News

20, September 2024

Major jihadist attack in Mali’s capital killed more than 70 ⁰

A jihadist attack in the Malian capital targeting a military police training camp and airport left more than 70 people dead and 200 wounded, one of the highest tolls suffered by the security forces in recent years.

A security source speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP that 77 people had been killed and 255 wounded in Tuesday’s attacks in Bamako.

An authenticated confidential official document put the toll at around 100, naming 81 victims.

Thursday’s edition of Le Soir daily reported that the funerals of around 50 military police students would take place that day.

Mali’s military-led authorities have so far not released a precise death toll from the attacks, claimed by the al Qaeda-linked Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM).

The operation was the first of its kind in years and dealt a forceful blow to the ruling junta, experts say.

The Malian capital is normally spared the sort of attacks that occur almost daily in some parts of the West African country.

The general staff admitted late Tuesday that “some human lives were lost”, notably personnel at the military police centre.

JNIM claimed that a few dozen of its fighters had killed and wounded “hundreds” from the opposing ranks, including members of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner.

The attack came a day after junta-led Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso marked a year since the creation of their breakaway grouping, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

The trio, which have been under military rule following a string of coups since 2020, have broken ties with former colonial ruler France and turned militarily and politically towards other partners including Russia.

The Sahel states in January said they were turning their backs on regional bloc the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Mali has since 2012 been ravaged by different factions affiliated to al Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

‘Condolences’ and condemnation

Volleys of gunfire interspersed with explosions broke out in Bamako at around 5:00 am (0500 GMT) Tuesday.

JNIM fighters attacked a military police school and stormed part of the nearby airport complex, where a military facility adjoins the civilian one.

The jihadist group broadcast images showing fighters strolling around and firing randomly into the windows of the presidential hangar and destroying aircraft.

Bamako has not seen such an operation since 2016, when gunmen attacked a hotel housing the former European training mission of the Malian army, with no casualties reported among the mission staff.

The flow of information is restricted under the ruling junta and details on how Tuesday’s attack was carried out and its impact are sketchy.

Mali’s neighbour Senegal and African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat on Thursday condemned the attacks.

The French embassy in Bamako offered its “condolences to the government of Mali”.

Jean-Herve Jezequel, Sahel project director at the International Crisis Group, told AFP one possible hypothesis could be that “the jihadists are trying to send a message to the Malian authorities that they can hit them anywhere and therefore that the big cities must also be protected”.

He said the aim could be to force the state to concentrate its resources in populated areas and have fewer troops in rural areas “where these jihadist groups have established their strongholds”.

Experts say the attack undermines the junta’s military strategy and breakaway rhetoric, which claims the security situation is under control despite jihadists roaming the Sahel region for years.

Tuesday’s events have largely prompted condemnation and calls for unity within Mali.

Against a backdrop of severe restrictions on freedom of expression under the junta, virtually no public figures have spoken out against the apparent security lapse.

The daily Nouvel Horizon, a rare dissenting voice, wrote on its front page that it was “time to apportion blame at all levels”.

Many Malians have taken to social media to call for those responsible for the security breach to be punished.

The events have also raised fears that certain communities could be targeted in retaliation.

Source: AFP

19, September 2024

Southern Cameroons Reconstruction: Minister Tasong says only a third of funding raised since 2020 ⁰

Minister Paul Tasong, head of the steering committee for the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North-West and South-West Regions (PPRD-NO/SO), revealed during the 14th session of the North-West Regional Assembly that only 50 billion CFA francs of the 154 billion CFA francs expected since 2020 have been raised. Initially, the plan was scheduled to last two years.

Since its launch in 2020, the Presidential Plan has struggled to attract significant support from Cameroon’s international partners. Countries like France and the United States conditioned their participation on the implementation of a genuine dialogue to resolve the ongoing armed conflict in the separatist regions. As a result, only a few partners, such as Japan and the United Nations Development Programme, have released funds to support infrastructure rehabilitation projects in these regions.

Paul Tasong, who also serves as Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development, reported that 258 projects have been completed in areas such as providing agricultural inputs to farmers, building schools, and setting up water supply systems. Additionally, 38 projects are still underway, while 2 have been suspended.

He thanked the partners who have contributed to the Presidential Plan, noting that an estimated 2,500 billion CFA francs would be needed for the complete transformation of the North-West and South-West regions, according to a communication from the North-West Regional Assembly.

Source: Business in Cameroon

18, September 2024

Yaoundé: police chief reinforces directives for free movement ⁰

In a memo dated September 10, 2024, Martin Mbarga Nguele (photo), Director General of National Security (DGSN), reaffirmed the importance of free movement of people within the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). This reminder was directed to the Director of Border Police, regional security delegates, port and airport commissioners, and immigration officers at border posts.

“In accordance with the Additional Act No. 05/19-CEMAC-070 U-CCE of April 1, 2019, which establishes a common immigration policy and border protection, I want to reaffirm our guidelines regarding the free movement of people within the CEMAC zone. Citizens of member states traveling to another community country are not required to obtain visas, provided they have a valid biometric passport or national identity card,” wrote Cameroon’s police chief in the leaked document.

The directives aim to ensure the principles of free movement are fully respected, reflecting Cameroon’s commitment to fostering regional integration and facilitating exchanges within CEMAC.

This communication came just days before the 4th Ordinary Session of the Committee of Central African Police Chiefs (CCPAC), scheduled in Yaoundé from September 17 to 20. The session will focus on implementing community policies regarding the free movement of people and goods, a responsibility given to CCPAC following an institutional reform in 2020.

Since 2017, free movement has been an established principle for the six CEMAC member states (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Chad), allowing passport holders to travel without restrictions. This process began in 2000 with the introduction of the CEMAC passport, followed by an additional act in 2005. In 2013, visa requirements were lifted for regional citizens, allowing for visa-free stays of up to 90 days in any member state.

However, countries like Gabon and Equatorial Guinea have faced challenges in fully implementing these provisions. This prompted Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, to call for effective free movement during the 13th edition of CEMAC Day on March 16, 2022. “Our community regulations have clearly established this. Additional efforts are nonetheless needed to ensure its successful implementation, to the satisfaction of our people,” Biya said in a speech delivered by Luc Ayang, President of the Economic and Social Council.

Source: Sbbc

17, September 2024

At least 97 Southern Cameroonians arrested by gendarmes in Bonakanda ⁰

At least 97 Southern Cameroon civilians were arrested in Bonakanda in Fako Division by gendarmerie officers from the Buea legion, Barrister Lyonga Ewule confirmed on Saturday through a statement released by Legend Law Offices, as Vice President Dabney Yerima of the Ambazonia Interim Government ordered an investigation into the latest in a series of such deadly raids in Anglophone zones.

Cameroon Intelligence Report gathered from an official in the governor’s office in Buea that the raid on Bonakanda took place late on Saturday night while residents were preparing for Sunday church services.

At least 20 of the men arrested were humiliated in front of their wives and children and several were given haircut with broken bottles, Barrister Lyonga Ewule said in the statement.

Since 2016, hundreds of Southern Cameroon civilians have been arrested by the Francophone dominated Cameroon government military on lame and ridiculous reasons that the military is targeting armed groups in the deadly security crisis in English speaking Cameroon.

“The incidence of continued arrest of innocent Southern Cameroonians is assuming a worrisome dimension in Ambazonia,” said Dabney Yerima, the current vice-president of the Ambazonia Interim Government.

Francophone gendarmes often conduct raids on many Southern Cameroons villages leaving civilian casualties.

Barrister Lyonga revealed that among those arrested were two disable and two Autistic persons identified as Lisongo Njume and Emmanuel Nyoki.

By Rita Akana and Kingsley Betek in Buea

16, September 2024

Israeli military recruits African asylum-seekers for war in Gaza ⁰

The Israeli military has reportedly been recruiting African asylum-seekers to support its war efforts in Gaza, offering promises of permanent residency in return. But refugee advocacy groups say they have reason to doubt that asylum seekers are receiving what was promised.

Israeli media reported on Sunday that the government has been recruiting African asylum-seekers for the war in Gaza in return for being given permanent residency in Israel.

Military sources, speaking to Israel’s “Haaretz” news outlet, confirmed that the recruitment was being organised “with legal guidance from defense establishment advisers” but the manner in which the recruits will be used has not been made public.

Approximately 30,000 asylum-seekers, most from Sudan and Eritrea, resided in Israel as of 2020 but fewer than 1% of asylum claims are approved, according to Shira Abbo, director of public policy at Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, Israel’s leading refugee advocacy organisation.

The UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention states that a refugee is someone who a host state or international body recognises as not being able to return to a home country due to a “well-founded fear of being persecuted”. In contrast, an asylum seeker is someone still awaiting that recognition.

“For many, their requests are not denied but pending for five, 10 years or more, leaving them in legal limbo,” Abbo said.

The war that erupted between Israel and Hamas after the attacks of October 7, in which three asylum seekers were among more than 1,100 killed, set off a wave of volunteerism among those living and working in Israel. Many asylum seekers, desperate to solidify their legal status, offered to enlist in civilian command centres and agricultural work. It was then, according to Haaretz, that military officials saw an opportunity to leverage this desire.

‘A life-or-death war for Israel’

One asylum seeker, identified only as “A” by Haaretz, shared his experience. Having arrived in Israel at the age of 16, he sought to integrate into society by joining the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). At the start of the war, someone claiming to be a police officer instructed him over the phone to report immediately to a security facility.

“They told me they were looking for special people to join the army. They told me this was a life-or-death war for Israel,” he told Haaretz.

After several meetings with officials, A was informed that, if he enlisted, he would undergo two weeks of training alongside other asylum seekers and receive documents from the state of Israel.

However, he ultimately decided that military life was not for him and withdrew from the programme before training commenced.

Unfulfilled promises?

The Hotline for Refugees and Migrants has expressed concern over the lack of transparency, stating that while rumours of the benefits of military service have been circulating, the organisation has not been able to confirm any cases in which what has been promised has been delivered.

The recruitment practice has also been met with criticism for creating a quid pro quo when asylum should be decided on the basis of merit.

“Asylum status is granted due to persecution, not as part of a deal,” said Julia Grignon, professor of international humanitarian law and research director at the Institute for Strategic Research (IRSEM). “Enlisting in the military should never be a condition for obtaining refugee status.”

Some have argued that Israel is exploiting vulnerable people who fled their homelands in search of safety.

“The little information we have is alarming,” Abbo said. “Rights should come before obligations. It’s dangerous to recruit individuals without rights and expect them to risk their lives based on vague promises.”

The Israeli defense establishment maintains that its actions comply with the law.

The reports come amid a shortage of Israeli soldiers as the country’s war against Hamas nears the one-year mark. Israel’s Supreme Court ruled in June that ultra-Orthodox Jews, historically exempt from conscription, would now be required to serve.

‘An Israeli-style Wagner Group’: The ultra-Orthodox military unit in Washington’s crosshairs

As the conflict continues, questions remain about whether these individuals will ever see the promises made to them fulfilled and what recourse, if any, they might have if the promises are not. Grignon admitted their options are likely limited.

“A UN body may call out Israel’s violation of international law, but that’s about it,” she said.

Source: France 24

16, September 2024

200,000 people affected by floods in Cameroon ⁰

In recent weeks, relentless heavy rains have battered Mayo Danay in the Far North region of Cameroon, with the city of Yagoua bearing the brunt of the unprecedented downpour, Report informs referring to Africa News.

The damage is extensive, with reports indicating at least ten fatalities, entire neighborhoods submerged, 185 primary schools and 13 high schools flooded, and the loss of over 1,100 livestock.

Residents are struggling to survive amidst the disaster, with many unable to meet basic needs such as food and shelter. Litassou Daniel, a local victim of the floods, described the dire situation: “The rain took us by surprise in the middle of the night. Our kitchen utensils are gone—pots disappeared, and our sheep, chickens, and goats are nowhere to be found. I’m now in the water, trying to cope, but we can’t even light a fire.”

The humanitarian toll is staggering. Over 200,000 people have been affected, with 8,000 homes destroyed. Those displaced by the disaster have been relocated to temporary camps outside the city. However, the victims are urgently calling for more aid, as they have lost everything.

Source: report.az

16, September 2024

Nigeria: Prisoners flee after floods damage jail ⁰

The Nigerian authorities say more than 270 inmates are now known to be missing after escaping from custody when severe flooding damaged a prison in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri.

So far, seven are back in detention.

The flooding was caused by the collapse of a dam following heavy rainfall.

Several hundred thousand people in Maiduguri, which is the Borno state capital, have been forced from their homes by the floodwaters and at least 30 have died.

Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum described the extent of the damage as “beyond human imagination”.

‘I thought I would die with my six children’ – dam collapse survivor

This is the first time that the Nigerian authorities have admitted to the numbers who fled custody.

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) said on Sunday that after the walls of the medium security prison had been damaged, inmates were in the process of being transferred and some managed to escape during the “evacuation to a safe and secure facility”.

Governor Zulum had earlier told the BBC that some members of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram were among those who had got out.

But it is not clear how many of the fugitives are linked to jihadist violence.

NCoS spokesperson Umar Abubakar has tried to assure the public that his organisation is working with security agencies to recapture those who fled.

It has published the photos of the missing men and has urged people to remain calm adding that the prison break does not affect public safety.

Source: BBC

16, September 2024

Manyu Development: Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh’s many EU visits and different perspectives raises eyebrows ⁰

No sitting MOWAH chapter president is known to have formally visited any foreign country before joining another Manyu women’s association. That is, till now.

Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh’s visits to France, Belgium and Holland before her likely return to Abuja, Nigeria to launch Nyene Mawn have garnered extensive coverage. Nchemty Boh Manyu Face Book Page in particular have hyped up Chief Arhewoh’s European Union check-in, focusing on the fact that Nyene Mawn’s first leader in the Federal Republic of Nigeria decided to visit Europe first.

While prominent Manyu royals like Prince Julian Ebai in the United Kingdom are cautioning against reading too much into the rivalries that have rocked the leading Manyu women association, MOWAH, Alfred Bate Bawak, a top Manyu elite in Leicester UK say the developments – especially the visit of Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh to Europe – provide further hints into the likely direction Manyu women at home and abroad are taking towards development.

Alfred Bate Bawak believes that even with the present difficulty and the creation of Nyene Mawn and Eyumema, engagement with the Manyu girl child will always remain firmly on the radar under a Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh’s Nyene Mawn presidency in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Last week Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh at the invitation of Nyene Mawn Holland less than three weeks after her participation in the launch in Belgium was in Rotterdam.

The Saturday September 14 reception saw Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh meeting with the President of Nyene Mawn Holland Lady Frida Enow and prominent Nyene Mawn members in Rotterdam, where she reaffirmed productive ties and pledged cooperation for closer relations with all Nyene Mawn chapters in Europe. Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh also held talks with Holland’s Nyene Mawn senior adviser Lady Emilia Mbeng.

Midway through Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh’s stop in Holland, Nyene Mawn France announced that the former MOWAH Nigeria leader would be swinging by thereafter for a day before departing for Abuja.

Her EU visits have generated plenty of media buzz, with outlets highlighting how it is Chief Stella Arhewoh first European tour since the beginning of the MOWAH Global crisis that is showing no signs of ending. Some also pointed out the novelty of a female Manyu leader making formal overseas visits.

Analysts say the focus by Nyene Mawn Europe on Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh is deliberate, especially as Nyene Mawn is currently vying with the sinking MOWAH Global for influence.

“It is Nyene Mawn’s way of posturing, to show that they move faster than any other Manyu women’s group in dealing with Manyu women in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” said Chief Eyong Paolo former MECA Nordrhein President in the Federal Republic of Germany.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

16, September 2024

Biya regime distributes disaster relief funds as deadly floods devastate Far North region ⁰

President Paul Biya has allocated 350 million XAF (about 591,809 U.S. dollars) for flood relief after rainstorms caused severe flooding across the Far North region, a senior official said Friday.

The flooding has claimed 11 lives, destroyed 40,000 homes and displaced 180,000 people, Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji told reporters Friday in the capital, Yaounde.

“It is unfortunate that we have casualties, but we have to assist the population. We need to anticipate and put in place preventive measures in cases of flood. The vulnerable population or those impacted by the floods must receive assistance in the fastest possible way,” Nji said.

He added that within 48 hours, about 50 trucks loaded with relief materials would be dispatched to the region.

In response to mounting pressure from heavy rains, local authorities had earlier requested urgent aid for flood victims. In August, Cameroon’s meteorological center warned of continued turbulent weather, predicting that heavy rains and strong winds would persist in the region, which has already experienced devastating downpours.

Source: Xinhuanet

11, September 2024

Beti Assomo discusses cooperation with South Korea defense chief ⁰

South Korea Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun held bilateral talks with his counterpart from Cameroon on Wednesday to discuss the security situation, and ways to broaden defense and arms industry cooperation, his office said.

In what marked the first defense ministerial meeting between Korea and Cameroon since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1961, Kim and his counterpart, Joseph Beti Assomo, agreed to seek cooperation in the defense and arms sectors, including in the state communications network business of Cameroon, according to the South’s defense ministry.

The meeting came on the sidelines of the annual Seoul Defense Dialogue that kicked off its two-day run earlier in the day. Some 900 security officials and experts around the world joined the forum for discussions on regional and global security issues and challenges.

Source: Korea Times