Reports from Cameroon say the U.S. has placed sanctions on President Paul Biya’s regime. These sanctions affect over 20 military personnel, civilians, and ministers including 86-year-old Paul Biya who swept another 7-year mandate in October 2018.
They have been banned from entering the U.S, Cameroon Info.net reports. The names of those affected were not released, but is said to include top civil administrators and ministers.
Washington is accusing Yaoundé of committing atrocities in the ongoing Anglophone crisis, and also for the arrest and detention of opposition leader Maurice Kamto. According to the reports, relations between Cameroon and the Donald Trump administration have not improved despite the visit of Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy Jnr.
In addition, many other aid and security programmes promised by Washington to the regime of one of Africa’s longest serving despot have been withdrawn, including an offer to provide training to the Cameroonian military. The total aid package from the White House to the Unity Palace amounts to U.S.$17 million annually.
The high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherinihad also voiced concerns about abuses by the military in the restive English-speaking regions of the African nation that lies between the West and Centre. The detention of opposition leader Kamto has also come with its own troubles. KAmto claims he won the October 2018 presidential elections that announced Biya winner to prolong his 37-year rule.
Mimi Mefo Info
