Politics
During an interview on Tuesday with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria said that his administration would be willing to negotiate with Boko Haram if it meant returning the 219 Chibok schoolgirls from captivity. The girls were captured by the militant group in northeastern Nigeria in April 2014.
“If we are convinced that the [Boko Haram] leadership… can deliver those girls we would be prepared to negotiate what they want,” President Buhari told the CNN host during an interview on his official visit to the US.
President Buhari also said that the US had agreed to help the Nigerian military in the fight against Boko Haram, and that he had asked for assistance in training, equipment, and intelligence. Ms. Amanpour asked President Buhari about his approach to security issues, given reports (one from Amnesty International) of rampant human rights abuses by the Nigerian military. He responded with his progress in preparing a task force and his recent replacement of the military chiefs.
“I think I can be held to my promises for the next three and three quarter years ahead of me,” the Nigerian leader said. “I think twelve weeks also is too early for anyone to pass judgment on my campaign promises.”
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At least 11 people have been killed in northern Cameroon in two bomb attacks at a busy marketplace and a popular neighborhood, officials say. According to regional governor Midjiyawa Bakari, the twin attacks were carried out on Wednesday in the central market of Maroua, the capital of the Far North Region, as well as the adjoining Hausa neighborhood, when two female assailants “under 15” blew their explosives.
Cameroon's presidency said in a statement that 11 people died and 32 sustained injuries in what it denounced as "cowardly and despicable" acts. The deadly explosions came a few days after two female attackers set off their explosives in the town of Fotokol, located on the border with Nigeria, on July 12. The bombings killed 10 civilians as well as a soldier from neighboring Chad.
Also on Monday, at least 23 people were killed in an attack by suspected Takfiri Boko Haram militants in northern Cameroon. Boko Haram, whose name means Western education is forbidden, has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shooting attacks and bombings in Nigeria since the beginning of its operations in 2009. The group’s deadly militancy has so far killed at least 15,000 people and left over 1.5 million others homeless. In February, Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon formed a coalition and reportedly managed to drive the militants from captured towns and villages in their offensive.
Boko Haram have so far carried out several raids and abductions in northern Cameroon in reprisal for the country’s participation in the military offensive against the group.The Takfiri group has pledged allegiance to the ISIL terrorist group, which mainly operates in Syria and Iraq. The Nigerian militant group has intensified its campaign of terror since President Mohammadu Buhari came to power on May 29.
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At least 23 people have been killed in an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants in northern Cameroon Presstv has reported. We are keeping a watchful eye on this latest development and will keep our readers posted as soon as our reporters get details from our military informant.
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Boko Haram militants have burned down a Cameroonian town late on Sunday killing twelve people. The Boko Haram fighters, military sources say set fire on the village of Hile-Halifa killing nine children, three adults and destroying houses, livestock and totally burnt shops. Some survivors were taken by security forces to the Maroua regional hospital.
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Refuge Network International, a humanitarian NGO working with refugees in Africa, recently paid a visit to two African migrant camps in Morocco. The RNT team visited refugees in the border town of Oujda and another large camp in the ancient Moroccan town of Fes where we encountered hundreds of disillusioned suffering Sub-Saharan African migrants stranded in Morocco on their way to Europe. The camps where they call home are segmented into small groups of ram shackled tents, composed of the main nationalities represented within the community. Cameroonians constitute the largest groups in both camps. Yaya, leader of the Oujda Cameroon camp group, informed us that there are over 200 Cameroonian refugees living there. We also found large numbers of Nigerians, Ghanaians, Gambians, Malians, Guineans and other French speaking Africans in the two locations. Conditions in these camps are so bad that even animals might find it challenging surviving there. All that separates the inhabitants from the harsh unforgiving North African weather are small improvised huts made up of a combination of polyethylene material, cardboard paper, pieces of stones, sticks and damaged car tyres. There are no toilets, no clearly defined cooking areas, no medical facilities, no electricity supply, no pipe borne water, and absolutely no proper infrastructure whatsoever. When they need to answer the call of nature, they simply do it out in the open field right next to where they sleep, shielded only by tall grasses and a few trees. Cooking is also done in the open with dry wood collected from the area.
It is difficult to comprehend how these people survive from day to day. There are men, women, and children eating, sleeping and somehow carving out an existence there. Without proper documentation and without jobs, their options are pretty limited. The majority spend the day begging for money from passing cars in town. Time is also spent scavenging for food at the Medina. The situation is so depressing that it has left some mentally deranged. Though Moroccan society as well as the authorities is generally tolerant in their attitudes towards migrants, some undocumented Africans interviewed, complained of persecution and victimization by certain elements of the Moroccan police. A number of them had terrible physical scars sustained from brutal beatings. There were also allegations of unlawful confiscation and theft of their phones and money by law enforcement agents. Minor instances of racial discrimination were also reported.
With a view to addressing the huge refugee crisis in the country, the Moroccan government recently initiated a migrant integration programme aimed at regularizing the status of thousands of illegal immigrants in Morocco. Based on meeting certain stipulated pre-requisites, about 18 thousand undocumented persons were granted the right to legal residency. However, this liberal gesture has sadly not changed the many thousands who were not affected by the documentation exercise. Many are still living like animals on the fringes of the Moroccan society with no hope of going forward towards Europe, no funds to go back to their own countries, and no prospect of settling down permanently in Morocco.
Charles Gimoh
Refuge Network International
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Refuge Network International, a humanitarian NGO working with refugees in Africa, recently paid a visit to two African migrant camps in Morocco. The RNT team visited refugees in the border town of Oujda and another large camp in the ancient Moroccan town of Fes where we encountered hundreds of disillusioned suffering Sub-Saharan African migrants stranded in Morocco on their way to Europe. The camps where they call home are segmented into small groups of ram shackled tents, composed of the main nationalities represented within the community. Cameroonians constitute the largest groups in both camps. Yaya, leader of the Oujda Cameroon camp group, informed us that there are over 200 Cameroonian refugees living there. We also found large numbers of Nigerians, Ghanaians, Gambians, Malians, Guineans and other French speaking Africans in the two locations. Conditions in these camps are so bad that even animals might find it challenging surviving there. All that separates the inhabitants from the harsh unforgiving North African weather are small improvised huts made up of a combination of polyethylene material, cardboard paper, pieces of stones, sticks and damaged car tyres. There are no toilets, no clearly defined cooking areas, no medical facilities, no electricity supply, no pipe borne water, and absolutely no proper infrastructure whatsoever. When they need to answer the call of nature, they simply do it out in the open field right next to where they sleep, shielded only by tall grasses and a few trees. Cooking is also done in the open with dry wood collected from the area.
It is difficult to comprehend how these people survive from day to day. There are men, women, and children eating, sleeping and somehow carving out an existence there. Without proper documentation and without jobs, their options are pretty limited. The majority spend the day begging for money from passing cars in town. Time is also spent scavenging for food at the Medina. The situation is so depressing that it has left some mentally deranged. Though Moroccan society as well as the authorities is generally tolerant in their attitudes towards migrants, some undocumented Africans interviewed, complained of persecution and victimization by certain elements of the Moroccan police. A number of them had terrible physical scars sustained from brutal beatings. There were also allegations of unlawful confiscation and theft of their phones and money by law enforcement agents. Minor instances of racial discrimination were also reported.
With a view to addressing the huge refugee crisis in the country, the Moroccan government recently initiated a migrant integration programme aimed at regularizing the status of thousands of illegal immigrants in Morocco. Based on meeting certain stipulated pre-requisites, about 18 thousand undocumented persons were granted the right to legal residency. However, this liberal gesture has sadly not changed the many thousands who were not affected by the documentation exercise. Many are still living like animals on the fringes of the Moroccan society with no hope of going forward towards Europe, no funds to go back to their own countries, and no prospect of settling down permanently in Morocco.
Charles Gimoh
Refuge Network International
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- Ngwa Bertrand
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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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.# Southern Cameroons, Ambazonia
Learn more about the history, culture, and politics of Ambazonia, the Anglophone regions of Cameroon that have been seeking self-determination and independence from the Francophone-dominated central government. Our Southern Cameroons section covers the ongoing conflict, the humanitarian crisis, the human rights violations, and the peace efforts in the region. You'll also find stories that highlight the rich and diverse heritage, traditions, and aspirations of the Southern Cameroonian people.
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