National and International News Roundup: Tuesday 31 December 2019

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has finally given in to pressure announcing a ‘special’ recruitment of striking PhD holders. This comes after the PhD holders spent two weeks of sleeping at the premises of the Ministry of higher education in Yaoundé. Many however say the recruitment does not solve all the problems they presented.

A month and some days to the February municipal and legislative elections the SDF Bafut Electoral District is the latest to pull out of the process. According to a resolution signed by the Electoral district Chairman, the decision is “due to the devastating situation going on in the North West and South West Regions and taking into consideration the prevailing unhealthy political situations”.

Eight foreign sailors were kidnapped this morning in an attack after they anchored their boat at the port of Limbe in Cameroon’s South West Region. Among the eight kidnapped crew members are five Greeks, two Filipinos and one Ukrainian.

The Minister Delegate at the Cameroon Presidency in charge of Defence is on a 48-hour working visit to the South Region. Joseph Beti Assomo’s itinerary includes a visit to the command post of the 132nd motorized infantry battalion of Kye-Ossi. He leaves the Region tomorrow after presiding over a ceremony to hand over epaulettes to promoted defence personnel in Kye-Ossi and Ebolowa.

Some ex-Separatist fighters and Anglophone refugees have returned to Cameroon after spending several months escaping from the ongoing crisis. Among the returnees from neighbouring Nigeria are a former fighter, popularly known as ‘General’ Nambere and a Pastor Nkongho Success. Many have questioned the decision to begin bringing back home refugees when serious fighting is still ongoing in several parts of the restive North West and South West Regions.

A gun battle between the military and Separatist fighters left residents of Muea, Buea in fear today. Gunshots were heard around Mount Carmel street and Doctor Fru street Mile 18, leaving the whole locality deserted. The attack comes a day after massive arrests were made following a tip-off on an attack by Separatist fighters. All those arrested yesterday were later freed without charge.

Some opposition politicians today carried out goodwill gestures towards IDPs of the Anglophone Crisis. MRC leader, Maurice Kamto visited some in the nation’s capital Yaoundé few hours to his end-of-year address. Kah Walla of the CPP on her part visited other IDPs in the South West Region accompanied by members of Stand Up For Cameroon and Mothers of the Nation.

An Angolan court has ordered the freezing of assets held by former President Eduardo dos Santos’ daughter Isabel, state news agency Angop reported on Tuesday. Reports say it is the latest high-profile case in government’s anti-corruption drive. The asset freeze followed an injunction application by the state, which is seeking to recover around 1 billion dollars of funds it believes are owed to it by Isabel dos Santos and her business associates.

Thousands had planned to take the Liberian capital Monrovia December 30 to force the ex-football star out of office after branding him as ‘unfit” to rule the country, barely one year into his six-year term. The demonstration was called off after the government said it would not be able to provide security. This was confirmed by Henry Costa, chairman of the Council of Patriots opposition group coordinating the march.

France and Egypt have called for the “greatest restraint” from Libyan and international authorities to avoid escalating Libya’s five-year conflict after Turkey announced plans to send troops to Tripoli. The Libya conflict faces a “risk of escalation”. That was the conclusion reached by French President Emmanuel Macron and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during a phone call on Sunday.