National and International News Roundup: Wednesday, January 1st 2020

Cameroonians have been celebrating the New Year 2020 with thanksgiving to God for his mercy throughout the year 2019. Some say they look forward to achieving their personal and collective goals this new year.

Cameroon President Paul Biya is set to prepare more weapons and military men to crush separatist fighters in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon who fail to drop their weapons. He made the announcement on December 31, 2019, in his state of the nation address. The decision has been condemned by many who think military action cannot address what they term a purely political problem.

The chairman of the Social Democratic Front, Ni John Fru Ndi says President Paul Biya did not address the nation as the “father” he ought to be. Fru Ndi says Biya’s less concern over the escalating conflict in the Anglophone regions is because militants of the CPDM and civil servants are not targeted like members of the opposition. He adds that the former is protected by the military. He mentioned several instances where SDF has been a victim of the war.

The governor of the North West region has appreciated the speech of the president of Cameroon. To Adolph Lele L’Afrigue, Biya’s promise will guarantee peace in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon. He said there is relative peace in the region despite the tension in some few places.

Questions are being raised on the scores of refugees recently repatriated from Nigeria by the Cameroon government. Critics have raised concerns as to why the UNHCR has not issued a statement on their return to Cameroon. The over 80 asylum seekers fled violence in the North West and South West regions but have been brought back while the war is still ongoing in their villages. There are high possibilities that the refugees may remain in Yaoundé until the war is over.

Uncertainty looms in Mile 14, a precinct in Buea, following the razing of a 19-sitter bus by unknown persons. At press time this Wednesday, January 1, 2020, the Military and security forces had besieged the premises carrying out raids, in a bit to fish out masterminds of the burning.

Former Guinea-Bissau Prime Minister Umaro Cissoko Embalo has been elected president after winning a run-off vote against another ex-prime minister. The 47-year-old beat rival Domingos Simoes Pereira by about 54% to 46%, the electoral commission announced.

Hours before the New Year, the Somali terror group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for a truck bomb that killed over 80 people. The attack, one of the deadliest of the decade, is the latest sign that the group is getting stronger, not weaker.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to continue laying foundations in 2020 for taking 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next 10 years. The commitment was made in a letter addressed to Nigerians to steer them into 2020 and a new decade. President Buhari said his administration will create new opportunities in key sectors to address the challenges of poverty among citizens of the West African country in the new year.