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General elections kick off in Mozambique

15, October 2019

General elections kick off in Mozambique 0

People are voting in presidential, parliamentary, and provincial elections in Mozambique, amid concerns that a recent peace deal between the country’s ruling party and opposition could come under threat in the event of election-related violence.

Polls opened for almost 13 million voters in the southern African nation early on Tuesday morning.

Authorities will start counting the ballots after polls close at 6 pm local time and are expected to continue through the night.

Preliminary results are expected no earlier than Wednesday.

​People line up to vote at a primary school in Beira, Mozambique, on October 15, 2019. (Photo by AFP)

The vote is a competition between the ruling Frelimo Party of President Filipe Nyusi and former rebel group-turned-opposition Renamo, which is led by Ossufo Momade.

The results are likely to see the president’s party secure a second term. Frelimo has been in power for 44 years, since Mozambique’s independence from Portugal in 1975.

The opposition, meanwhile, is expecting an opportunity for a strong performance in the provincial and legislative races.

A peace deal was signed between President Nyusi and Momade in August, ending years of an armed conflict between government and rebel forces in the country.

Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi and opposition leader Ossufo Momade sign a ceasefire agreement in Gorongosa, on August 1, 2019. (Photo by AFP)

Rights groups are now concerned that the deal could be jeopardized since elections have historically been a trigger for violence in Mozambique.

At least 44 people were killed during the election campaign, although most of them died in campaign-related road accidents and some in a stadium stampede at a pro-Nyusi rally.

The United States Embassy warned on Friday of “credible threats” of violence in Nampula. It warned its citizens to avoid the northern city.

Source: Presstv

Nigeria: First Lady warns against spread of Fake News

15, October 2019

Nigeria: First Lady warns against spread of Fake News 0

Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari on Saturday dismissed rumours circulating online that her husband plans to take on a second wife, cautioning against the rise of fake news in the country.

Aisha, who had been on holiday in the United Kingdom for two months, returned to the country, at a time when a video was circulating on social media, purportedly showing that she had been denied access to the presidential residence.

While she confirmed the authenticity of the video, which showed her complaining about huge deployments of security, and asking unidentified people to leave the palace, she clarified that it was an old video.

Aisha dismissed rumours that president Muhammadu Buhari intended to marry fellow politician Sadiya Farouq, who was recently appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development.

Her spokesperson later issued a statement saying the First Lady was happy to be aback in the country after a ‘deserved rest’.

‘‘She confirmed that she was fully rejuvenated to continue the work of improving the health and well-being of women, children and other vulnerable Nigerians,’‘ Suleiman Haruna said.

Ruling party officials also added to Buhari’s voice, warning against the negative impact of fake news.

‘‘I wholeheartedly welcome our dear First Lady back to the country. Her elegant return has put full stop to fake news which dominated our public domain,’‘ a publicity secretary of the APC Kate Ofor told local journalists.

‘‘I think we have to not only find legitimate means to curb fake news, but also come to terms that social media have no gatekeeper. Therefore, we must cultivate the culture of sieving the genuine from fake news.’‘

Buhari herself had cautioned that the courge of Fake News ‘could lead us to something unimaginable’.

The president himself has repeatedly warned against the rise of fake news and hate speech in Nigerian discourse.

Source: Africa News

Spain: Police use batons and tear gas on protesters at Barcelona airport

15, October 2019

Spain: Police use batons and tear gas on protesters at Barcelona airport 0

Police in riot gear used batons and tear gas on Catalan independence supporters blocking Barcelona’s El Prat airport on Monday night.

Riot police could be seen advancing through clouds of tear gas, pushing and striking protesters with raised hands. The crowd was answering a call to protest from Tsunami Democratic, a movement opposing the prison sentence handed down to Catalan leaders.

Former Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras has been sentenced to 13 years in prison by Spain’s Supreme Court for his role in the 2017 attempted secession.

Junqueras was among nine Catalan independence leaders who were sentenced to between nine and 13 years in prison for sedition for their part in the region’s failed 2017 independence bid, which captured headlines around the world.

(Source: Ruptly)

Nigeria: Female supporters of Zakzaky accuse govt. of holding abducted girls

15, October 2019

Nigeria: Female supporters of Zakzaky accuse govt. of holding abducted girls 0

The announcement was made during a press conference by female supporters of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, who accused soldiers of the Nigerian army of abducting twenty-three girls in December 2015 during the massacre in the northern Nigerian town of Zaria.

The ladies demanded for the release of the girls and asked all people of conscience and civil society organizations to make the issue of the twenty-three Muslim girls an important national and international agenda in order for the truth to prevail.

The ladies also said that seven hundred and five people are still unaccounted for following the 2015 Zaria Massacre, and their families are still waiting for answers regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones.

Hundreds of Zakzaky supporters are reported to have been killed and buried in mass graves outside the northern Nigerian city of Zaria. The whereabouts of several others remains unknown.

Zakzaky supporters have a list with the names of the twenty-three girls abducted and believed to be held by security forces.

Both the army and the police did not respond to Press TV’s request for an interview on this matter.

Zakzaky supporters also want to know when the Nigerian government is going to start the process of prosecuting the people responsible for the 2015 Zaria Massacre.

They accuse security forces of continuing with the persecution of Zakzaky supporters judging by the attacks on their religious processions.

Source: Presstv

Council of the European Union adopts conclusions on Cameroon

14, October 2019

Council of the European Union adopts conclusions on Cameroon 0

The Council today adopted the following conclusions on Cameroon:

The EU welcomes the halting of prosecution by the military courts of Maurice Kamto and supporters of his party, the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, and of individuals arrested and detained in the context of the crisis in the North-West and South-West regions. These decisions are a significant gesture of goodwill.

Three years after the crisis began, a national dialogue recently held in Yaoundé offered a first opportunity to open up prospects for a sustainable exit from the crisis. The EU calls for this process to be continued in order to develop responses to meet the population’s legitimate expectations, while encouraging the involvement of all those concerned both inside the country and from the diaspora, including women, young people and civil society.

The EU reiterates the importance of respecting and promoting human rights, the rule of law and the fundamental freedoms of the citizens of Cameroon. The EU will continue to call on Cameroon’s authorities and institutions to act in a proportionate manner, while respecting the obligations stemming from Cameroon’s Constitution and the international treaties and conventions on human rights to which Cameroon has subscribed. In particular, the principle of access to justice and the right to a fair trial before an independent court must be respected. In the face of worrying restrictions on political space, the EU considers that respect for the freedom of assembly, the freedom of expression and the involvement of civil society in the public debate are essential for any democratic and pluralistic state. For this reason, the EU calls for the whole of Cameroon’s opposition to be able to express themselves freely, in accordance with the law, and to participate without hindrance in the process of national dialogue and in the local and general elections planned for 2020.

The EU remains concerned and strongly condemns the continued violence and the level of insecurity in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, especially where the civilian population is affected. Numerous and serious violations of human rights continue to be reported and predatory crime has become widespread. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported that severe abuses have been committed, including arbitrary arrests and detentions, the burning of homes, the excessive use of force against civilians and sexual violence. This has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, forcing more people into exile, with almost 42 000 refugees in Nigeria and 530 000 internally displaced people in the North-West and South-West regions. The economic situation is also severely affected.

The EU reiterates that the primary responsibility for protecting the population and maintaining security lies with the Cameroonian authorities. Access by humanitarian organisations and health workers to the populations affected must be ensured. The fight against impunity and compensation for all victims must also be guaranteed.

The use of violence in these regions is not the answer. The EU reaffirms the need for all parties in Cameroon to respect the rule of law and resolve this crisis peacefully through an inclusive dialogue. In coordination with its international and regional partners, the EU will continue to support all efforts, such as the facilitation work by the Swiss authorities, able to build on this momentum.

The EU also reaffirms its commitment to the economic development and stability of Cameroon as a partner at the crossroads between the Sahel and Central Africa and as an important player in the fight against Boko Haram and in the peace process in the Central African Republic. Improving the stability of Cameroon will help to strengthen this cooperation, including its trade and investment dimensions. The EU expresses its hope that Cameroon will find the ways and means to achieve a national revival that will bring about the lasting reconciliation the country so greatly needs.

The EU will remain committed to addressing the humanitarian needs of the populations affected and reiterates the importance of ensuring safe and unhindered humanitarian access to the entire country.

Neymar out for four weeks after Nigeria friendly

14, October 2019

Neymar out for four weeks after Nigeria friendly 0

Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar will be out for four weeks with a hamstring injury he suffered playing for Brazil, the French club said on Monday.

Neymar limped off in the 12th minute on Sunday as Brazil drew 1-1 against Nigeria in a friendly in Singapore.

PSG said that an MRI scan showed that their star player had suffered “a grade two lesion” in his left hamstring.

If he is out until November 11, Neymar will miss four French league matches, including a trip to Marseille on October 17, and home and away Champions League games against Bruges.

Source: AFP

French Cameroun: Violent Conflicts, Looting Reported in Sangmelima

14, October 2019

French Cameroun: Violent Conflicts, Looting Reported in Sangmelima 0

Several hundred people from Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea have escaped a French Cameroun commercial town of Sangmelima following violent conflicts and looting between communities there, where townspeople claim outsiders are causing mounting insecurity. The Biya regime has deployed at least 300 troops to Sangmelima.

Hundreds of people, especially youths armed with machetes, hammers, spades and spears, defied antiriot police Thursday and Friday, invading shops in Sangmelima, looting and torching some over resentment of outsiders. Among their victims is 46-year-old motor spare parts dealer Romouald Mefirou, who said he fled for his life.

 “Within 24 hours I have lost everything I took 23 years to invest in this town. I do not want to lose my life so I have to leave with my family. It is a deplorable situation,” he said,

Felix Nguele Nguele, governor of Sangmelima’s South region of Cameroon, said Mefirou, who is from Cameroon’s western town of Foumban, is just one of hundreds of people who have fled since the violence erupted October 9.

Nguele Nguele said the violence intensified when outsiders were suspected in the killing of a 27-year-old local motorcycle taxi driver. He says he requested and got more than 200 troops from Cameroon’s capital city, Yaoundé, to reinforce security and stop the bloody attacks and the looting of shops and houses that has paralyzed business.

The conflict started when the motorcycle taxi driver was found dead in the town. Locals blamed people from other Cameroon towns who live in Sangmelima of causing insecurity, pointing to increasing aggression stealing and rape.

The government said besides Cameroonians who are migrants, immigrants from neighboring Gabon and Equatorial Guinea had also escaped to safety after at least 20 people were severely wounded by rampaging youths, who attacked people they considered foreigners.

The youths have always complained that the influx of who they call foreign citizens to their town to work in cocoa, banana and cassava plantations and others as merchants deprive them of jobs.

Cameroon Higher Education Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo, who was born near Sangmelima, attended a crisis meeting October 12 and condemned the attacks and looting. He said the government has taken note of the youths’ grievances but that Cameroonians from its over 260 tribes and foreign citizens with residence permits are free to live and do business wherever they want in the central African state.

He says no community should be stigmatized because all of them are Cameroonians and should feel free wherever they live. He says the government has taken note of all the grievances raised by the population and will attend to them according to the means available. He says he is insisting that the youths relinquish their weapons because peace should return.

The South region has been the country’s most peaceful. Cameroon has been battling the Boko Haram insurgency on its northern border with Nigeria, fighting rebels who cross over from the troubled Central African Republic to attack communities in the east for supplies, containing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea to the west and, recently, a separatist crisis that has killed at least 2,000 in the English-speaking North West and South West regions.

Reported by the VOA with additional editing from Camcordnews

Federal Republic of Ambazonia: A safer country without South West and North West CPDM elites

14, October 2019

Federal Republic of Ambazonia: A safer country without South West and North West CPDM elites 0

The so-called Major National Dialogue was convened to reactivate the North West/South West Divide all in a bid to stifle the Southern Cameroons revolution. It was a successful failure and the Southern Cameroons pro Yaoundé political elites are now at daggers drawn positions.

Chief V.E. Mukete held a secret meeting with the delegates from the South West region at his residence in Yaoundé and handed to them money with standing instructions to vote against any union with the North West people. Nfon Mukete told the delegates that it was he and some other South West elites who asked the late Ahmadou Ahidjo to dissolve the two state federation that existed in the 60s and 70s.

The paramount leader of the Bafaws further observed that Jua and Foncha treated South Westerners with contempt and that prompted some concerned elites to draw Ahidjo’s attention to the happenings in Buea.

For their part, the North West CPDM elites have launched a scathing attack on French Cameroun Prime Minister Dion Ngute blaming him for the failures recorded during the Yaoundé peace talks. French Cameroun newspapers sponsored by the Biya regime are feeding fat on the chaotic situation among the Anglophone senior CPDM militants.

However, judging from the fact that after 58 years, none of these so-called CPDM elites have been able to bring an iota of development to their various constituencies, the reawakening of the North West/South West Divide is indeed a bitter confession of back-to-back political failures ever since La Republique du Cameroun annexed Southern Cameroons.

The Biya Francophone regime in Yaoundé is publicizing a current fight between South West and North West CPDM elites and spending millions of FCFA on newspaper coverage to divert attention from the Ambazonia quest for independence. The long and short of this French Cameroun CPDM diabolic harsh ploy is simply that the Federal Republic of Ambazonia is a safer place without the so-called South West and North West CPDM elites.

First and foremost, Washington has clearly snubbed the Major National Dialogue and some reports have suggested that the US State Department has gone a step further by requesting President Biya to organize a proper peace talk without any preconditions.  

None of these pro Biya Anglophone citizens touched on Biya’s French Cameroun military involvement in Southern Cameroons during the Major National Dialogue and none of them could muster the courage to say it remains the worst decision ever made in La Republique du Cameroun’s history.

From the delay in making public the resolutions, it seems that Biya and his Beti Ewondo gang have come to the conclusion through objective experience that the equation of power and political geometry of the one and indivisible Cameroon has changed and that Yaoundé can no longer claim absolute authority over the affairs of Southern Cameroons.

We of the Cameroon Concord News Group believe Mr. Biya has realized that he has only two options; either to be just content with an empty mask of being the head of state of the one and indivisible Cameroon despite heavy costs, or to adopt a realistic approach and acknowledge the present reality of sitting down with President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia and talk.

Biya has failed woefully in all his strategic projects such as the One and Indivisible Cameroon, the Major National Dialogue, the arrest and recent release of Prof Maurice Kamto, life sentences on the Ambazonia leaders, maintaining peace in the Central African Republic, combating the Nigerian Islamic sect, Boko Haram and hosting of the African Nations Cup.

The poverty and deteriorating infrastructure deep inside French Cameroun has led many ruling CPDM barons, even those who have been facilitating and guaranteeing Biya’s continued stay in power like Sultan Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya, to acknowledge the urgent need to limit the presidential term.

To the people of Southern Cameroons, their beloved nation the Federal Republic of Ambazonia will be a safer country without the North West/ South West CPDM elites.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

New Cameroon coach starts with draw

14, October 2019

New Cameroon coach starts with draw 0

Toni Conceicao began his reign as Cameroon coach with a goalless draw against Tunisia on Saturday evening at Stade Olympique de Rades.

The Carthage Eagles were preparing for the African Nations Championship qualifier against Libya and new coach Mondher Kebaier did not include experienced midfielders, Wabhi Khazri and Anice Badri.

Unlike Conceicao, Kebaier had already presided over two games since replacing French coach Alain Giresse, who led Tunisia to fourth place in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations – edging Mauritania 1-0 in his first game in charge but lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast in back-to-back friendlies in September.

A little unknown Portuguese coach Conceicao succeeded Dutch legend Clarence Seerdof after a lackluster campaign at the 2019 Afcon finals, where they were booted out in the last 16 stage by Nigeria as defending champions of the tournament.

Conceicao made wholesale changes in his team, only keeping notable strikers Karl Toko Ekambi and Bassogog from the 2019 Afcon campaign.

The first stanza did not have much of the action in the last third for both sides but Tunisia were forced to make a substitution towards the end of the first half, as Ghilane Chaalali could not continue and he was replaced by Aymen Mohamed.

The Indomitable Lions were fired up after the break and they were awarded a penalty on the hour-mark, however Bassagog could not break the deadlock as he fired his spot-kick high and wide.

The sides made numerous substitutions in the latter phase of the game, which contributed to the lack of momentum and in the end the encounter ended all square.

Tunisia will take on Libya next week Friday in the CHAN first round, before opening their 2021 Afcon qualifiers campaign in Group J against the same opponent in November.

Source: Kickoff.com

Britain, EU enter make-or-break Brexit week

14, October 2019

Britain, EU enter make-or-break Brexit week 0

Britain and the European Union on Monday enter a pivotal week that determines if they are still on course to reach amicable divorce terms — and when Brexit might finally occur.

Queen Elizabeth II is due to step into the fray by performing her ceremonial duty of informing parliament about the government’s agenda for the coming year.

But the odds of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s tenure lasting that long will depend largely on the outcome of hurried discussions held behind closed doors in Brussels around the same time.

EU leaders will then meet on Thursday and Friday for a summit held under the pressures of the October 31 Brexit deadline just two weeks away.

Diplomats see little hope that the sides can achieve in a few days what they had failed to in the more than three years since Britons first voted to leave the bloc after nearly 50 years.

“A lot of work remains to be done,” EU negotiator Michel Barnier told ambassador Sunday.

Technical talks are continuing — variously described as “intense” or “constructive” — but few familiar with the process can point to progress on the decisive issue of British Northern Ireland’s place in the EU customs zone.

Johnson warned his ministers Sunday to brace for a cliff-hanger finish.

The British leader said “a pathway to a deal could be seen but that there is still a significant amount of work to get there and we must remain prepared to leave on October 31.”

– ‘Clock is ticking’

Johnson rose to power in July on a promise not to extend Brexit for a third time this year — even if only a few more weeks are needed to get a deal done.

Breaking that pledge could come back to haunt him in an early general election that most predict for the coming months.

Johnson is under parliamentary orders to seek an extension until January 31 of next year if no deal emerges by Saturday.

He has insisted that he will both follow the law and get Britain out by October 31 — a contradiction that might end up being settled in court.

Outgoing EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker said British politics were getting more difficult to decipher than the riddle of an “Egyptian sphinx”.

“If the British ask for more time, which they probably will not, it would in my view be a historical nonsense to refuse them,” Juncker told Austria’s Kurier newspaper.

Something will have to give when the British parliament holds its first emergency Saturday meeting since the 1982 Falklands War.

Johnson could theoretically then try to put up a fight and refuse to sign off on a Brexit extension request.

His refusal would immediately be contested in court.

The EU leaders could complicate matters further still by deciding to offer Britain extension terms that parliament cannot accept.

But Brussels might want to push Brexit back further into next year so that it stops interfering with all the other European issues piling up.

A long delay would be untenable for many eurosceptics ahead of an early election that some expect as early as December.

But a short one of a few months might only come on the condition that it is the last.

The last and seemingly least likely outcome would see parliament vote on an actual agreement reached in Brussels against all odds this week.

Brussels insists that the ball is now in Johnson’s court.

“If the British government wants a solution, it must move quickly now,” a European diplomat told AFP.

“The clocking is ticking,”

Source: AFP

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