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The colourful ceremony at the Yaounde Military Headquarters Brigade was chaired by the President of the Republic, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces. The bright weather that characterised the nation’s capital last Friday April 24, 2015, set the stage for the colourful and grandiose ceremony to graduate some 278 cadet officers from the Combined Services Military Academy known popularly by its French acronym, EMIA.  Friday’s ceremony chaired by the President of the Republic, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, saw the triumph of 140 cadet officer of the 33^rd batch christened “Lieutenant Youssouf Mahamat Bahar and 138 for the 34^th batch baptised 50^th Anniversary of Reunification. Among the officers of the 33^rd batch are 111 males, 21 females eight foreigners from Gabon, Mali and Central African Republic while, the 34^th batch contained 16 females and six foreign students from five countries notably Central African Republic, Mali, Gabon, Senegal, Benin and Niger.

Addressing the laureates, the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, reminded the young officers of the present circumstances in Cameroon’s history marked by a merciless war against the terrorist group Boko Haram, which is menacing our national integrity. Stating the significance of the Lieutenant Youssouf Mahamat Bahar and the 50^th Anniversary of Reunification batches, President Paul Biya underlined that posterity will recall the memories of a young officer who died on March 20, 2011, in a pirate attack saying it should serve as a example to the graduating cadet officers who should be ready to make the ultimate sacrifice in defending the national integrity. The 50^th Anniversary of Reunification which was celebrated in Buea on February 20, 2014, he added remains indelible in the minds of Cameroonians who commemorated a rediscovery of national unity.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces paid glowing tributes to soldiers killed at the battle field as well as civilians massacred by the nefarious Boko Haram sect, adding that the nation will forever recognise the sacrifice of the fallen soldiers. He also paid homage to the Lieutenant Donkeng Joseph Kevin of the 33^rdbatch who felt in the war against Boko Haram in 2014. President Biya did not also hesitate to salute and encourage the generous contributions being made by Cameroonians to support the Defence Forces. He hailed the decision by Chadian President, Idriss Deby Itno whom he described as brother and friend, to join Cameroon in the fight against Boko Haram as well the international community as a whole which has understood that a single country cannot fight global menace like terrorism, piracy, arms trafficking amongst others.

While reminding the young soldiers of their mission to defend the territorial integrity of the country with honour and fidelity, the Head of State assured them of his constant support in accomplishing their mission as brave soldiers whom he said have chosen one of the best professions. Highlights of the emotion-laden ceremony was the award of epaulets to the young cadet officers with the President of the Republic, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, taking the lead to affix the epaulets of the best cadet officers of the two batches while the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, the Secretaries of State, Military Generals and other superior officers followed suit.

A military parade crowned the solemn ceremony with the newly graduated young officers thrilling the crowd of dignitaries and family members who could not hide their excitement as they applauded the spectacular march past that was led by the Commander of the Combined Military Services Academy (EMIA) Colonel Bengono Antoine Mesmin Kisito

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Ngwa Bertrand

27.Apr.2015

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Nigeria has summoned its envoys from South Africa following the recent outbreak of deadly 'xenophobic' violence in the country. According to a foreign ministry statement dated Saturday, the Nigerian ambassador in Pretoria and the country's consul general in Johannesburg have been asked to return to the West African country for consultations. The officials have been recalled over the "ongoing xenophobia targeting foreigners” in South Africa that has created "fear and uncertainty in the minds of African migrants,” the statement said. Nigerian lawmakers have also called for compensation from the South African government for the damaged properties of their citizens in the attacks. South Africa's department of international relations denounced Abuja’s move as "an unfortunate and regrettable step," stressing that Pretoria is committed to maintaining good ties with Nigeria. Several weeks of violence in South Africa’s major cities have claimed at least seven lives, with the police failing to control the mobs who keep attacking foreigners. 

Over 300 people have been arrested by the police in connection with the violence gripping South Africa. The unrest has also forced thousands of immigrants to abandon their homes. The recent unrest has strained South Africa’s relations with regional governments as many migrants have decided to leave, creating worries in their home countries. The violence has revived memories of the xenophobic bloodshed in 2008, when 62 people were killed in Johannesburg's townships.

 

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Ngwa Bertrand

27.Apr.2015

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(Reuters) - Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe won re-election to a third term based on provisional results with more than 1.2 million votes or 58.75 percent of the total, the West African country's election commission head said on Tuesday.

His nearest rival was opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre with 34.95 percent of the vote, the provisional results showed.

"In light of these results, the election commission deems that Faure Gnassingbe won the election provided that they are confirmed by the constitutional court," commission head Issoufou Taffa Tabiouon said on state television.

Gnassingbe was widely tipped to win the Saturday vote, and early results suggested he had secured a comfortable margin. If confirmed, the results will extend the grip of Gnassingbe's family on the country beyond 50 years.

But Togo's opposition complained of widespread irregularities and called for the announcement of results to be halted.

A mediation team led by John Dramani Mahama, Ghana's president and current head of the West African ECOWAS bloc, arrived in Togo on Tuesday.

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Ngwa Bertrand

27.Apr.2015

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At least three people have been reported killed and two more injured in Egypt’s volatile Sinai Peninsula as the nation’s president extended a seven-month-old curfew imposed on parts of North Sinai for another three months.

Medical sources in al-Arish stated on Saturday that the casualties came as the result of armed clashes between Egyptian security forces and militants in the area on a day that coincided with what the government in Cairo referred to as the 33rd anniversary of Sinai liberation day.

The day marks the anniversary of the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers occupying the Egyptian territory following the US-sponsored Camp David Accord between then-Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat and the Tel Aviv regime.

Meanwhile, President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Egypt’s former army chief, issued a decree on Saturday renewing the state of emergency imposed on parts of the restive North Sinai since October 25, 2014, when a car bomb attack perpetrated by ISIL-linked Takfiri terrorists killed 31 Egyptian army troops and wounded 30 others.

The presidential decree is to go into effect on Sunday, further extending a night-time curfew that was being enforced.

Since the ouster of Egypt’s first freely elected president Mohamed Morsi in a military coup in July 2013, militants have launched terrorist attacks in Sinai, killing hundreds of Egyptian soldiers and police officers.

The Egyptian army is conducting a wide scale operation targeting ISIL-linked terrorists there.

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Ngwa Bertrand

26.Apr.2015

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