Day: June 17, 2023

Violence against women and girls is taking on a worrying and unacceptable scale in our society, and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has cried out. Since the beginning of the year, cases of maltreatment, rape, ritual crimes, murders, and killings targeting women and girls are said to have hit the headlines, causing shock, grief, and horror.

The Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa in a press briefing on June 15, 2023, lamented the increasing number of murders and acts of violence perpetrated against women and girls in Cameroon.

The press briefing which took place in Yaounde, Center region of Cameroon was aimed at reiterating to all women and girls of the country, the determination of the government to put an end to the inhuman butchery.

According to Minister Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa, the Cameroonian government will continue to implement family and mental life education programs as well as positive parenting programs and accelerate the implementation of the National Strategy to combat Gender-Based violence.

“Under the very high impetus of the head of State, and the coordination of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, we intend to intensify the denunciation of perpetrators and set up structures for this purpose. We equally intend to promote the culture of peace, living together, and the rule of law,” she stated.

“Through me, the Government of Cameroon is taking this opportunity to rejoice over the happy outcome that would have led to the tragic disappearance of some thirty women abducted by separatists in the North West on May 20, 2023, and condemns this pernicious instrumentalization of women,” she continued.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Security elements in Yaounde, cntre region have opened investigation with the hope of apprehending a suspected kidnapper.

The suspect, Andela Fabrice is reportedly on the run with his friend’s daughter of just about three years old.

According to sources, the little girl’s father accommodated Fabrice in his home in Messassi where he was living with his two daughters. He went out Thursday June 15, 2023 and only to return the next day and discovered only elder daughter sleeping, while the younger one was no where to be found, including his friend Fabrice.

Unable to reach Fabrice, he reported to the police who have launched a manhunt to track down Fabrice, suspected to have kidnapped the little girl.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

About 3,165 pilgrims from different parts of Cameroon will be in Saudi Arabia for the next 24 days, in fulfillment of the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.

The last contingent of faithful left the Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport on Friday, June 16, in a ceremony presided at by the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, and Saudi Ambassador to Cameroon, Faisal bin Saud Al-Mejfel.

A total of 11 flights scheduled from June 11 went successfully. 2,211 pilgrims left through the Garoua International Airport on 8 flights, 686 from the Douala International Airport on two flights, and 268 pilgrims through the Yaounde Nsimalen Airport on one flight.

The 2023 Hajj is programmed to take place between June 26 and July 1, with millions of pilgrims from across the world converging on Saudi Arabia.

Participants often travel to the holy land a week before, and stay for an extra week after the rites at the holy sites of Mecca, Mina, Mount Arafat, and Muzdalifah end.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Ethiopians all over the world need to stand with their nation to help it achieve the goals and objectives of becoming a beacon of prosperity in Africa, Director General of Ethiopian Diaspora Service, Mohammed Endris said.

Director General of Ethiopian Diaspora Service, Mohammed along with Embassy staff discussed with Ethiopians and Ethiopians descent representatives in Kenya on current affairs of the country, on 16 June 2023 at the embassy's premises, according to Ethiopian Embassy in Kenya.

Ethiopian Deputy Head of Mission in Nairobi, Ambassador Workalemahu Desta, stated that diaspora and citizens are the epicenter of the new foreign policy orientation of Ethiopian diplomacy.

During the meeting, the efforts of the government in ensuring sustainable peace in the country, the progress and implementation of national projects, improvements of services and current affairs of the country were the topic of discussion.

Director General of Ethiopian Diaspora Service, Mohamed on his part commended the diaspora for extending their all-rounded supports to flagship projects as well as on pivotal issues of the country.

In addition, he praised the diaspora for their expedited responses in supporting their country during internal and external challenges facing the country over the last few years.

He stressed that Ethiopians all over the world need to stand along with their nation to help it achieve the goals and objectives of becoming a beacon of prosperity in Africa.

Finally, he called on the diaspora to further enhance their unreserved support to national development projects and to be part of the solution for challenges facing the country.

Participants also assured their continued support to their country and to work hand in hand with the embassy.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat has condemned the brutal and cowardly terrorist attack by suspected ADF terrorists, killing 42 Ugandan students.

He twitted today that there are no words for the shock nor condemnation strong enough to express my horror at the brutal and cowardly terrorist attack by suspected terrorists, which targeted a school in western part of the country.

“My sincere condolences go to the loved ones of the victims, and in full solidarity with President Kaguta Museveni, the government, and the people of Uganda during this painful period of national loss.”

According to the latest reports from Uganda, more than 40 people, mostly pupils, have been killed at a school in western Uganda by rebels linked to the Islamic State group (IS).

A further eight people remain in a critical condition after the attack on Lhubiriha secondary school in Mpondwe.

Several others, mostly girls, have also been abducted.

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which are based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have been blamed for the horrendous attack.

Survivors told local media that the attackers used machete against the students before throwing a bomb into a dormitory.

The Ugandan forces are pursuing the enemy to rescue those abducted and destroy the group, it was learned.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The partnership between Germany and Ethiopia has been growing steadily since the beginning of the relationship of the two countries, Ambassador Stephan Auer told ENA.

The German Ambassador to Ethiopia said efforts have been exerted to further strengthen the partnership in political, social and economic sectors.

He pointed out that Germany's development cooperation in capacity building, agricultural productivity, social development and good governance has been growing.

According to the ambassador, Germany has for example provided capacity building, especially through the International Development Cooperation Agency, capacity building for thousands of citizens who play crucial role in the development of industry.

On the other hand, he stated that professional support has been provided for the Human Rights Commission and the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, and to also boost agricultural productivity, are being provided.

Moreover, humanitarian aid and rehabilitation activities are undertaken to support vulnerable citizens through people-centered projects, Ambassador Auer stated.

For example, through programs “like Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP), we have donated 16 million Euros. We also doubled our humanitarian assistance to 82.5 million USD. So, we are the second biggest humanitarian donor. We are also contributing to the Response Resilience Recovery Program of the World Bank by contributing additional 30 million USD. Also, when we come to the transitional development programs, we are also trying to address drought and inflation crises by supporting the WFP and UNICEF with 30-35 million USD, respectively,” he elaborated.

Ambassador Auer furthermore noted that there are favorable conditions for strengthening the trade and investment relationship between Germany and Ethiopia, and the two sides are working to make this a reality.

Germany has the desire for the continuity of the peace agreement in Ethiopia, particularly in the northern part of the country. For this to succeed, Germany has been providing the necessary support, he said.

The ambassador, who pointed out that the Ethiopian government's effort to ensure transitional justice is encouraging, stated that Germany will provided support to make the process successful.

Ethiopia and Germany established diplomatic relations in 1905.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency