Djibouti News Gazette

At least five men were summarily executed on Saturday June 24, 2023, by government forces in Ekona, Muyuka subdivision, South West region, CNA confirmed from videos and witnesses.

Houses were also set on fire.

“The guys were in a friend’s house, discussing and entertaining themselves. The military surrounded the house and shot them at close range. After k!lling them, some were b*tchered with axe,” a witness who visited the scene said.

CNA was able to review videos and pictures from the scene, confirming the authenticity.

“My neighbors son was among the victims,” another source added.

Videos show a man axed in his jaw while others had bullets ripped into their bodies.

No one has explained what provoked the killing. Surrounding residents have been helping to gather their corpses.

Earlier on June 21, a news blog handled by a separatist group announced that government forces were going to attack Ekona.

State sponsored Activists on their part shared pictures of the incident, insinuating that those killed were separatists who gathered to celebrate the birthday of a fighter popularly called Sagat.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Some 14 survivors of a boat accident in St Kitts, near Texas, USA, have demanded to be released. The Cameroonians who said they were fleeing from armed conflict in the Anglophone regions, have been held in detention centers since the incident in March.

On March 28, 2923, about 30 passengers were onboard a fishing boat that sank in the Caribbean off the coast of St Kitts. At least 3 people died and 13 went missing after the boat capsized.

Of the 14 survivors, all Cameroonians, 3 are women, 4 are teachers, with the majority coming from Lebialem division in the South West region.

The victims say they have been held for too long in detention centers. They want to:

Freedom to get our United Nations ID cards.

Freedom to speak with US Embassy and US Congress.

Freedom to get home to our community in Texas.

The founder of the Cameroon American Council, Sylvie Ngassa Qwasinwi Bello, told CNA that “I am a sailor myself. So their survival stories are so improbable.” She confirmed that she has been advocating for their plights to be heard by the US.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The Minister of Defense of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E Abdikadir Mohamed Nur, Commissioner of the Military High Court, Liban Ali Yarow, Commissioner of the First Degree of the Military Court, Hassan Ali Nur (Shuute), the Minister of Justice of the Southwest State, the Governor of Lower Shabelle, and other officials arrived Barawe district in the Lower Shabelle region on Friday to visit the soldiers and inspect the recent incident that occurred in the city. The officials visited the military camps of the soldiers and went on to see the livelihood of the people in Barawe. The soldiers reported on the recent incident in Barawe and how things went down, and the officials from the Military Court urged the soldiers to work together and ensure that the same incident does not happen again in the city. The Minister of Defense advised the soldiers to keep the peace in the city and that there should be no more internal conflicts between the soldiers. Minister Abdikadir also urged the officials from the Military Court to finalize their investigation and finds justice for the people of Barawe. ‘It’s simply unacceptable to use tax-payer-funded weaponry to inflict harm on the same people who pay them’, Minister Nur added.

Source: Somali National News Agency

The representatives of National Human Rights Institutions from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states have called on actors of the Sudan conflict to desist from violence. In a statement on Friday, the member states said that Sudan actors should instead embrace dialogue as a mode of achieving sustainable solutions. ‘We, the members of the Network of IGAD NHRIS stand in solidarity with the people of Sudan and their aspiration for a peaceful nation where human rights are respected and dignity is upheld,’ the statement read. ‘We support the efforts of the IGAD Quadrilateral mechanism in seeking to resolve the conflict in Sudan.’ The network condemned the human rights violations of international humanitarian law perpetuated with the vulnerable groups including women, children, persons with disabilities and elderly persons bearing the brunt of the war. The members’ states include Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda. This is after IGAD – Political Affairs Program of the Peace Security Division held a three-day validation workshop in Mombasa. The workshop was meant to deliberate on a draft mandate that seeks to establish a joint network of NHRIS from the IGAD Member States. ‘Recognizing that the countries in the IGAD region face similarities in challenges with regard to human rights issues, we believe a common platform will provide the synergy required to effectively promote and protect human rights,’ the statement read. ‘This reinforces the need for National Human Rights Institutions to strategically position themselves and ensure the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by bridging the gap between the State and the people.’ According to the statement, the network will enhance the promotion and protection of human rights across the sub-region of IGAD. They said the launch of the network is a new dawn in the realization of human rights in the IGAD region. ‘This Network of IGAD NHRIS aims at providing a platform that shall foster cooperation, collaboration, and communication among the NHRIs of IGAD Member States toward the execution of their respective mandates in the promotion and protection of human rights,’ the statement read. They further resolved to strengthen information sharing and develop intervention strategies that effectively address cross-border pertinent human rights violations in the IGAD region. The Network commits to strengthening the early warning and prevention mechanisms and timely address human rights violations in the IGAD region. They committed to facilitating experience sharing, peer learning, and best practices on monitoring, promotion, and protection of human and people’s rights. ‘This Network shall also be a platform for joint communication on human rights issues within the IGAD region,’ they said.

Source: Somali National News Agency