National and International News Roundup: Thursday 26 December 2019

1 Ex-separatist fighters at the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration centre in Bamenda think the Cameroon government is delaying moves that can encourage many other fighters in bushes to lay their arms and join them in the centre. During activities to celebrate Christmas, the ex-fighters said the government needs to empower them adequately to entice their friends in bushes to regain normal life.

2 The Bishop of the Diocese of Kumbo and the Presbyterial Secretary of the Bui Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon say the war in the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon should not be taken to the new year 2020. In separate interviews, Bishop George Nkou and Rev. Ngandji Christian Ndi say Cameroonians should seek peace and emulate Jesus Christ.

3 An element of the gendarmerie has been detained in Galim village, Bamboutous Division in the West Region of Cameroon for shooting a civilian to death. The suspected gendarmerie murderer opened fire in a drinking spot on Christmas Day in a bid to stop a fight.

4 Work timidly resumed in government offices in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon, today after Christmas celebrations on Wednesday. At 9:00 am this morning, some offices were still closed. Users of public services remained stranded for hours.

5 Businessmen and women in Cameroon have been decrying poor sales during this Christmas season. In toy markets in Douala, some shop owners have reduced prices to entice customers that are still purchasing playing gadgets for their kids after Christmas Day.

6 Negotiations between the Cameroon Minister of Higher Education and striking PhD holders has failed.  Meeting in Yaoundé today, both parties failed to find a common ground to end the strike action.

7 The body of a lady in an advanced state of decomposition is said to have been abandoned at Mile 3 Nkwen in Bamenda, North West Region of Cameroon. Local sources say the lady was knocked down in a hit-and-run driver December 24, 2019. The corpse which has not been identified has remained on the spot for over two days.

8 Enormous material damage has been recorded in a carpentry workshop that went in flames in Bessengue, Douala I Subdivision. The incident occurred in the late hours of Wednesday, December 25, 2019. Locals blame it on poor electric connection.

A series of fire incidents hit Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala yesterday. In the Bessengue district in the fire consumed the contents of a joint. The intervention of a team of the firefighting brigade helped limit the spread of the flames. In Bonaberi, the fire at a place called Bekoko ravaged an office building. The spread was also contained thanks to the timely intervention of the firefighting brigade.

A 5-year-old child was killed in a traffic accident this morning in Mbanga, Moungo Division of the Littoral Region of Cameroon. The child, Marvellous Edingueno who was in Mbanga for the holidays, eyewitnesses say, was trying to cross the road when he was hit by a truck running at high speed. The truck driver was arrested and is being held at the Mbanga gendarmerie brigade.

The Cameroon armed forces are currently mourning following the death of Major Tsague Michel-Ange who died in the afternoon of Monday, December 23rd, 2019, at the Yaoundé Military hospital. The deceased was listed on the advancement roll for the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, as of January 1, 2020, before he passed away.

The executive committee of the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Cameroon met today at its headquarters in Yaoundé. Meeting under the chairmanship of Kalkaba Malboum its aim was to take stock of 2019 activities and settle on the plan of action for the year 2020 including Cameron’s participation in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

13 The Confederation of African Football CAF has changed the date of the kick-off of AFCON 2021 from June to January 2021. The decision brings to light the question of whether Cameroon will be ready in the domain of infrastructure to meet up with the new deadline.

14 At least eleven people have been killed in fighting between militias and traders in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. Security sources say the bloodshed occurred late Wednesday in the PK 5 district of the city. Dozens of shops were burned down in the fight.

15 Burkinabés are still mourning the killing of over 40 people after jihadists attacked a military base in Arbinda, northern Soum province. President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré declared two days of national mourning. Most of those killed in the Tuesday attack described as deadliest since five years were women and children including seven soldiers. 80 militants were also killed and motorcycles seized as the army repelled the attack.

16 Sudan’s transitional government has declared Christmas a public holiday for the first time in years. When South Sudan and its large Christian population seceded, Sudanese authorities under Omar Al-Bashir said the country was 97 per cent Muslim and imposed restrictions on religious pluralism, including Christmas celebrations. Sudanese officials say the decision is in line with the freedoms enshrined in the country’s constitution.