Day: 12 August 2022

Human Rights Watch (HTW) says Cameroon’s military executed at least 10 people while fighting rebels this year in the country’s troubled western regions. The rights group says troops committed other abuses, including forced disappearances, burning homes and destroying health facilities.

In its report, Human Rights Watch said between April 24 and June 12 of this year, Cameroonian soldiers burned 12 homes, arbitrarily detained at least 26 people, and are presumed to have forcibly disappeared up to 17 others.

Cameroon’s military has yet to comment on the report, but last month the country’s defense minister acknowledged such abuses for the first time and ordered troops to stop.

The report, released Thursday, said the abuses were carried out in and around Belo, Chomba and Missong, towns in Cameroon’s Northwest region, during operations against armed separatist groups.

In one incident on April 24, Cameroon government troops stopped, severely beat, and detained over 30 motorbike riders who were part of a funeral convoy, allegedly because the soldiers suspected them of being separatist fighters. HRW said about 17 riders are presumed forcibly disappeared, as their whereabouts are unknown, but they were last seen in military custody.

Ilaria Allegrozzi, HRW’s central Africa researcher, said the abuses are causing untold suffering among civilians.

“We are facing a situation where the army, [which] is supposed to be protecting the civilian population from the threats posed by the separatist fighters is committing serious human rights violations against civilians causing frustrations and also more sufferings and leading to displacements,” Allegrozzi said.

HRW also said serious abuses by separatist fighters, including killing and kidnapping of civilians, and attacks on students, teachers, and schools were also documented during the same period.

Ngong Cyprain, a 27-year-old sports teacher, said he fled from Belo after government troops torched his house in June. He spoke to VOA by a messaging app from the town of Douala, where he has relocated.

“I, just like many other people would want to go back to Belo, but how can we when both the military and the separatists torture us,” he said. “My house was burnt by the military, I saw them burn my house. Before then, my wife who is a teacher was abducted by the fighters.”

Separatist groups said on social media they will investigate and punish fighters who abuse human rights, but blame Cameroon government troops for what they call a majority of the abuses.

Contacted by VOA after the report was published, Cameroon’s military spokesman, Cyrille Serge Atonfack Guemo, promised to get back to reporters, but has not done so.

But on June 19, during the installation of military officials fighting separatists in Bamenda, capital of the Northwest region, Cameroon’s defense minister acknowledged that troops commited grave rights abuses against civilians and ordered such violations to stop.

In June, Cameroon’s military said it arrested four of its troops for killing nine civilians, including four women and a baby in the northwest village of Missong, describing the act as reckless.

HRW said the media and international community have been very quiet about the crisis wrecking Cameroon’s western regions, making the armed conflict one of the most neglected crises in the world.

The crisis degenerated into an armed conflict in Cameroon’s English-speaking western regions in 2016 after teachers and lawyers protested the dominance of French-speakers in the officially bilingual country.

The military responded with a crackdown and rebels took up arms, saying they had to defend the minority English speakers.

The U.N. says that clashes between the two sides have left at least 3,300 people dead and more than 750,000 internally displaced.

Source: Voice of America

Reports from Sierra Leone say clashes between police and protesters have killed 13 people, with more than 100 others arrested during a curfew. A police spokesperson said Friday that normalcy is returning.

An interim report released by Sierra Leone’s police Thursday shows that 113 people were arrested in protests that began Monday. A majority were arrested in the northeast region of Makeni.

Police say public and private property has been vandalized in the protests and three police stations were burned.

No new protests were reported Friday and Sierra Leone’s assistant police commissioner, Brima Kamara, told VOA in a telephone interview that normalcy was beginning to return.

“All the banks are open, offices are open, both government and offices and private offices, save for some few shops,” said Kamara.

Demonstrators took to the streets this week to express anger over the soaring cost of living in Sierra Leone, which has nearly doubled in months.

A 2020 World Bank report says 80 percent of Sierra Leone’s population is poor, the majority living in rural areas.

The Reuters news agency, citing a source in Freetown’s city mortuary, said 13 people were killed in clashes between police and protesters.

In a Twitter post, Sierra Leone’s president, Julias Maada Bio, termed the protests unfortunate and said the state would investigate their cause.

Source: Voice of America

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said in a statement that because Malian leaders of the U.N. mission to Mali, MINUSMA, denied overflight rights, the German mission must stop all reconnaissance and transport operations until further notice.

The comments from Lambrecht were posted Friday to the defense ministry’s Twitter account.

In them, Lambrecht said she had spoken with Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara, “to describe to him the irritations” about problems with denial of flight permissions.

Lambrecht also said that “Germany can only stay involved with MINUSMA in Mali if this doesn’t happen again and we are welcome in the country.”

Germany provides more than 1,000 soldiers to the U.N. mission to Mali.

There was no immediate comment from Malian and MINUSMA officials.

The episode is another sign of tension between Mali’s military rulers and foreign military forces stationed in Mali to help stabilize the country.

In July, Mali arrested 49 soldiers from Ivory Coast who came to Mali to support a U.N. contingent, calling them “mercenaries.” After MINUSMA spokesperson Olivier Salgado said on Twitter that Mali had been notified of the soldiers’ arrival, he was expelled from the country.

French forces are in the final stages of withdrawing from Mali, following increasing tensions with the government and concerns over Mali working with mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company with ties to the Kremlin. The government has said it works only with official Russian instructors.

Earlier this week, Mali received a shipment of military aircraft from Russia, the latest of multiple shipments of aircraft and weapons from the country’s new ally in the decade-long fight against Islamist insurgents.

Source: Voice of America

Alarm at shelling of Ukrainian nuclear plant

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Thursday that a preliminary assessment from his agency’s experts concluded that there was no immediate threat to nuclear safety following shelling around a major nuclear plant in southern Ukraine, but he cautioned that “could change at any moment.” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told the U.N. Security Council that he and a team of experts need to visit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as soon as possible.

U.N. encouraged by movement of grain ships from Ukraine

The U.N. representative at the Istanbul-based Joint Coordination Center, which oversees the agreement among Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the U.N. to export Ukrainian grain trapped in Black Sea ports, said Wednesday that 370,000 tons of food stuffs had moved in the first week since the deal was implemented.

On Friday, as we went to press, a U.N.-chartered ship was about to dock at Ukraine’s Yuzhny (Pivdennyi) port to collect wheat purchased by the World Food Program. It is the first shipment of humanitarian food assistance under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the other ships have been fulfilling pre-existing commercial contracts. The 23,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat will go to WFP operations in Ethiopia, that are supporting the massive Horn of Africa drought response, where more than 21 million people face high levels of food insecurity after four failed rainy seasons.

Truce between Israel and Palestinian militants holding, but fragile

U.N. Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland told Security Council members Monday from Jerusalem that a tenuous cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants was holding. The Egyptian and U.N.-brokered cease-fire went into effect late Sunday, after two and a half days of violence that killed 46 Palestinians, including 15 children. As we went to press Friday, the situation remained calm. It was the worst Israeli-Palestinian escalation in more than a year.

In brief

— The World Food Program and the U.N. Refugee Agency, joined by the Ethiopian government, appealed Tuesday for $73 million to provide food rations over the next six months to more than 750,000 refugees in Ethiopia. They warned that the WFP will completely run out of food for refugees by October. A lack of cash has already forced the WFP to cut rations for 750,000 refugees living in Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Somali and Tigray regions of Ethiopia.

— The World Meteorological Organization said this week that July was one of the three warmest months globally on record, despite a weak La Nina event, which is supposed to have a cooling influence. Meteorologists warn the heatwave that swept through large parts of Europe last month is set to continue in August. The WMO says Europe and other parts of the world will have to get used to and adapt to the kind of heatwaves WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas calls “the new normal.”

— The International Labor Organization says the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the youth labor market. The organization’s “Global Employment Trends for 2022” report released this week, found that job prospects for young people between the ages of 15 and 24 are lagging behind other age groups. The data estimate the total global number of unemployed youths will reach 73 million this year. While that is a slight improvement from 2021 levels, the ILO says the number of young people without jobs is still 6 million above the pre-pandemic level of 2019. Arab states had the highest and fastest growing youth unemployment rate.

Good news

The World Health Organization said Wednesday that globally, the number of new COVID-19 cases remained stable during the first week of August, as compared to the previous week, with over 6.9 million new reported cases. Weekly deaths were down by 9%, with over 14,000 fatalities reported, as compared to the previous week. The WHO says that as of August 7, there were 581.8 million confirmed cases of the virus and 6.4 million deaths reported globally.

Quote of note

“Any attack to a nuclear plant is a suicidal thing and I hope that those attacks will end, and at the same time I hope that the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] will be able to have access to the plant and to exercise its mandated competencies.”

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to reporters in Tokyo Monday, responding to a question about shelling around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

What we are watching next week

August 15 will mark one year since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The United Nations has warned that the country’s economic and financial crisis, as well as severe drought, has left more than 24 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The U.N. has also criticized the Taliban for reneging on its pledge not to roll back the rights of women and girls, which it has done.

Did you know?

The U.N. secretary-general received the gift of a horse named “Hope” in Mongolia during a visit there this week that highlighted that country’s commitment to non-proliferation and disarmament as a nuclear-weapon-free zone. Mongolia, known for its vast steppes and deserts, has also embarked on the goal of planting 1 billion trees by 2030. Antonio Guterres’ spokesman said that Hope the horse would remain in Mongolia, where she would be well-cared for.

Source: Voice of America

TUNIS, Aug 11 (NNN-Xinhua) — Eight migrants died and two remain missing after a boat carrying 30 migrants sank on Tuesday off the Kerkennah Islands near the southeast coast of Tunisia, the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) reported.

On Wednesday, security personnel retrieved two bodies off the coast of Kerkennah, adding the total fatalities to eight, said the report.

So far 20 individuals have been rescued and search is still underway for the missing, according to the report.

Located in the central Mediterranean, Tunisia is one of the most popular transit points for illegal migration to Europe.

Although Tunisian authorities have adopted rigorous measures to tackle the problem, the number of illegal immigration attempts from Tunisia to Italy has increased.

Source: Nam News Network

N’DJAMENA— Thirteen people have been killed in deadly clashes between farmers and herders in central Chad, a regional governor said Wednesday.

Violence between the two communities is frequent in central and southern Chad, where many people are armed.

They mainly pit nomadic Arab herders against sedentary indigenous farmers who accuse the former of damaging their fields by grazing their animals.

“A child stole the hoe of a farmer and then an altercation broke out on Tuesday at around 1:00 pm between farmers and herders” in Djongol, 700 kilometres east of the capital N’Djamena, said Sogour Mahamat Galma, governor of Guera province.

He said the dispute escalated and resulted in the use of firearms.

“So far there are 13 dead and 20 wounded, tension between the communities is ongoing,” Mahamat Galma said.

Bloody clashes between the two communities are regular in Chad.

In August 2021, 22 people were killed in clashes 200 kilometres east of the Chadian capital.

In February 2021, 35 people were killed in the south of the country.

Source: Nam News Network

KHARTOUM, Aug 11 (NNN-Xinhua) — Deputy Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council Mohamed Hamdan Daqlu on Wednesday vowed to reveal the “malicious plots” against the cohesion among tribes.

“There are malicious plots targeting the cohesion of the social fabric among the tribes. We are aware of these plots, and we will reveal those behind them,” Daqlu said at a press conference at Khartoum airport.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing tribal fighting and fostering reconciliations among the tribal components in Sudan’s western Darfur region neighboring Chad.

Daqlu said it’s important to maintain security on the border with Chad to prevent the recurrence of what it called “a cross-border attack by Chadian armed groups that killed at least 18 Sudanese civilians on Aug. 4.”

He added the Sudanese-Chadian joint forces must play an active role to prevent the infiltration of outlaws across the border.

Sudan and Chad share a border that stretches for as long as 1,350 km.

The Darfur region has been a witness to deadly violence since 2003. Efforts over the years to end tribal conflicts met failure, blamed on tribes’ access to weapons and a lack of effective governance in many parts of the region.

Source: Nam News Network

UNITED NATIONS— UN agencies appealed for $73 million over the next six months to provide food rations to more than 750,000 people seeking refuge in Ethiopia.

The World Food Programme (WFP), UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and Ethiopian Government Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) made the plea for assistance because without it, WFP will run out of food for the refugees by October.

The impending crisis will leave vulnerable families at risk of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency, and increased susceptibility to diseases, the agencies warned.

“Three quarters of a million refugees will be left with nothing to eat in just a matter of weeks unless we receive funding immediately,” said Claude Jibidar, WFP’s Representative and Country Director for Ethiopia.

Cutting rations has been an issue with which WFP has long had to grapple.

Food rations for refugees in Ethiopia were first reduced by 16 per cent in November 2015, then 40 per cent in November 2021, and finally 50 per cent in June 2022.

The impact of these cuts has been heightened by global limitations on food availability, widespread economic shock, rising food and energy costs, the COVID-19 fallout, and armed conflict.

To understand the impact of ration cuts on refugees, WFP, UNHCR and RRS conducted in April, a rapid assessment on 1,215 refugee camps households throughout relevant regions.

The results show that most had coped with food insecurity by reducing the number of meals eaten in a day, consuming less expensive foods, or limiting meal portions.

The joint assessment also revealed that households are going to desperate measures to make up for funding cuts.

Funding cuts have forced refugees to rely on an ever-finite supply of food, which increases the likelihood of resource-based conflicts.

Data shows that many families have been relying on children to generate extra income to afford food.

Other households were forced to borrow cash, relying on friends or relatives for sustenance.

“We have a shortfall of $73 million for refugees’ minimum needs and we are deeply concerned that if funding cuts continue, they may consider returning to their places of origin when it is unsafe,” warned Jibidar.

More resources must be mobilized to meet immediate food demands, and smart investments should be taken to prioritize sustainable farming.

“The priority for us all must be to restore assistance to at least minimum levels for refugees, all of whom are solely reliant on WFP’s cash and food assistance for survival,” said the UN Country Director.

With an immediate donor response, WFP would be able to buy food available in the region to meet the dietary needs of the refugees and also transfer cash to the refugees, providing them the choice of how to meet their immediate needs and stimulating local markets.

The agencies have established an effective system to identify the food assistance needs of refugees through biometric verification, accountability mechanisms and programmes to grant monthly food and cash assistance.

The trio called on all partners to strengthen efforts to address their immediate and long-term food needs in line with international commitments.

Meanwhile, WFP, UNHCR and RRS will continue to count on donors for extended funding support based on the principle of shared responsibility to implement basic humanitarian life-saving activities.

The agencies have established an effective system to identify the food assistance needs of refugees through biometric verification, accountability mechanisms and programmes to grant monthly food and cash assistance.

The trio called on all partners to strengthen efforts to address their immediate and long-term food needs in line with international commitments.

Meanwhile, WFP, UNHCR and RRS will continue to count on donors for extended funding support based on the principle of shared responsibility to implement basic humanitarian life-saving activities.

Source: Nam News Network

CAIRO– A subsidiary of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), acquired minority stakes in four Egyptian companies for 1.3 billion U.S. dollars, Egypt’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, said yesterday.

This comes as Egypt ramps up its effort to entice foreign investors, the ministry said, in a statement.

The Saudi-Egyptian Investment Company (SEIC), obtained minority holdings of Abu Qir Fertilisers and Chemical Industries Company, Misr Fertilisers Production Company, Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling Company, and E-Finance for Digital and Financial Investments, all of which are listed on the Egyptian Exchange.

“The deal is part of the country’s plan to encourage foreign direct investments and lure Arab and foreign investors, as well as, utilise state-owned assets,” the statement said, adding that, the deal has demonstrated foreign investors’ confidence in Egypt’s economy.

The PIF launched the SEIC on Aug 5, to invest in Egypt’s agriculture, infrastructure, real estate development, and health care.

Source: Nam News Network

FREETOWN— – Two police officers were killed in Sierra Leone after a protest against “economic hardship” descended into clashes between security forces and youth demanding the president resign, the police said.

“Two police officers, a male and female, were mobbed to death by protesters at the east end of Freetown this Wednesday morning,” police spokesman Brima Kamara said.

Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh announced a nationwide curfew and said “innocent Sierra Leoneans including some security personnel” had been killed.

Dozens of protestors had been arrested, police said.

A health worker at a hospital in Freetown said dozens of people had been injured.

In the Kissy neighbourhood in the east of the capital, demonstrators threw rocks and sticks at security forces, who fired tear gas towards the demonstrators.

Several protesters said the security forces had also fired live bullets.

Demonstrators were heard chanting “Bio must go”, referring to President Julius Maada Bio, who is currently in the United Kingdom on a private visit.

The internet was temporarily blocked in Freetown on Wednesday afternoon, according to NetBlocks, a web monitoring group.

Demonstrations were also held in the city of Makeni and the town of Magburuka in the country’s Northern Province.

The Grassroots Women of Sierra Leone, a group of market traders, had called a “peaceful assembly” to “draw attention to the economic hardship and many issues that affect the women of Sierra Leone”, according a letter to the inspector general of the police.

Source: Nam News Network