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Six Turkish members of a cargo ship's crew have been kidnapped by pirates off the coast of Nigeria, a spokesman for the Nigerian navy said on Monday.

The crew members of the merchant tanker M/T Puli were abducted some 90 miles from the coast at around 1:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) on Monday, navy spokesman Chris Ezekobe said.

"Six crew members were abducted. They included the captain, the chief officer and chief engineer," Ezekobe said. "They were all Turkish."

The spokesman said the navy was going to board the vessel to speak to other crew members.

Last month, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea agreed to establish combined patrols to bolster security in the Gulf of Guinea. The gulf is a significant source of oil, cocoa and metals for world markets, but pirates pose a threat to shipping companies.  

They target oil tankers, usually seeking hostages for ransom and fuel to sell. Security analysts say the pirates have emerged from militant groups in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta, such as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.

A lawyer for Kaptanoglu Group, an Istanbul-based shipping company, said the crew members abducted from the M/T Puli included the ship's captain and that those left behind were unharmed, according to the newspaper Hurriyet.

The tanker was carrying liquid chemical fuels and was traveling to Cameroon, Hurriyet said, citing the lawyer, Fehmi Ulgener.

Reuters

 

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Elangwe Pauline

12.Apr.2016

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US President Barack Obama has said failing to prepare for the aftermath of the ousting of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi was the worst mistake of his presidency.
Mr Obama was answering a series of questions on the highs and lows of his time in office on Fox News.

He said, however, that intervening in Libya had been "the right thing to do".
The US and other countries carried out strikes designed to protect civilians during the 2011 uprising.

But after the former Libyan leader was killed, Libya plunged into chaos with militias taking over and two rival parliaments and governments forming.
How Obama learned the limits of US power

So-called Islamic State (IS) gained a foothold, and Libya became a major departure point for migrants trying to reach Europe.

A UN-backed national unity government arrived in the capital Tripoli earlier this month but is waiting to take charge.

The leader of the faction ruling western Libya has threatened to prosecute any of his ministers who co-operate with the UN-backed administration, contradicting an earlier announcement the ministers would stand down.

President Obama gave the brief but revealing answer speaking to Chris Wallace:

CW: Worst mistake?

Obama: Probably failing to plan for the day after, what I think was the right thing to do, in intervening in Libya.

It is not the first time President Obama has expressed regret over Libya. He toldthe Atlantic magazine last month the operation went as well as he had hoped, but Libya was now "a mess".

In that interview, he also criticised France and the UK, in particular saying British Prime Minister David Cameron became "distracted" after the intervention.
It was a rare rebuke for a close ally and one which BBC correspondents at the time said angered Downing Street.

It is not the first time President Obama has expressed regret over Libya. He toldthe Atlantic magazine last month the operation went as well as he had hoped, but Libya was now "a mess".

In that interview, he also criticised France and the UK, in particular saying British Prime Minister David Cameron became "distracted" after the intervention.

It was a rare rebuke for a close ally and one which BBC correspondents at the time said angered Downing Street.
(BBC/Fox)

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Elangwe Pauline

11.Apr.2016

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Authorities in Democratic Republic of Congo have expelled a prominent American researcher weeks after he published a report linking soldiers to the massacres of civilians, the government and the researcher's organization said on Saturday.

Jason Stearns, the director of the Congo Research Group at New York University, was expelled from the country, to which he makes regular research visits, for making false declarations to immigration services, government spokesman Lambert Mende said.

"(Immigration authorities) wanted to present him to a judge but finally they decided to expel him," Mende said, adding that he did not have any details on the nature of those declarations.

The group said the reason given by authorities for Stearns' expulsion on Thursday was his "undesirability", and said the immigration irregularities were "minor procedural matters, which we are taking steps to address".

Its statement said the authorities referred to Stearns' report about the massacres, without giving further detail. 

Last month's report said that soldiers in Congo's army had participated in massacres of civilians in the country's northeast since 2014, although it said it was unclear to what extent the military hierarchy was involved.

Mende sharply criticized the report at a news conference in the days after it was released, accusing Stearns of "abusive generalization".

Rights groups say more than 500 people have died in a wave of machete attacks and other raids since October 2014. The government has blamed most of them on a Ugandan Islamist group that has operated in eastern Congo since the 1990s.

Political tensions are high in Congo, where President Joseph Kabila, in power since 2001, is required by the constitution to step down before the end of the year.

Opponents, however, accuse him of trying to delay a presidential election due in for November in order to hold onto power. The United Nations and rights groups say the government is cracking down on dissent through arrests and intimidation of opponents.

The government denies both of these charges.

Stearns is a former coordinator of the U.N. panel of experts in Congo and author of a widely read book about the country's civil wars from 1996-2003.

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Rita Akana

11.Apr.2016

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His Lordship Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge, Bishop Emeritus of Mamfe Diocese was joined by a sellout crowd of Roman Catholics, Protestants including non-believers on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee as Priest in the vine yard of the Lord in Mamfe recently. When Bishop Lysinge was voted Cameroon Concord Man of the Year in 2014, our US Bureau Chief, Bertrand Etukeni Agbaw-Ebai profiled him in a soul-searching article. We hereby present an extract of the write up:

Born on December 28th 1938 in Bokwango-Buea from a protestant family as Godwill Lysinge Teke and later changed to Francis Teke Lysinge was the first Bakweri ordained Priest in April 17, 1966 by His Lordship Bishop Julius Peteer together with the outspoken Cardinal Christian Tumi. The genesis of its priestly formation started in St. Joseph College Sasse [first catholic secondary school] where the Holy Family Junior seminary was opened and attached to Sasse College at the time [1953-1958].

In 1960-1966 Bishop Lysinge enrolled at the Brigard Memorial Seminary Enugu and studied Philosophy and Theology. He returned to Buea and was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood an epochal ceremony described by the then Cameroon Information Bulletin as “rare and unforgettable” as the ordination recorded in attendance the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Cameroon, John Ngu Foncha, Prime Minister of West Cameroon Augustine Ngom Jua, Leader of the West Cameroon Legislature Dr. E.M.L Endeley and other top dignitaries.

After his ordination as Priest his first Pastoral work took him to Mamfe to become the first historic black Priest for the population and the Catholic faithful in Mamfe from January 1966 to April 1967. From Mamfe, he further worked in the following areas Mankon, Sacred Heart Parish Fiango as Curate, Akwaya before going to Rome for further studies in Spiritual Theology. When he returned from Rome he was immediately sent to St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary Bambui as Spiritual Director from 1975-1979 and from 1990-1999 respectively.

On February 22, 1999, as a historical coincidence, the Apostolic Nuncio Mgr, Felix Del Blanco announced the creation of the Diocese of Mamfe, and its first residential Bishop Mgr. Francis Teke Lysinge who was the first black Priest to have worked in Mamfe. On Wednesday, April 21, 1999, all roads were leading to Mamfe for the Episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect. Fourteen other Bishops including one from Nigeria, personal representative of the Head of State, Prof. Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, the then Minister of Special Duties at the Presidency of the Republic with over 20.000 faithful and onlookers who had come to witness the event.

After 14 years as Bishop with a nick name “The Peoples Bishop” who officially met his Christians every Friday at the Cathedral for counselling, Prayers and Confessions, the Diocese of Mamfe had witnessed a spiral and unprecedented transformation in the clergy, Catholic population, Parishes & Deaneries, Quasi-parishes, Education, Health, Communication and infrastructure. His administrative and pro-developmental prowess have left an infrastructural-landmark in the Diocese of Mamfe exceptional in Cameroon.


Described by the Bishop of the Diocese of Essen-Germany, his Lordshop Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck as a “Man of God”, Bishop Lysinge retired from his exalted position after reaching the canonical age[75] for the retirement of bishops speaks of an uncommon humility and true leadership not only in the spiritual world but equally in the secular. A prelate widely believed to be simple with a magnanimous disposition, promoter of justice, champion for the poor and inspiration to many who met him is a man of demonstrable spirituality, strong moral stamina after carrying this great responsibility for 14 years as Bishop and 47 years as a Priest. Bishop Lysinge thinks that he deserves some rest from active pastoral mission. 


For a Bishop who has no bank accounts, never bought a pair of shoes or trousers but lived on the good will of Christians state that the Ministry of a Bishop is not measured in terms of achievements or successes but is understood only in the language of faith, hope and love. Steadfast in faith, inspired by hope and motivated by love, Bishop Lysinge employed personal charisma to an evangelising message that transformed Mamfe Diocese bringing mercy to faithful and non-believers. Bishop Lysinge read the signs that after 51 years in the service of the Lord, he is entitled to a well-deserved rest from active episcopalism. This personifies the leader Cameroon, Africa and the world needs.

 
Congratulations my Lord for winning Cameroon Concord Man Of the Year 2014 Award and now for celebrations marking your golden jubilee. May the good God continue to bless and guide you in all your endeavours as you continue to be a role model for Christians and clergy.

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Elangwe Pauline

10.Apr.2016

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At least three people, including a child, killed in massive explosion in Somali capital claimed by al-Shabab.

At least three people, including a child, were killed on Saturday in a car bomb attack outside a restaurant in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, police and witnesses said.

Armed group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack on its radio station, saying it was targeting government forces who were inside the restaurant, according to the DPA news agency. 

Abdifatah Halane, a spokesman for Banadir province, said that the explosion took place in Mogadishu's Beyhani district.

"Three civilians were killed and five others injured," he told the AFP news agency.

A police officer told DPA that non-government soldiers were
harmed in the attack, but a witnesss said all the dead and wounded were civilians. 

The car, which was packed with explosives, was parked just outside the restaurant and produced a massive blast, witnesses told AFP.

"The explosion was enormous ... I saw several corpses, including one of a child," said witness Farhan Mohamed.

AFP

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Elangwe Pauline

09.Apr.2016

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Idriss Deby, Chad's authoritarian ruler, is seeking re-election. In the West, he is viewed as a key ally in the fight against Islamist militants, but opposition to his regime in the Central African nation is growing.

After 25 years in power, Chadian President Idriss Deby is seeking a fifth term in office at elections on Sunday (10.04.2016). In the foreign policy arena, Deby can claim to have had some success. He is regarded as an important player in the struggle to defeat the Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram, the French military in Mali value him highly, he was welcomed to the White House by US President Barack Obama, and he is also the chair of the African Union.

However, Sunday's elections in Chad will differ from those at which Deby triumphed five years ago. This time they will not be boycotted by the opposition. There are 13 candidates running against Deby, who also faces protest from the street.

The demonstrations were triggered by the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl, Zouhoura, by the sons of several powerful officials. Recalling the day of her ordeal, Zouhoura told France24 the culprits had torn off her clothes and videoed everything. "They threatened to post it on the internet if I went to the police," she said.

She did go to the police and the culprits carried out their threat to post the images online. That provoked street protests in the capital N'Djamena, and a student was shot dead by the police. The affair is symbolic of discontent with Idriss Deby, even though - or perhaps because - many Chadians have never known any other ruler.

Key role of Chadian army

Deby, who received military training in France, has survived several attempts to unseat him and remains determined to cling to power. When campaigning for re-election, he promises more democracy, but away from the hustings he relies on the army to keep the ethnically diverse nation of some 200 ethnic groups together. That same army backs the French military in Mali and is also fighting Boko Haram.

The son of a herder, Deby is welcome in the West because his troops appear to be the only force in the region that is able to mount a serious challenge to the terrorist threat. Boko Haram has staged attacks in Chad. Deby's response was to declare a state of emergency at the border, ban the wearing of the burka and to execute militants. He seems, however, unable to contain the growing unrest within Chad itself. The authorities' answer to demonstrations is arbitrary detentions and the banning of public meetings. Mahamat Nour Ahmed Ibedou, civil society activist with the group "Enough is Enough," believes Deby should step down. To press home this demand, the group organized a general strike in February, which successfully locked down N'Djamena. "He has been in power for 25 years, and we think that's enough; his record is catastrophic. We don't want to let Deby impose a further five years of misery on the population," Ibedou said.

Ibedou was arrested along with three other activists and put on trial because he had called for protests against Deby's regime. The public prosecutor has called for a six-month jail term for Ibedou, whose trial was recently adjourned until next Thursday (14.04.2016).

Deby's dilemma

The unrest in Chad shows no sign of abating and Deby is in a dilemma. The cost of living for ordinary Chadians is rising steeply, because Boko Haram's campaign of terror is obstructing trade with neighboring states. The war on the Islamist militants is also devouring funds which ought to be used to foster the country's development. The fall in the price of oil, meanwhile, has led to a decline in state revenues. Gali Ngothe Ghatta from the Chadian opposition said Deby should stop relying on military solutions. "Money invested in the military can't be spent on schools, health or housing. There is also a lack of transparency about oil revenues, and parliament has no say in the matter," he said.

Deby has said that his fifth term will be his last. The 63 year-old has not groomed a successor.

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Elangwe Pauline

09.Apr.2016

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