Politics
President Paul Biya, 83 who is reportedly seeking another mandate come 2018 has handed two campaign vehicles each to the 10 regional governors in Cameroon. The governors were given the posh vehicles in Yaounde during a ceremony presided over by the Minister of Territorial Administration Rene Sadi. Each governor left with a 4x4 field and a hatchback city car.
The governors in a typical CPDM pattern welcomed with smiles these so called work tools that will facilitate their contributions to Biya's continued stay in power. For the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization René Emmanuel Sadi, who handed the endowment, "It is no accident that Paul Biya has chosen to help regional governors. The head of state is very sensitive to the demands of administrative authorities. We decided to release a significant financial means to facilitate the acquisition of these vehicles for regional governors."
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- Ngwa Bertrand
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After three years of continued attacks by Boko Haram in their attempt to create an Islamic state, Muslims and Christians in Cameroon are now joining forces to protect each other.
Hundreds of Muslims gather each Friday for prayers at the central mosque in Mozogo near the border to Nigeria. In order to protect worshippers and the mosques from attack, the Muslim community has formed vigilante groups. But this means that those protecting the mosque would not be able to enter the building and pray, something that is required by their religion.
So the Muslim community has teamed up with Christian organizations to help protect each other. Joseph Klofou of the Protestant Church of Cameroon said that his church decided with members of self defense groups to guard mosques so believers do not have to miss their religious obligations.
"I feel frustrated seeing my brothers and sisters dying. I must act while praying to God to send his angels and warriors to fight Boko Haram because he is the merciful God of armies," said Klofou.
Djafarou Alamine of the central mosques said that they also stand guard in front of churches when Christians pray.
"I am out to fight because Boko Haram is a group of bad people. Islam condemns all that they have been doing to both Christians and Muslims who are all God's creatures even though they have religious differences,” said Alamine.
Hand in hand
Cameroon Christians and Muslims are uniting in the fight against the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram that has been attacking the central African nation in what it said were plans to create an Islamist state.
On Monday, a young suicide bomber detonated explosives at a mosque in Guetchewe, a town near Cameroon's border with Nigeria, killing five people. This happened only five days after another suicide attack which killed 12 at a mosque in the town of Kouyape.
Cameroon's population of over 23 million people is 40 percent Christian, 20 percent Muslim with 40 percent holding indigenous beliefs.
Midjiyawa Bakari is the governor of Cameroon's Far North region. He has congratulated Christians and Muslims for working together against a common enemy.
"We have applauded this initiative in which Muslims stand guard over Churches and Christians stand guard over mosques. We condemn the actions of Boko Haram and ask Cameroonians to all fight them,” said Bakari. “And we extend our condolences to families that lost their loved ones."
Common enemy
Boko Haram has been looting, killing, burning schools, markets and churches in Cameroon. In December 2015, the group said it was attacking Cameroon in order to create an Islamic state.
Cameroon's minister of communication and government spokesperson, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, congratulated Christians and Muslims for jointly defending the country.
"Cameroon is a country where priests and imams both go to churches and mosques to preach and pray during ecumenical services. It is a treasure to keep," said Bakary.
Bakary told reporters that Boko Haram has staged 315 raids in the border region since 2013 and carried out 32 suicide bombings.
"In total, 1,098 civilians, 67 of our soldiers and three police officials have been killed in these barbaric attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group," Bakary said.
(DW)
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Nigeria's army chief of staff told an inquiry on Tuesday that his soldiers had acted appropriately during a bloody raid last month on a minority Shi'ite sect in which at least 60 people were killed. The army says the Islamic Movement in Nigeria had tried to assassinate its chief of staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, when members of the sect blocked his convoy in the northern city of Zaria in December. The following day the army said it had raided several buildings connected to the sect. The Shi'ite sect said hundreds of its members had been killed.
The army took most of the bodies away, making it impossible to verify the claim but the director of a local hospital said at least 60 people had been killed. "I'm here because I was there during the incident. I was involved and my officers and soldiers acted in accordance with the rule of engagement," Buratai told an inquiry panel of the National Human Rights Commission into the raid. "There is no way we would pick our weapons and deliberately violate what we have been tasked and paid to defend and protect," added the army chief. Members of the Shi'ite sect are also expected to give evidence to the inquiry panel, which was set up to establish what happened in the raid and sat for the first time on Tuesday.
It has the power to impose fines and payment of compensation. Most of Nigeria's Muslims, who number tens of millions, are Sunni, including the Boko Haram jihadist militants who have killed thousands in bombings and shootings, mainly in the northeast, since 2009. However, in the nation of 170 million people, there are also several thousand Shi'ite Muslims whose movement was inspired by the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Shi'ite Iran. Iran condemned last month's raid and summoned Nigeria's ambassador to Tehran.
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President Paul Biya, who is yet to visit Cameroonian troops combating the Nigerian Islamic sect in the Far North region has dispatched Midjiyawa Bakari, the governor of the Far North region with awards to members of vigilante committees that have neutralized Boko Haram kamikaze attacks and by extrapolation reducing the death toll.
Governor Bakari decorated members of these non state policing groups in Bodo (district of Makary in the Logone-et-Chari Division, Kolofata in Mayo-Sava and Nguetchewé district of Mayo-Moskota, Department of Mayo-Tsanaga.
The members of the vigilante committees were decorated with the Knight's Medal of the Order of Merit of Cameroon. Our intelligence unit gathered that Governor Midjiyawa Bakari also handed huge amounts of money to the wounded including widowers, widows and orphans.
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Cameroon says nearly 1,200 people have been killed in the country by the Nigeria-based Boko Haram terror group since 2013. Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Cameroon’s communications minister, said Friday that Boko Haram militants had carried out 315 raids and 32 bomb attacks in the country’s northern border areas. “1,098 civilians, 67 of our soldiers and three police officials have been killed in these barbaric attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group,” the minister told reporters in the capital Yaounde. Since July last year, Cameroon’s far north has seen a wave of attacks attributed to Boko Haram Takriri militants. The price Cameroon pays for being a neighbour to loud-mouthing and grand standing Nigeria with inept leadership. This is on top of 1.5 million Nigerian refugies Cameroon has received from Nigeria. Where will it end?
This year, the number of attacks has soared to an almost daily basis. “In the face of such unjustified and gratuitous harassment our defense and security forces have inflicted heavy losses on the enemy,” Bakary said, adding that the extremist militants are now sending their women or girls to carry out bomb attacks. Since late November, the Cameroon army has carried out operations in several border areas aimed at weakening Nigerian militants active in the region.
Boko Haram has over the past year stepped up cross-border attacks in Niger, Chad and Cameroon, targeting busy markets, mosques, religious leaders and tribal chiefs opposed to them. The militant group, which is affiliated to Daesh, maintains strongholds in areas that are difficult to access, such as the Sambisa forest, the Mandara mountains and the numerous islands of Lake Chad. Boko Haram’s six-year military campaign has left about 20,000 people dead in Nigeria, and hundreds of others in neighboring Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
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Cameroon says nearly 1,200 people have been killed in the country by the Nigeria-based Boko Haram terror group since 2013. Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Cameroon’s communications minister, said Friday that Boko Haram militants had carried out 315 raids and 32 bomb attacks in the country’s northern border areas. “1,098 civilians, 67 of our soldiers and three police officials have been killed in these barbaric attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group,” the minister told reporters in the capital Yaounde. Since July last year, Cameroon’s far north has seen a wave of attacks attributed to Boko Haram Takriri militants. The price Cameroon pays for being a neighbour to loud-mouthing and grand standing Nigeria with inept leadership. This is on top of 1.5 million Nigerian refugies Cameroon has received from Nigeria. Where will it end?
This year, the number of attacks has soared to an almost daily basis. “In the face of such unjustified and gratuitous harassment our defense and security forces have inflicted heavy losses on the enemy,” Bakary said, adding that the extremist militants are now sending their women or girls to carry out bomb attacks. Since late November, the Cameroon army has carried out operations in several border areas aimed at weakening Nigerian militants active in the region.
Boko Haram has over the past year stepped up cross-border attacks in Niger, Chad and Cameroon, targeting busy markets, mosques, religious leaders and tribal chiefs opposed to them. The militant group, which is affiliated to Daesh, maintains strongholds in areas that are difficult to access, such as the Sambisa forest, the Mandara mountains and the numerous islands of Lake Chad. Boko Haram’s six-year military campaign has left about 20,000 people dead in Nigeria, and hundreds of others in neighboring Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
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Biya Article Count: 73
# Paul Biya and his regime
Explore the political landscape of Cameroon under the rule of Paul Biya, the longest-serving president in Africa who has been in power since 1982. Our Paul Biya and his regime section examines the policies, actions, and controversies of his government, as well as the opposition movements, civil society groups, and international actors that challenge or support his leadership. You'll also find profiles, interviews, and opinions on the key figures and events that shape the political dynamics of Cameroon.
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