National and International News Roundup – January 28, 2020.

Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Atanga Nji Paul has said campaign funds for the February 9, 2020, municipal and legislative elections are now available. The MINAT boss in a press statement, a copy of which Mimi Mefo Info stumbled on, he invites all political parties taking part in the said polls to report to his ministerial department as from January 29 to pick up 50% of the campaign funds. The announcement came four days after official kick-off of campaigns nationwide.

The Alliance of Progressive Forces President, Alice Sadio, has announced her resignation as the party’s boss and supporter. In an official statement on her social media account, Alice Sadio says she has painfully decided to step down from her position of APF president, party member, and SG of the platform for a new Cameroon. She, however, did not give reasons for her decision which comes a few months after the death of the party’s founding President, Bernard Muna.

Campaigns ahead of the February local elections may go violent in Douala V after SDF campaign posters were pulled down by CPDM sponsored youths. The SDF says it is planning a violent response. The CPDM party has, however, opted not to comment on the trampling on their party uniform by Hon. Jean Michel Nintcheu of the Social Democratic Front (SDF). Launching his campaigns in Douala, Hon. Nintcheu walked on the CPDM uniform in a political rally to show disagreement with the policy of the CPDM led government in Cameroon.

External Relations Minister, Lejeune Mbella Mbella has called CPDM party supporters in Nkongsamba to close ranks and win more councils and parliamentary seats in the twin elections. He was speaking while launching campaigns in the Littoral.

Militants of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM today launched divisional campaigns in Kumbo for Bui Division in the North West Region. Party officials and other militants heavily guarded by military men made promises to the people. Several people boycotted the campaign for fear of attack from amba boys after the campaign rally.

There is fear of the unknown in Ndop, Ngokentujia Division in the North West region of Cameroon following attacks on private structures of politicians. Last night, Stone FM Radio was set ablaze. The radio belongs to a CPDM candidate in the imminent municipal elections.

The daughter of the former President of the Republic, Aminatou Ahidjo is taking part in campaigns in the North Region, her region of origin. She is campaigning for the legislative and municipal elections for the CPDM party.

The Customs Service in Limbe, South West region of Cameroon says the collection of revenue has been affected by the crisis.  With weekly ghost towns and periodic lockdowns imposed by Ambazonia fighters, the customs service is equally feeling the pinch. The revelation was made during celebrations to mark World Custom Day.

Boko Haram remains a threat in the Far North Region. Lt. General Rene Claude Meka, Chief of Army Staff has called on military men in the Far North to maximise security before, during and after the elections. Rene Claude Meka is on a working visit in the Far North.

Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health has put in place a telephone line, 1510 for Cameroonians to report any case of coronavirus. The virus discovered in China has caused the death of over 106 people with over 4,000 infected cases in several countries around the world.  The Minister of Public Health says measures have been put in place in various entry points in Cameroon to examine people coming into the country.

Today marked the fourth day of campaigns ahead of the February 9, 2020, municipal and legislative elections. Yet, political parties have not received a franc from the government of Cameroon as stipulated by Cameroon’s Electoral Code. Opposition parties are accusing the CPDM of intentionally keeping the money to weaken opposition parties financially from carrying out effective campaigns.

Some civilians arrested in Kumbo in the North West region today have just been set free. This, MMI has gathered, is after they were forced to partake in CPDM’s election campaign launch today. The civilians were mixed with military men in civilian attire. The officials present at the launch arrived the town heavily guarded by armed forces.

The daughter of the former President of the Republic, Aminatou Ahidjo is taking part in campaigns in the North Region, her region of origin. She is campaigning for the legislative and municipal elections for the CPDM party.

At least two persons have been reported dead after tensions in Bangem, Kupe Manenguba Division, and South West region. The population found the two bodies after clashes between the defence and security forces and Ambazonian fighters following a CPDM meeting in the area on Sunday.

The ailing President of Cameroon’s Senate, Marcel Niat Njifenji is back to the country. The 86-year-old lawmaker has been out of the country for almost two years due to health reasons. His arrival comes days to the February 9 twin elections.

Runaway Divisional Officers in the conflict-hit North West and South West regions of Cameroon have been fired. President Paul Biya in a release Monday, January 27, 2020, fired the D.O. of Muyuka in Fako Division, South West region and the D.O. for Mbiame in the Bui Division, North West region. Anang Ndong Wallang Walter is new D.O. for Douala VI in Manoka while Saïdou Moussa is new D.O. for Mbiame. Besinga Ely Itone replaces Tambe Thomas Tabot in Muyuka.

The Video Assistant Referee, VAR, technology will be used during the 2020 African Nations Championship in Cameroon, the local organising committee has said.

The student who was quarantined earlier on Tuesday at a hospital in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, with suspected coronavirus, had travelled from Wuhan – the Chinese city at the epicentre of the outbreak. Health Minister Sicily Kariuki said the patient, a male Kenyan, had flown via Guangzhou in China and the Thai capital, Bangkok.

Four people with suspected coronavirus have been put into isolation in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, the BBC’s Bizuwork Olana reports. At a press conference in Addis Ababa, Dr Lia Tadesse, a junior health minister and other officials said all four of the suspected cases were Ethiopian nationals.

Demonstrations have taken place across northern Ethiopia about the failure of the authorities to find a group of 27 students abducted 50 days ago. The students – from the Amhara community – were kidnapped as they fled an outbreak of ethnic violence at Dembi Dolo University in the Oromia region.

South African mining tycoon Patrice Motsepe has apologized for telling US President Donald Trump that Africans love him. The billionaire made the statement following a backlash, with critics saying he had no right to assume the role of Africa’s spokesman. “I have a duty to listen to these differing views and would like to apologise,” Mr Motsepe said.

Officials in the Central African Republic (CAR) say about 50 people have been killed in ethnic clashes in the east of the country. The fighting, in the town of Bria, was between members of the Runga ethnic group on one side and the Gula and Kara on the other. Aid workers said most of the Runga had left the town.

An Ethiopian Orthodox priest is raising funds to build a church and a mosque in a town in the East Hararge area of Oromia region. Abba Aklilemariyam Komos told the BBC Afaan Oromoo that building a church alone and ignoring the poor state of the mosque would “disappoint God”. (Source Foreign News: BBC Africa)