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

Michael Jackson’s older brother Tito Jackson passes away aged 70 ⁰

Tito Jackson, an original member of the Jackson 5 pop group and brother of the late Michael Jackson, has died aged 70, US media report.

An official cause of death is yet to be determined.

Tito performed in the famous ensemble with brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael, who died in 2009.

He was recently in Munich ahead of a performance that the group were due to give.

Getty Images Clockwise from bottom left: Michael Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson — The Jackson 5 began performing in the mid-1960s

Steve Manning, a long-time Jackson family friend and former Jackson family manager, told Entertainment Tonight that Jackson died on Monday.

The news was confirmed in an Instagram post by Jackson’s three sons, Taj, Taryll and TJ Jackson, who were themselves an R’n’B/pop trio, 3T, in the 1990s.

“We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken,” they wrote. “Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being.”

They continued: “He will be missed tremendously. It will forever be ‘Tito Time’ for us.

“Please remember to do what our father always preached and that is ‘Love One Another’. We love you Pops.”

The Jackson 5’s hits included ABC, The Love You Save and I Want You Back.

The group was formed in 1964. Tito played the guitar and provided backing vocals.

Jackson 5 has sold more than 150 million records worldwide.

In 1980, the siblings were presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Getty Images Tito Jackson at the Fool in Love Festival — Tito performed recently at the Fool in Love Festival in California

Days before his death, Tito posted a message on social media from Munich, Germany, where he visited a memorial to Michael with his brothers.

He wrote: “Before our show in Munich, my brothers Jackie, Marlon, and I, visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother, Michael Jackson.

“We’re deeply grateful for this special place that honours not only his memory but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive.”

The Jacksons performed in Germany on 10 September, days after their performance at Boogietown, a UK music festival celebrating funk, soul and disco in Surrey.

The siblings also performed at the Fool in Love Festival at Hollywood Park Grounds in Los Angeles on 31 August.

‘Devastated and speechless’

Former Jackson 5 drummer Jonathan Moffett led tributes on social media, writing on X: “There is great sadness in my heart tonight – I just found out that my brother in heart and spirit, Tito Jackson has passed.

“I’m stunned, devastated and speechless. I love you, Tito. My most sincere love & prayers for the entire Jackson family. I love you all VERY much”.

Getty Images Taj Jackson, TJ Jackson and Taryll Jackson — Tito’s three sons are in a pop group called 3T

Tito was the third oldest Jackson and one of nine children. His other siblings include global stars Janet and La Toya Jackson.

All his siblings, other than Michael who died aged 50 in June 2009, are still alive.

The family’s patriarch, Joe Jackson, died at the age of 89 in 2018.

The group of performers and singers have produced a total of 27 US number one hits.

Alongside work in the band, Tito also had a solo career as a blues musician which started in 2003.

He was the final sibling to place a solo single on the Billboard charts with his 2016 hit, Get It Baby.

In 2019, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon embarked on a World Tour as The Jacksons.

Two years prior they performed a slew of shows in the UK as part of A Celebration of 50 Years, also stopping to perform at Glastonbury Festival.

Source: BBC

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

13, September 2024

Football: PSG ready to try ‘legal forum’ after Mbappé refuses mediation in wage dispute ⁰

Paris Saint-Germain are ready to face Kylian Mbappé in a “legal forum” after the France forward refused an offer from the French football league’s governing body (LFP) to mediate on a wage dispute, the Ligue 1 club said on Thursday.

While PSG welcomed the LFP’s offer to mediate on Wednesday, the offer was refused by the France skipper.

French media reported the 25-year-old, who had a fallout with the club last year after refusing to sign a contract extension, is seeking around €55 million ($60.73 million).

The Commission have suggested that Mbappé either go to an employment tribunal or settle the matter with the club where he spent seven seasons and became their all-time top scorer before making the switch to Real Madrid in June.

“Having heard the arguments of the parties yesterday, the Commission repeatedly insisted upon mediation between Paris Saint-Germain and the player to find a compromise in light of PSG’s favourable arguments,” the club told Reuters.

“This mediation process has been refused by the player, contrary to the Commission’s recommendation.

“…in light of the limitations of the Commission’s legal scope to take a complete decision on this matter, the matter must now be contested in another legal forum, to which Paris St Germain is delighted to present all the facts over the coming months and year.”

Last year they reported Mbappé had agreed to forego loyalty bonuses if he left PSG on a free transfer.

In January, Mbappé had said he made an agreement with PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi which would “protect all parties and preserve the club’s serenity for the challenges ahead”.

“As a matter of law and fact, the player has made clear, repeated public and private commitments that must be respected, having been afforded unprecedented benefits by the club over seven years in Paris,” PSG added.

“The club looks forward to these being upheld in the proper forum, if the player seeks to pursue this incomprehensibly reputationally damaging matter further, in due course.”

Mbappé’s representatives were not immediately available for comment.

Source: Reuters

13, September 2024

Senegal’s president dissolves parliament to call a snap legislative election ⁰

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal dissolved the opposition-dominated parliament on Thursday, paving the way for a snap legislative election six months after he was voted in on an anti-establishment platform.

The new election has to take place within the next 90 days, according to the country’s constitution. Analysts say that Faye’s political party, PASTEF, has a high chance of securing a majority, given his popularity and his victory margin in the presidential election.

Faye, 44, won the vote in April to become Africa’s youngest elected leader, less that two weeks after he was released from prison.

His rise has reflected widespread frustration among Senegal’s youth with the country’s direction — a common sentiment across Africa, which has the world’s youngest population and a number of leaders accused of clinging to power for decades.

During the presidential campaign, he promised widespread reforms to improve the living standards of ordinary Senegalese, including fighting corruption, reviewing fishing permits for foreign companies, and securing a bigger share from the country’s natural resources for the population. He was elected with 54% of the votes.

But six months later, these pledges have yet to materialize.

Faye and Ousmane Sonko, the country’s prime minister and a popular opposition figure who helped catapult Faye to victory, have blamed the parliament. Their political party, PASTEF, does not hold a majority in the assembly, which Faye says has blocked him from executing the promised reforms.

In June, the Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition led by the former President Macky Sall cancelled a budgetary debate in a dispute over whether Sonko was required to issue his government’s policy roadmap, with Sonko arguing that he was not required to.

The tensions between the government and the parliament are “unprecedented,” Alioune Tine, founder of Afrikajom think tank, told The Associated Press. “It is all the result of the dysfunctions of the electoral process of the 2024 presidential election,” Tine said.

Faye’s decision to dissolve the national assembly does not come without risks, Gilles Yabi, political analyst and founder of WATHI think tank, told the AP.

The assembly has until the end of December to vote on the budget for next year, but new legislative elections might make it hard to meet this deadline.

The presidential election in April tested Senegal’s reputation as a stable democracy in West Africa, a region rocked in recent years by coups and attempted coups.

Both Faye and Sonko were released from prison less than two weeks before the vote following a political amnesty announced by outgoing President Macky Sall. Their arrests had sparked months of protests and concerns that Sall would seek a third term in office despite term limits. Rights groups said dozens were killed and about 1,000 were jailed.

Over 60% of Senegalese are under 25, and 90% work in informal jobs. Senegal has been hit by skyrocketing inflation in recent years, making it difficult for them to get by.

The country is also the major source of irregular migration to Europe, with thousands leaving every year on rickety, artisanal fishing boats in search of economic opportunities.

Thursday’s announcement came days after one such boat carrying almost 90 people capsized, killing at least 39.

Source: AP

12, September 2024

Cameroon sees 19% boost in investments for 2023 ⁰

Businesses in Cameroon increased their investments by 19% in 2023, according to a report released on September 10 by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). However, despite this rise, the deterioration of production equipment continues, increasing from 59.6% in 2022 to 60.1% in 2023, the document noted.

This means that even though companies put more money into their operations in 2023, —up from a 13% increase in 2022—most of the equipment used for production is still in bad shape. This ongoing issue, often due to maintenance problems, usually leads to lower productivity and various economic problems like decreased sales, shortages, and temporary job losses.

On a positive note, 2023 saw the highest level of investment spending since the recovery began in 2021, following a slowdown between 2018 and 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in 2020, caused major disruptions globally due to lockdowns.

Bank Loans Driving Investment

The rise in investment was mainly driven by businesses in two key sectors. The INS report highlights that investments in the primary sector (up by 86.9%) and the secondary sector (up by 36.9%) were particularly strong. This trend is also reflected in a foreign trade report released on May 4, 2024, which shows a 26% increase in spending on imported equipment and machinery in 2023 compared to the previous year.

“Mechanical and electrical equipment are essential for the country’s economic growth. Imports of these items made up 13.2% of all import spending in 2023, totaling CFA656 billion, which is a 26.5% increase from 2022. This demonstrates Cameroon’s commitment to improving its technological capabilities,” the report noted.

Furthermore, this surge in investment came alongside an increase in medium- and long-term bank loans, which are better suited for funding infrastructure and production projects. According to the 2023 activity report from the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), medium-term loans in Cameroon grew by 4.9% from 2022 to 2023, while long-term loans saw a significant 48.2% increase during the same period.

Source: Business in Cameroon