National and International News Roundup – August 26th 2019

1 Fifteen survivors of a boat that capsized off the coast of Bakassi yesterday are receiving intensive medical attention at the Limbe General Hospital. One hundred and seven other passengers are lodged at the Ngeme community hall at Limbe 2 subdivision. 90 are missing. Meantime, four corpses have been deposited at the mortuary of the Limbe General Hospital.
The boat on board over 200 passengers from Nigeria capsized off the coast of Bakassi peninsular in the South West Region of Cameroon.

2 There is uncertainty in the minds of people in the South West and North West regions of Cameroon if a lockdown imposed by separatist leaders will be effective from tomorrow Tuesday. Today, Monday traditional ghost town was respected in towns and villages in the restive regions.

3 The President of the Ayah Foundation has condemned a three-week lockdown proclaimed by separatist fighters. Ayah Ayah Abine, President of the Ayah Foundation says those calling for a three-week lockdown do not have any interest in the wellbeing of the suffering population of the North West and South West Regions. Ayah Ayah Abine regrets that the lock down has equally frustrated activities of humanitarian groups like the Ayah Foundation from helping people in need and victims of the crisis.

4 Several persons are reported to have spent last night in some travel agencies in Bamenda North West Region. These passengers were not lucky enough to travel out of the town yesterday due to unavailability of buses. With the observation of ghost town today, these passengers could not leave the town.

5 Would separatist fighters and troops fighting in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon listen to the call from Bishops of Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province to lay down their arms and permit school resumption? In an open letter, six bishops accused separatist fighters in the diaspora for fanning school boycott.

6 Sisiku Ayuk Tabe Julius and nine interim leaders sentenced last week in Yaounde say the verdict is a push factor towards the independence of Southern Cameroons. In a letter addressed to Ambazonians, the interim leaders in their prison cells called on Southern Cameroonians to be more than ever committed towards independence. Note that this is the first address to the public since the Nera 10 were slammed life jail terms on the 20th of August.

7 There have been social media criticisms of the governor of the North West region following his declaration that the massive movement of people out of the region is not due to fear of insecurity. Governor Adolphe Lele L’Afrique declared over the state radio that those travelling out of the North West are those who visited the Region to spend holiday.

8 The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo has formed a new government seven months after the proclamation of presidential election results.
Felix Tchisekedi’s new government is made of sixty six ministers 17% of them women. The ministers have been drawn from different political parties.