24, November 2017
Bafoussam: Bishop Gabriel Simo is dead 0
The emeritus Bishop of Bafoussam, Bishop Gabriel Simo has passed away in the early hours of Friday the 24th of November, 2017 following a protracted illness at the Regional Hospital in Bafoussam.
Paralyzed by a disease for many years, the auxiliary bishop of Bafoussam Bishop Simo Gabriel reportedly resigned his post on September 14, 2013. In accordance with Canon 411 and 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law, the Holy Father Pope Francis accepted the renunciation of the position of auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Bafoussam presented by Bishop Gabriel Simo. At this time the prelate was not only ill, but had also reached the age limit.
Born March 15, 1937 in Bapa and ordained into the priesthood on March 27, 1966, Bishop Gabriel Simo was installed Auxiliary Bishop of Douala on April 2, 1987 at the same time as Bishop Simon Victor Tonyé Bakot. They were both appointed auxiliary bishops on the 21st of February 1987. While Bishop Tonyé Bakot was later named Bishop of Edéa in 1993, Bishop Gabriel Simo was retained Auxiliary Bishop and appointed to Bafoussam in 1994-the functions he held until his appointment waiver in 2013. He celebrated a solemn Mass of Thanksgiving for his 50 years in the priesthood on Thursday, September 29, 2016.
By Sama Ernest with files from CIN
24, November 2017
Egypt: 235 killed in attack on mosque 0
At least 235 people have been killed and over 130 others injured in a shooting attack and bombing at a mosque in the restive Sinai Peninsula, state TV says.
Police officers said militants attacked al-Rawdah mosque in the town of Bir al-Abd, 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the North Sinai provincial capital of el-Arish, during Friday prayers.
The attack, the deadliest single incident in the country’s recent history, reportedly targeted the supporters of Egyptian security forces attending prayers there.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, which had the hallmarks of the Daesh-affiliated Velayat Sinai terrorist group.
A security source was quoted by Sky News as saying that Egyptian military drones killed 15 perpetrators of the Friday attack. The source, however, did not provide further details on the attackers’ affiliation or where the airstrikes were carried out.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi convened an emergency security meeting soon after the attack, state television reported. The Egyptian president announced three days of national mourning.
“The army and police will avenge our martyrs and return security and stability with force in the coming short period,” Sisi said.
The Sinai Peninsula has been under a state of emergency since October 2014, after a deadly terrorist attack left 33 Egyptian soldiers dead.
Over the past few years, militants have been carrying out anti-government activities and fatal attacks, taking advantage of the turmoil in Egypt that erupted after the country’s first democratically-elected president, Mohamed Morsi, was ousted in a military coup in July 2013.
Velayat Sinai has claimed responsibility for most of the assaults. The group later expanded its attacks to target members of Egypt’s Coptic Christian community as well as foreigners visiting the country. That has prompted the government to impose the state of emergency and widen a controversial crackdown, which critics say has mostly targeted dissidents.
Source: Presstv