Monthly Archives: June 2018

Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis Intensifies – Why the Central Government Is Ultimately Responsible for Perpetuating the Escalating Violence

7, June 2018

Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis Intensifies – Why the Central Government Is Ultimately Responsible for Perpetuating the Escalating Violence 0

In the past year, both national holidays commemorating Cameroon’s foundations – October 2017’s independence anniversary and May 2018’s National Day salute to the unitary state system – were marred by violence between the Francophone government and Anglophone secessionists. The secessionists, who formally declared independence for the “Republic of Ambazonia” in October, have struggled to establish a sovereign state comprising the bilingual country’s primarily English-speaking Northwest and Southwest Regions. Now, they are resorting to any means necessary – including violence – to achieve their goals.

Issues of minority recognition in Cameroon are rooted in the country’s post-colonial unification and long-standing tradition of sidelining the English-speaking minority’s language and customs. When the movement’s current manifestation emerged in late 2016, it did so through peaceful protests calling for a return to Anglophone-Francophone federalism. However, because of the government’s violent reaction to such demonstrations, the movement morphed into its present form. It is now more mainstream in reach, but more extreme in strategy.

The shift in the movement’s ultimate goal–from power-sharing to secession–has subsequently changed its methodology. Now, life in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon is characterized by fear as protests, curfews, security patrols, arrests, abductions, and killings occur daily. While the rebels’ strategy has become increasingly violent, the central government is equally responsible for the many deaths and disappearances reported over the past six months.

Violence around Cameroon’s May National Day celebrations is a microcosm of the larger conflict. Expectedly, hostility stained the commemoration of the 46th anniversary of the country’s transition from a federal system–which equalized the French and English language, legal, and educational systems–to the Francophone-based unitary state system, approved by national referendum in 1972. While Francophones celebrated the May 20 holiday in Yaoundé with a parade and speeches, Anglophone secessionists boycotted festivities, kidnapped local leaders, and murdered several police officers. Then, later in the week, several dozen so-called “terrorists” were killed by security forces in the Northwest Region. This retaliation not only added to the number of casualties, but also signaled that the government is willing to strike back.

Reports since October 2017 indicate that a high number of civilians and secessionists–allegedly over one hundred– have died in clashes with government troops, in addition to the hundreds arrested. Meanwhile, rebels have reportedly killed at least forty government personnel, and have abducted, held, and tortured scores of local leaders, teachers, government supporters, and security agents.

The fighting has also led to substantial displacement. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 160,000 people have been displaced within Cameroon since 2016. At the end of March, the United Nations Refugee Agency reported that over 20,000 refugees have fled into neighboring Nigeria, with more than half arriving in 2018 alone.

The use of violent tactics by marginalized populations agitating for political rights and representation showcases a systemic problem within authoritarian countries. While many similar movements begin peacefully, brutal governmental reactions often follow. In many cases, governmental overreaction signals that peaceful mobilization will be fruitless and provides an opening for a movement’s more radical members.

In Cameroon, peaceful protests in late 2016 were met with repression, resulting in the existing situation and placing responsibility for the violence squarely on the shoulders of the central government. The government’s violent reaction–coupled with its unwillingness to negotiate with Anglophone leaders or compromise its current policies–forced a subset of the Anglophone movement to conclude that no recourse was available except violence of their own. While it is unclear how representative these violent groups are of the larger Anglophone movement, it is dangerous for anyone in an opposition movement to resort to violence; such a strategy ultimately provides repressive governments an opening to label the entire movement as “terrorists” or “dissidents” and to ignore those peacefully advocating for their rights.

As a result, while there are many Anglophones who sympathize with the movement’s original intent, the violence has created a situation in which citizens are forced to choose: support the Cameroonian state and continue to be marginalized, or support the “Ambazonians” and risk being deemed a terrorist. The high levels of displacement suggest that picking sides is more dangerous than fleeing.

Whether it evolves into a full scale civil war and humanitarian disaster or not, the current conflict triggers questions regarding the legitimacy of the Anglophone movement. Before the movement resorted to violence, the Francophone government’s crackdown on Anglophone protesters was viewed as authoritarian repression against innocent civilians seeking a break from long-standing marginalization. Although peaceful methods did not help them to accomplish their goals, the Anglophone movement’s acceptance of–and explicit call for–violence as a tactic in their struggle against the state may delegitimize their objectives as it displaces and harms innocent civilians. Furthermore, the group’s indiscriminate violence may concurrently provide security forces with an excuse to use similar tactics and legitimize the state’s classification of the secessionists as terrorists.

Despite the Anglophone crisis’ steady intensification over the past eight months, the international community has mostly ignored the growing violence and the government’s role perpetuating the situation. While this may be due, in part, to the myriad humanitarian crises and conflicts in the region, the fact that Cameroon–which has been hailed as one of Central Africa’s beacons of stability despite its authoritarian government and is an important partner in the regional war on terror–is facing growing instability as the Anglophone crisis continues to escalate, is not one that many international partners are ready to acknowledge.

However, in recent weeks, the United States has stepped up, calling for an end to the violence. Following the US Department of State’s Human Rights report’s criticism of abuses in Cameroon, the US Embassy has been more vocal. Prior to Cameroon’s National Day celebrations, US Ambassador Peter Barlerin met with President Paul Biya and explicitly condemned the actions of both sides. While Barlerin denounced the “murders of gendarmes, kidnapping of government officials, and burning of schools” by Anglophone secessionists, he also publicly accused the government of “targeted killings, detentions without access to legal support, family, or the Red Cross, and burning and looting of villages”–an important step in persuading Biya to consider the Anglophone case and reminding the international community that the Cameroonian government is ultimately at fault for the ongoing violence.

Again calling for a dialogue, Barlerin noted that Biya has an opportunity to cement his legacy prior to the upcoming October 2018 elections by re-establishing peace in the country. While the outcome is near certain–Biya will again extend his thirty-five-year hold on power–the elections, which will occur just over a year after “Ambazonia’s” declaration of independence, offer an opportunity for international partners to pressure the government and the secessionists to negotiate peace. In using the leverage gained by supporting regional security efforts, including the fight against Boko Haram, Cameroon’s international partners can persuade the government to end the violence against Anglophones and to seek a long-term solution to their marginalization. Further, the elections provide a national and international platform for the Anglophone movement to amplify its voice and concerns, and to seek the recognition and representation it desires through non-violent means.

Culled from the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center



This is how Biya plans to destroy the Ambazonian Interim Government

7, June 2018

This is how Biya plans to destroy the Ambazonian Interim Government 0

The regime in Yaoundé has recruited a cream of Southern Cameroonians serving with the private sector in French Cameroon to help destroy the credibility of the exiled Ambazonian Interim Government (IG) in the USA. Cameroon Intelligence Report has gotten intelligence that independent Southern Cameroonians holding top positions in multinationals in Douala and Yaoundé have been hired and ordered to travel to the US pretending to seek genuine dialogue with the IG.

The Biya think tank took the move amid fears that the ruling CPDM crime syndicate moderates were becoming virtually extinct ever since the Southern Cameroons revolution started. Today, Biya is pursuing a doggy radical shrinkage of the unitary government and he has requested his media gurus to sell it to the world as a project that has come to overthrow the old CPDM style of governance. But the real goal of this Biya Francophone project is to meet with the leaders of the Interim Government on camera and later on get Cho Ayaba and Boh Herbert to come up with stories that the Interim Government has received hush hush money from the Biya regime.

Our senior correspondent in Yaoundé revealed that the scheme has been code-named “The Overthrow of the IG.” The essence of the vicious plan is familiar with what took place in Abuja, Nigeria that eventually led to the abduction and extradition to French Cameroun of the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, His Excellency Sisiku Ayuk Tabe including top aides of his government.  In addition, the Biya regime’s diabolic harsh ploy aims to fan the flames of division between the IG and the other smaller groups in the Ambazonian struggle.

Unlike conventional policies already being implemented in Southern Cameroons to achieve the goals of a one and indivisible nation, the new malicious project also aims to create and obtain permanent control over all Southern Cameroons organizations that are hostile towards the Interim Government. That goal is already being pursued with an increasingly aggressive and norm-violating form of hardball politics only rarely seen in recent times in Yaoundé.

Whether the Biya Francophone CPDM scheme is a thought-out strategy or a skillful use of Southern Cameroonians in the private sector to implement its far-right ideology will have to be determined by the leadership prowess of Dr. Ikome Samuel Sako.  Understanding the various genocidal activities currently going on in Southern Cameroons as a Biya Francophone project makes it easier to see the unstated purposes of these calls for dialogue involving legendary footballer, Samuel Eto’o and the Southern Cameroons big names in the French Cameroonian private sector in Douala and Yaoundé and how they are connected.

The Right Royal President has never attacked his ruling Francophone Beti Ewondo CPDM establishment. He has always supported its pattern of management and its goals. In fact, Biya has always said he will never negotiate with Southern Cameroonians and that’s the goal too of the Southern Cameroonians who will be travelling to the US anytime soonest.

Like every French Cameroun political elite, this so-called Southern Cameroons success stories in Douala and Yaoundé will be eager to make life yet more difficult for Ambazonia’s economically and otherwise vulnerable citizens just to be in the good books of the a regime that is taking the last kicks of a dying horse.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai


FAO says Cameroon among countries needing food aid

7, June 2018

FAO says Cameroon among countries needing food aid 0

Global food supply conditions remain broadly ample, but conflicts continue to acutely aggravate and prolong severe food insecurity. Adverse local weather conditions have also raised the number of countries requiring external assistance for food, according to FAO’s new Crop Prospects and Food Situation report.

That list now comprises 39 countries, up two countries from the last report in March, with the addition of Cabo Verde and Senegal.

After a poor cropping season, 35 percent of the population of Cabo Verde are estimated to need food assistance, although this figures is expected to drop by more than half in the early summer with the onset of seasonal rainfall. Poor pastoral conditions in northern parts of Senegal are expected to push the number of people estimated to be in need of assistance there to 750,000, according to the quarterly report from FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS).

Underscoring how persistent conflicts and adverse climate shocks are taking a toll on food security, no country exited the list, which comprises 31 countries in Africa, seven in Asia as well as Haiti.

Civil war and insecurity in Africa and the Middle East have resulted in high hunger rates, by displacing millions of people, often burdening neighbouring countries, and by preventing farmers from cultivating their fields.

Poor rains have hit cereal production prospects in South America and Southern Africa. Unfavourable weather conditions are also placing a heavy burden on pastoralists in West Africa, the report says.

The 39 countries currently in need of external food assistance are Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zimbabwe.


9/11 US politician says Kim Jong Un ‘begged’ for summit

7, June 2018

9/11 US politician says Kim Jong Un ‘begged’ for summit 0

Donald Trump’s attorney said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un begged “on his hands and knees” for a summit with the US president, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

“They… said they were going to go to nuclear war with us, they were going to defeat us in a nuclear war,” Rudy Giuliani told a Tel Aviv investment conference, according to the newspaper. “We said we’re not going to have a summit under those circumstances.”

“Well, Kim Jong Un got back on his hands and knees and begged for it, which is exactly the position you want to put him in,” Giuliani said.

The Trump attorney said that with the summit rescheduled, the United States has the upper hand.

Singapore’s foreign minister will make a two-day trip to Pyongyang starting Thursday, as preparations for the summit Trump-Kim summit in the city-state accelerate.

The announcement came a day after the White House revealed that the historic June 12 meeting between the US and North Korean leaders will take place in a luxury hotel on Singapore’s resort island of Sentosa.

The summit is due to be held following a rapid detente between Pyongyang and Washington — as well as South Korea — in a turn-around from a dramatic escalation of tensions last year, when the North ratcheted up its weapons programme.

(AFP)


US Republicans challenge Trump on tariffs

7, June 2018

US Republicans challenge Trump on tariffs 0

Several Republican senators defied the White House Wednesday and pressed ahead with legislation that would require Congress to sign off on certain tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration, citing national security concerns, last week unveiled punishing tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from the European Union, Canada, Japan and Mexico, among others, antagonising free-trade supporters in the US Congress.

The bill, sponsored by six Republicans and four Democrats, would require the president to submit to Congress any proposal to place tariffs on imports in the interest of national security, under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.

“Unfortunately, the administration is abusing the Section 232 authority delegated to the president by Congress,” said Senator Bob Corker, the bill’s chief proponent.

“If the president truly believes invoking Section 232 is necessary to protect the United States from a genuine threat, he should make the case to Congress and to the American people and do the hard work necessary to secure congressional approval,” Corker added.

Corker, who is retiring at the end of the year, said he received a “lengthy” phone call from the Republican president who told him “he’s not pleased with the effort” to rein in his trade authority.

The lawmakers aim to introduce the measure as an amendment to a national defence authorisation bill coming up for debate in the Senate.

The defence bill is must-pass legislation, but the fate of the tariff measure is uncertain.

Even if it passes the Senate, it might end up being scrapped from the final version of the defence bill negotiated with the House.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signalled he was unwilling to spend much time on the “contentious” measure, saying he wanted to focus in the coming months on “getting bills passed that we have to do for the country.”

Several Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, have expressed frustration with Trump’s willingness to defy party orthodoxy and resort to punitive tariffs against allies, moves they warn could spark trade wars that would end up hurting American producers, workers and consumers.

But Ryan hinted Wednesday at the difficulty of Congress reining in Trump’s trade authority.

“You’d have to pass a law that he would want to sign into law,” Ryan told reporters. “You can do the math on that.”

Corker said the “vast majority” of Senate Republicans agreed with the policy to limit Trump’s imposition of tariffs.

But Republican leadership and rank-and-file conservatives have shown little appetite to defy Trump legislatively, especially in a mid-term election year.

(AFP)


Nigerian Senate leader questioned over deadly gang robberies

7, June 2018

Nigerian Senate leader questioned over deadly gang robberies 0

The use of political gangs has returned to the spotlight in Nigeria after suspects in a violent armed robbery claimed they had been recruited by the leader of the country’s Senate.

Twenty-two young men were arrested after heists on six banks killed 33 in the town of Offa, in the central state of Kwara, on April 5.

On Sunday, the police summoned Bukola Saraki, a former Kwara state governor and now head of the upper chamber of parliament, for questioning.

Five of those held “admitted and confessed” they were “political thugs… sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles” by Saraki and his successor as governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, according to a police statement.

The gang allegedly operated for Saraki as political enforcers under the name Youth Liberation Movement or “Good Boys” but used the weapons and vehicles to carry out the heists, it said.

Saraki has rejected the allegation as “baseless” and claimed he was being set up.

Political enforcers – free-wheeling gangs providing security for their boss at public meetings or to intimidate opponents or more – have a long and sinister history in Nigeria.

But the latest incident has fuelled warnings the phenomenon could increase in the run-up to elections in February next year.

“Even in the 1960s during the First Republic, we had ‘Operation Wetie’ in western Nigeria, where politicians used thugs to burn houses and kill their opponents,” said Don Okereke, a security expert.

Since then, ethnic militia emerged such as the Oodua People’s Congress in the southwest, the Bakassi Boys in the southeast and the Niger Delta Vigilante Service in the south.

Northern equivalents sponsored to do the bidding of political godfathers include Sara-Suka, Yan Daba and Kauraye operating in Gombe, Kano and Katsina states.

Power struggle

Okereke blamed the practice on a loss of values in society and widespread economic hardship as well as desperation on the part of politicians to acquire and cling to power.

“Our youths have lost their moral values for good behaviour. It’s also a question of poverty and unemployment,” he told AFP.

“The youths have become willing tools in the hands of desperate politicians who capitalise on their poor condition to achieve their political ambition.”

Public affairs commentator Chris Ngwodo agreed: “Political thuggery is deeply entrenched in our politics because of the high stakes involved in the struggle for power.

“These thugs foment trouble, create tension and unleash violence on behalf of their patrons who are usually the big men, the senior government officials and politicians in society.”

Over time they can move from threats, intimidation and ballot stuffing into organised crime – or worse.

“That explains why there is a direct link between political thuggery, violence and organised crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism (gang membership) and assassinations,” said Ngwodo.

Former members of the ECOMOG gang recruited by the ex-Borno state governor Ali Modu Sheriff then dumped when he left office have allegedly gone on to join Boko Haram.

The hardline Islamists, who funded their activities in their early days through bank robberies and extortion, have killed at least 20,000 people in northeast Nigeria since 2009.

Boko Haram has been repeatedly accused of having political sponsors, although no link has ever been established.

‘Unwholesome practice’

Lagos police recently warned parents about their children being recruited as political touts, given the risks of them falling into other criminal activities, including kidnapping.

Buhari is hoping to secure a second, four-year term of office at elections in February next year against a backdrop of worsening security from ethnic and religious tensions.

Eradicating the practice may not be easy given Nigeria’s system of patronage politics and the lure of ready cash and status to legions of disaffected and jobless young men.

“The trend will continue as long as there are willing boys to do the bidding of politicians who have the resources to adequately reward them,” said Ngwodo.

“As we move towards the 2019 election, we are going to see more manifestation of this unwholesome practice.”

One way out is to make public office less attractive to reduce access to slush funds that could be deployed to hire thugs to serve selfish political interests, he argued.

(AFP)


Ambazonian fighters abduct policeman, release picture with chained legs

6, June 2018

Ambazonian fighters abduct policeman, release picture with chained legs 0

Suspected Anglophone secessionists have abducted a policeman in Cameroon and released his picture on the social media with his legs chained.

Police inspector Diguengue Patrice from Mayo-Danay was abducted by gunmen between Njikom and Belo localities in the Northwest region where activists have been waging a war against security forces.

They are agitating for the independence of English-speaking parts of Cameroon in the Northwest and Southwest regions, citing marginalization from the administration of President Paul Biya.

Cameroonian newspaper, L’Oeil du Sahel, said Patrice had been deployed to Fundong police station where he was abducted by gunmen on Tuesday.

The armed secessionists have gunned down many security forces, burned down schools and government institutions and kidnapped several prominent people.

They have accused security forces of killing many activists in their bid to quell pro-independence protests and of arresting and torturing many activist leaders who have remained in detention without trial.

President Paul Biya had said there would not be dialogue in an atmosphere of war, especially when “crimals” take up arms against the state.

 

Source: Today News Africa


The military deployment and killings in Southern Cameroons will end up achieving nothing

6, June 2018

The military deployment and killings in Southern Cameroons will end up achieving nothing 0

From the nation’s capital in Yaoundé, the political situation appear to be going well for the Biya Francophone regime that has deployed approximately 35,000 army soldiers in Southern Cameroons and has destroyed more than 72 Southern Cameroons towns and villages.

But the view deep inside the Federal Republic of Ambazonia tells a different story as some officials and Southern Cameroons opinion leaders recently told Senator Peter Mafany Musonge who is moonlighting as Chairman of the so-called Bilingualism and Multiculturalism Committee. The complete absence of a genuine political process to accompany the military onslaught going on in Southern Cameroons is instead driving all Ambazonian communities including Anglophone CPDM militants to consider allying with the Interim Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia.

Hon. Jua Pualinus has repeatedly sounded a note of caution that the arrogance being demonstrated by the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo political elites who dominate Cameroon’s power base remains a grave mistake that could mean the end of the one and indivisible Cameroon.

To be sure, the military deployment and killings will end up achieving nothing. Consequently, the whole strategy put in place to counter the Southern Cameroons-Ambazonia uprising needs to be revisited and readdressed and the European Union and the United States should be part of the process.

The Biya French Cameroun military campaign currently going on makes it extremely difficult for both Cameroons to engage in any form of reconciliation after the war. Most of the key Southern Cameroons towns and cities such as Kumba, Bamenda, Mamfe, Mundemba, Tiko, Muyuka, Ndop, Nguti and Limbe are now increasingly unstable and vulnerable even to french speaking Cameroonians living in Southern Cameroons.

The killings in Dadi, Menka-Pinyin, Bekora in Ekondo Titi, Nguti, Belo, Mbalangi, Menji and Lewoh demonstrates the lack of strategy and reconciliation on the part of the 85 year old President Biya and his acolytes.  There are widespread killings in every Southern Cameroon County; militias are emerging day-by-day roaming the Southern Cameroons territory. More than 200,000 Southern Cameroonians have been expelled from their ancestral home and they can’t go back because of the atrocities of the Cameroon government forces.

Minister Paul Atanga Nji has made the security situation in Southern Cameroons even worse by creating armed militia groups in the Northern Zone that are presently encouraging a lot of sectarian violence and every Ambazonia tribe have started to reflect on the idea of rallying behind the Interim Government. Cameroon government security forces relative control in places such as Mamfe, Kumba, Ekok, Wum, Batibo, Widikum, Muyuka, Bali is fast melting away as restoration forces are now targeting traitors within the struggle. Traditional leaders themselves are echoing these fears.

Southern Cameroonians and their Interim Government don’t have faith in the crime syndicate in Yaoundé. The reason is simple: The Biya regime didn’t make a mistake once or twice. They keep repeating the same mistake over and over and the government after 57 years is yet to deliver any of its promises to Southern Cameroonians till now.

The political situation too in French Cameroun is fragile. A majority of Francophones are simply waiting for a liberator to get rid of Biya and his gangsters.  The demands of the Francophone army are no longer sustainable. Biya and his Francophone regime have used all its French tactics and have started adapting the Anglo-Saxon strategy to reduce the damage. Frankly speaking, French Cameroun is losing.

All attempts at trying to prevent Southern Cameroons from a further slide away from Cameroon government control have failed.  The revolution has indeed restore Ambazonian control over Southern Cameroons mindful of the fact that the toll in blood and treasure has been high.

People in the know and some insiders say the Ambazonian Self-Defense Council Restoration Forces have retained strategic control over Manyu, Lebialem, Ndian, Meme, Mezam, Menchum, Kupe Muanenguba and Boyo. Cameroon Intelligence Report sources in these areas say many of the weapons seized from Cameroon government forces ever since the war started are stored in the forest.

Across the border in Nigeria’s Cross River State, the Buhari administration is already feeling the pain of its poor reading of the crisis in Southern Cameroons.  Ekok, however, remains contested between the Manyu Warriors and Cameroon government army soldiers.

The horror which will come up after Biya finally falls from power in the October presidential elections will justify Washington Post claim that Africa’s next civil war may be Cameroon.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai


Cameroonian teacher makes re-usable pads to help girls stay in school

6, June 2018

Cameroonian teacher makes re-usable pads to help girls stay in school 0

After realizing that girls often skipped school every month because they couldn’t afford sanitary pads, Feka Parchibell is on a mission to make cheaper options available to students from disadvantaged communities in Cameroon.

Feka, a teacher, is the founder of Hope for Vulnerable and Orphans (HOVO) an organization that helps teach youth life skills and seeks to empower them through entrepreneurship, leadership and agriculture.

Feka learnt to make washable pads using fabric through her organization’s partners, Rose Academies that’s based in the United States.

We do not have the money to buy the fabrics so it is not easy. The need is really huge and then getting into some of these communities is not easy. It’s really-really risky and challenging because we have to use the motto bikes, use public transports. So it’s really not easy.

The pads made from cotton, flannel, fleece fabrics and towels also have a fastener.

Washable pads provide an affordable alternative for girls from low-income families compared to a pack of disposable sanitary pads which cost about 1 US dollar.

“Mothers don’t talk these things with children so in my days nobody told me about it. When it happened they just told me – okay, you are a woman and I was given a packet of pads and that was it. So when it got finished I had to use other things. I had to go to use toilet tissue and so it wasn’t really easy. So because I know, I have been through that experience I was really really motivated to help some of these young girls out,” said Feka.

One in 10 African girls miss school during their periods, the U.N. children’s agency UNICEFestimates, which means they fall behind in their studies and often drop out of school.

Talking about menstruation is still considered taboo in many parts of the world where it is seen as shameful or embarrassing.

Feka and her team want to encourage people to talk openly about menstruation to girls on the continent.
Once a month Feka and her colleagues go out to local communities to teach girls and women how to make and use the sanitary pads.

The talks also cover menstrual hygiene.

So far Feka has worked in 30 communities in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and with refugee communities in Uganda.

The washable pads can be reused for six months, but this too can be a challenge if access to water and soap is limited.

Feka gets funding from the United State embassy in Cameroon and Rose Academies but she says the number of people relying on her for pads is far greater than what the resources can cover.

“The challenges are huge because we get to see some many people in need but the means is not there. We do not have the money to buy the fabrics so it is not easy. The need is really huge and then getting into some of these communities is not easy. It’s really-really risky and challenging because we have to use the motto bikes, use public transports. So it’s really not easy,” she said.

Sharon Eta, 15 is a beneficiary of the pads project and says when she started her period her mother could not afford to buy her sanitary towels. She says after attending one of Feka’s talks things improved and she’s also learnt how to make her own pads.

“When I got the pad from aunty Parch (Parchibell) the pad was helping me into some ways. That is from morning to evening I will not change no leakage. I can play, I can go out,” she said.

Campaigners say it is important to make pads more widely available as girls are often forced to stay at home during their periods, affecting their development and self-esteem.

Reuters


Russia 2018: Egypt have high hopes for Salah’s early return

6, June 2018

Russia 2018: Egypt have high hopes for Salah’s early return 0

Egypt’s top striker Mo Salah is on track in his recovery to join the rest of his team for the start of the World Cup, said coach Hector Cuper on Tuesday.

The Argentinian coach, who took charge of the Egyptian team in March 2015 and led them to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations last year, was speaking in Brussels where the team is preparing for their final World Cup warm-up game against Belgium on Wednesday.

Salah scored 71 per cent of the Pharaohs’ goals in the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying matches, scoring in every one of their third-round victories. A shoulder injury sustained in the Champions League final after a challenge by Sergio Ramos has raised concerns that the team might have to face their first-round opponents, in particular Uruguay on June 15, without him.

But Cuper said he was almost certain Salah would be fit for the match against Uruguay.

On the 19th they will play the hosts Russia, and will then finish their group stage against Saudi Arabia on the 25th.

Reuters


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