donald Trump should concede defeat and give democracy a chance.Trump plans to seek a recount of the votes by going to court.

President Paul Biya has issued a congratulatory message to US president elect Joe Biden. In a message signed yesterday, the president expressed cordial relations between Cameroon and the United States of America that should be strengthened.

World Football governing body, FIFA has decided to step-in to resolve the dispute between FECAFOOT and the LFPC in Cameroon on the organisation of local football championship. FIFA decided to organise a consultation between the two bodies to mediate, in order to find lasting solutions to the squabbles. Professional football tournaments have been halted in Cameroon as teams are still confused on which body’s agenda to follow.

Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have began a joint training today in Douala ahead of AFCON 2022 qualification match against Mozambique. Some football fans in Douala are happy to watch the national team.

Samuel Eto’o Fils is receiving medical attention in an undisclosed medical facility in Douala. He sustained minor injuries in a road accident while travelling back to Douala from the west region of Cameroon. His car came on a head on collision with another from an opposite direction.

South Sudan’s health ministry has issued new directives limiting the activities of international NGOs working in healthcare. Among the 10 guiding principles are an obligation for the NGOs to deposit their money into a single account to be called “the unified healthcare partners’ account” at the central bank. It is feared that the new measures could impede the activities of NGOs in the country that has been affected by conflicts and severely hit by recent flooding.

The passport of a prominent member of the #EndSARS movement in Nigeria has been returned to her. In a social media post, Modupe Odele said she was told by authorities she could now travel freely. Ms Odele provided free legal support to protesters detained during nationwide anti-police brutality protests in October. She also set up a network of 800 volunteer lawyers to provide legal assistance to anyone detained during the demonstrations.

The UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR) says 3,600 people have fled into Liberia from Ivory Coast fearing post-election violence. The UNHCR said numbers had surged following the 31 October presidential poll. Final results issued on Monday gave the incumbent Alassane Ouattara, who ran for a controversial third term, more than 94% of the vote. That victory has been confirmed by the constitutional court.

Police in Kenya have arrested at least 1,000 people for flouting Covid-19 containment measures as the country faces surging cases of the virus. Authorities say most of the people detained were found in bars, hours after the night-time curfew, that has been in place since March, came into force. Kenya has registered more than 1,000 coronavirus-related deaths while 62,000 people have been infected.

More than 50 people are reported to have been beheaded during three days of violence in northern Mozambique. Islamist insurgents attacked villages in Miudumbe and Macomia districts, in Cabo Delgado province, killing people, abducting women and burning homes. In the village of Muatide, the jihadists are reported to have turned the football field into an execution ground.

Foreign news: BBC