Huge explosion heard near International airport in Mogadishu
A large explosion has been heard near the international airport in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
Breaking News
Iran Foreign Minister tells President Buhari Wahhabism is the real threat to world peace
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says projects by the Israeli and Saudi Arabian regimes to portray Iran as a threat to the world have been falling flat over the past years. Speaking to a group of Iranian expatriates in the Ghanaian capital city of Accra on Monday evening, Zarif said Tel Aviv and Riyadh, “two like-minded regimes,” are investing heavily in Iranophobia to draw attention away from their crimes and their collaborations.
“It is obvious that the cooperation of the Zionist regime (Israel) and the Saudi regime, which are two like-minded and congruent regimes, has today become known and can no more be concealed,” Zarif said. He said the two regimes are concerned about their collaboration having become publicly known and are thus “investing further in Iranophobia” as a means of distraction.
He said, however, that, “The world has today waken up to the fact that the danger of Wahhabism is the real threat.” Wahhabism is an extreme ideological strand openly preached by Saudi Arabian clerics, who have the blessing of ruling Saudi authorities. It is the main ideological feature of Takfiri terrorist groups — particularly Daesh — which declare people of other faiths and beliefs as “infidels” and, based on “decrees” from clerics, rule that they should be killed.
Most Arab governments have no diplomatic relations with Israel. Egypt and Qatar are the only two Arab states to have open diplomatic ties with Israel. Some Arab governments, however, while posing as Israel’s traditional adversaries, have been revealed to have secret ties with the Tel Aviv regime. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are two such countries.
Last week, a retired general in the Saudi military traveled to Israel at the head of a delegation, meeting with Israel’s foreign ministry director general Dore Gold Yoav Mordechai and a number of Knesset members. Both Riyadh and Tel Aviv were and continue to be fiercely opposed to a nuclear deal between Iran and a group of six world powers.
In his Monday remarks, Foreign Minister Zarif said the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), succeeded in proving to the world the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program. The JCPOA was struck between Iran and the US, the UK, France, Russia, China and Germany on July 14, 2015. Zarif is in Ghana on the second leg of a four-nation African tour. He was in Nigeria before arriving in Ghana and will be traveling to Guinea-Conakry and Mali on the third and fourth legs of his tour.
Presstv
First ever Nigeria-South Africa Defense seminar holds in Abuja
A South African delegation led by Secretary for Defence Sam Gulube has participated in the inaugural Nigeria-South Africa Defence Industry Seminar (NIGSA) in Abuja, Nigeria. Seventeen South African companies took part in the seminar between 18 and 19 July at the National Defence College in Abuja, Nigeria, according to the Aerospace Maritime Defence Industries Association (AMD) of South Africa, which said the event showed defence cooperation is taken seriously by both nations.
“This seminar – the first of its kind for these two powerful African nations – focussed on establishing strategic partnerships with defence companies in Nigeria. South Africa looks at Nigeria as a key partner in Africa and we hope this event will increase future collaborations,” said Simphiwe Hamilton, executive director of AMD.
Besides AMD and Armscor, South African companies attending the seminar included DCD Protected Mobility, Denel Group, Turbomeca Africa, SAAB Grintek Defence, Paramount Group, Reutech Communications, CSIR, Floida Engineering Services, Integrated Convoy Protection – (REVA), Megaray Limited, Rippel Effect Systems, Twiga Services and Logistics, Thorax and Weatherhaven Africa.
“NIGSA is coming at a time when Africa was faced with serious challenges such terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking,” said Ambassador Danjuma Nanpon Sheni, Permanent Secretary, Nigerian Ministry of Defence. “The vital and historic seminar will examine our respective strengths, and articulate potentials between the two countries to enhance the performance and fruitful reserves to boost relations between our nations. This will ensure modernisation of defence industries in our countries and across Africa.”
In his address, South Africa’s Secretary for Defence, Dr Sam Gulube, echoed his Nigerian counterpart’s sentiments. “The defence community was of critical importance to counter global threats and to ensure peace and security for socio-economic development to flourish,” he said. “Defence plays a key role in advanced research and technologies, which broaden economic development away from a reliance on raw materials. We need to build exchange programmes and share information, as well as training and research and development,” Dr Gulube said.
The seminar stems from the first official visit of Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, in March this year to South Africa and President Jacob Zuma’s visit to Nigeria shortly thereafter, at the invitation of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the time it was agreed that Nigeria would host the defence industry seminar, tagged Nigeria-South Africa (NIGSA) Inaugural Defence Industry Seminar, to be followed by a defence committee meeting. The meeting would focus on military technical corporation; defence exchange programmes and joint military exercises, training and research and development
Defenseweb
CEMAC Heads of State to meet in Malabo
A meeting of heads of state of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) has been announced for July 30, 2016 in Malabo in Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon Intelligence Report has learned.
On the invitation of President Obiang Nguema, the Heads of State of Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, will meet on the 30th of July in Malabo for a special session of the Economic Community of which they are members.
Our senior economic affairs correspondent reported that the leaders will examine the state of negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the Central African configuration and the European Union.
Ebong Kingsley (Cameroon Intelligence Report)
Canada pushing to win contracts on the renovation of the Douala Reunification stadium
The Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon, accompanied by a business consortium was at Minsep to push for protocol accord towards the project. With Cameroon embarked on the construction of sports infrastructure towards hosting the 2016 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, the country is being courted by several foreign countries eager to win contracts. After the Japanese, Chinese and Turks, here come the Canadian proposing to do the renovation work on the Douala Reunification stadium earmarked to host matches for the 2016 AFCON.
The Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon, Rene Cremonese accompanied by the director of Business development and sales of the Canadian Commercial Corporation, Donald Olsen and the developer of strategic markets of a business consortium, SODEVI, were at the ministry of Sports and Physical Education for the third time on Thursday July 21st to push their bid for the contract.
The Canadian bid includes an offer for pre financing from the Canadian Commercial Corporation and all what is needed is a protocol of understanding, said Jean François Leroux of SODEVI. While noting that progress has been made since the last meeting, the Canadian high commissioner said there was need to speed up things for work to start soonest since they were working within a very tight schedule. The technical and financial aspects of the project were to be discussed with the Cameroonian authorities in a meeting the following day after the audience with the minister.
The minister of Sports and Physical education expressed gratitude that Canada was interested in helping Cameroon organise the 2019 AFCON saying he will accelerate the administrative procedure towards the award of the contract disclosing that he had already forwarded all necessary information towards the signing of the protocol accord to hierarchy. He said the whole of Cameron was mobilised towards the successful hosting of the 2016 and 2019 AFCONs and urged the Canadian visitors to feel free in Cameroon, a land of hospitality.
Cameroon Tribune
Cameroon: New German Ambassador meets controversial Public Health Minister
The Minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda, met with new German Ambassador to Cameroon, Hans-Dieter Stell, on Thursday July 21, 2016. Speaking to journalists after the brief audience, the German diplomat said three weeks after his arrival in the country, he decided to begin his courtesy visits with one of the most important ministries for bilateral cooperation between Germany and Cameroon.
He said Germany has been active in the sector and we will continue to do so. As for priorities, Ambassador Hans-Dieter Stell promised that the Embassy will continue with its programme in rural development and midwifery and will work together with government so that the essential needs of pregnant women and other women are met. It is vital to include in this report that Minister Fouda as head of the Public Health ministry has been a disaster.
CIR/Cameroon Tribune
Yaounde: Kolofata trial taking a dramatic u-turn
Hearing continued on Friday, July 22, 2016, in the Yaounde Military Tribunal of three Cameroonians and three Nigerians accused of aiding and abetting terrorist acts, including the July 27, 2014 deadly attacks on Kolofata, in Mayo-Sava Division of the Far North Region. The six accused are Mustapha Umar, Mohamed Sherif and Ngare Ishaka, all Nigerians; while the Cameroonians are Waziri Isma, Baba Talba and Ramat Moussa, Mayor of Fotokol in the Logone and Chari Division of the Far North Region.
Presiding was Mrs. Justice Yvonne-Léopoldine Akoa, Vice President of the Yaounde Military Tribunal, who is also a judge with the Mfoundi High Court in Yaounde. She was assisted by Lt. Col. Boum Bissoue Raymond and Major Ndem Victor, while Major Nzie Pierrot Narcisse was State Counsel. Friday’s hearing saw the submission of the witness list by the counsel to Ramat Moussa, Barrister Eugène L.R. Balemaken, while the prosecution said it was still preparing its own.
Major Nzie Pierrot also told the court that he had written to the authorities for Amadou Ali, Vice Prime Minister and Minister in charge of Relations with the Assemblies, to list the destruction caused in his Kolofata home in the July 27, 2014 Boko Haram attacks on the town. He said he was still to receive the reply. Taking the floor again, Barrister Balemaken called on Mrs. Justice Akoa to dismiss the charge against his client. He argued that on November 4, 2014, during his first appearance before the Examining Magistrate, Ramat Moussa was charged with aiding and abetting insurrection and supplying firearms to Boko Haram.
But the charge finally retained against him is assisting Boko Haram members to move vehicles seized in Nigeria to Cameroon. The counsel argued that contrary to Article 169 (1) and other relevant portions of the Penal Code, the Examining Magistrate carried out the modifications without notifying the State Counsel. Balemaken appealed to the judge to therefore dismiss the charge against his client.
Asked by Mrs. Justice Yvonne-Léopoldine Akoa to respond to the objection, Major Nzie Pierrot Narcisse said he was not ready and pleaded for time to do so. The matter was later adjourned to August 29, 2016, for the prosecution to hand in its witness list and respond to the submission for dismissal of charge against Ramat Moussa.
Cameroon Tribune
Central African Republic: 3 killed in an attack by militants
Three people have been killed in an attack by militants in the south of the Central African Republic, security forces say. “At least three people were killed and several more injured,” a police officer said on Sunday following an attack a day earlier by armed herdsmen and fighters in the town of Ngakobo.
The officer said the armed men were members of former rebel Seleka movement, adding that hundreds of local people had fled their homes for neighboring villages. Residents said the situation was mostly calm Sunday, but added that militants were still in the vicinity of the town.
Ngakobo was a hotbed of violence in the Central African Republic between 2013 and 2015. About half a million people were displaced during a crisis which came after a Seleka-led alliance, a mainly Muslim movement, ousted President Francois Bozize, who was a Christian.
Incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadera had warned earlier this month that his country is still “in danger” with “entire regions” occupied by armed groups. CAR has seen a surge in the violence since mid-June. Clashes between livestock herders and local arable farmers in the northwest earlier this month prompted the United Nations to issue warnings about the deteriorating situation in the poor country. The UN said thousands of people had fled renewed violence to neighboring Chad and Cameroon.
Touadera, who came to power in February backed by 12,000-strong UN force, faces tough challenges including helping 415,000 people internally displaced inside the Central African Republic while rebuilding the army and disarming armed groups in the impoverished country of 4.5 million people.
Presstv
Buea: UB sends out 181 medical practitioners
The Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Buea has graduated medical practitioners amidst poor health care delivery and abandoned health infrastructures in the country. The certificate award ceremony to the 181 graduating students took place on July 22nd, 2016 under the patronage of Professor Maurice Tchuente, who represented the Chancellor and Minister of Higher Education at Dorothy Limunga Njeuma Amphi theatre at UB.
The 4th batch of medical doctors had 90 students (35 females and 55 males) while the 16th batch of senior nurses recorded 31, including the 16th batch of senior Medical Laboratory Scientists and the 8th batch of Masters of Science in Chemical Pathology and Medical Microbiology and Parasitological studies both of which had 34 and 19 graduates respectively. The Vice Chancellor, Dr. Nalova Pauline Lyonga witnessed the oath taking ritual exercise and Atamabang Rita, the best graduating medical student was heavily rewarded.
Cham Victor Bama (Cameroon Intelligence Report)
Buea Mayor UK visa palaver: The truth is out!!! Mola Ekema absolved
A senior official at the UK consular service in Yaounde, has described as “misleading, utterly irresponsible and malicious”, media reports that the Lord Mayor of the Buea City Council, Ekema Patrick Esunge, was recently refused a visa to travel to London for the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network Conference.
The source who sued for anonymity because he was not authorized by the UK consular service to make any public pronouncement on the issue, said the scandalous and misleading media reports were all in his words “mud splashing and misdirected fire” aimed at the mayor not Her Majesty’s Government.
Our chief intelligence officer gathered that the UK consular officials in the nation’s capital, Yaoundé were shocked and scandalized by the report published by The Post newspaper. Cameroon Intelligence Report was informed that Mayor Ekema did not travel with the other Cameroon government delegates and mayors for the conference even though his visa was effectively issued on July 12, 2016 because he needed to secure a service passport from the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization.
Our source at the UK consulate hinted that the misleading newspaper reports that Mayor Ekema was refused a visa for the CSCN in London was intended to spark a diplomatic row between the United Kingdom and Cameroon. Mayor Ekema was actually issued a six-month UK visa for the trip and when contacted to comment on the development, he observed that his lawyers were already ‘handling the matter so that those behind the story can face justice”.
Cham Victor Bama (Cameroon Intelligence Report)