Djibouti News Gazette

Human Rights lawyer Barrister Tamfu Richard on Saturday night shared a piece of information about the alleged torture of a young man working in an inter-urban transport agency, called ‘Nso Boys’.

The legal mind disclosed that one of the loaders of the company, Manjong Henry, was arbitrarily picked up from around the Biyem-Assi neighborhood in Yaounde on June 6, 2023.

He was “taken to their headquarters opposite the National Assembly where they handcuffed him on a mango tree and tortured him with machetes, cables and other hard objects that damaged his left eye. The deathly torture was in an attempt to force statements out of his mouth.” Barrister Tamfu said in a Facebook post.

The victim was accused of communicating with separatists fighters and was aware that some bombs were planted in a bag that arrived at their agency, ” Luggage was dispatched from Nso boys travel agency Bamenda to Nso boys travel agency Yaounde containing a bomb wherein they alleged he communicated with someone or someone communicated with him about the said luggage,” the lawyer narrated.

Manjong Henry was later transferred to the Judicial service of the national gendarmerie where he remained detained until June 23, 2023, “when he was released after three weeks of intense intervention mounted on the authorities by Barrister AMUNGWA Nicodemus.”

The management of Nso Boys reportedly abandoned him. CNA reached out to the management of Nso Boys for a reaction, and they said, “This is a matter whose investigations are still ongoing and at my level, I don’t think am allowed to comment much about it. As per Manjong Henry being abandoned, I wish to state that we are not guilty of such allegations. I am sure that when the ongoing investigations are over we might be able to talk further on the matter.”

The lawyers have said they are charging the gendarmes who tortured the victim.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

A building hosting several shops has been consumed by wild flames on Saturday night in Limbe, South West region.

Flames burst out in Marshall Home, a popular building in the Cassava farm neighborhood. The Plaza hosts a credit union, provision shops, and other services.

Residents said they saw chunks of smoke in the air, accompanied by sharp lighting, then overwhelming flames in the plaza.

The cause is still unknown.

Early Sunday, business owners, trooped to the area to pick up their broken pieces of life-for, nothing was left, just ashes and dark walls.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

One of Seychelles’ special nature reserves, Aride Island, has temporarily closed its doors to the public to concentrate on conservation work as migration brings more birds to the island, a not-for-profit organisation announced recently.

Located nine kilometres north of Praslin, the second most populated island, Aride was designated as a special nature reserve under the Seychelles National Parks and Nature Conservancy Act of 1975. It is managed by the Island Conservation Society (ICS) since 2003.

The Aride Island manager, Anthony Bentley, said that as the monsoon season changes, so are the priorities of the society.

“Seabirds are arriving to nest in their thousands, our focus now has to shift to monitoring these internationally important colonies. On top of this landing becomes unsafe for visitors and island staff during this time of the year,” said Bentley.

Some species such as the frigate bird and others are rarely seen on other islands. (Island Conservation Society) Photo License: CC-BY

Visitors will have to wait until September 2023 to disembark on Aride. September is the period of the year when the Northeast monsoon starts, allowing safer disembarkation directly on the beach via a small dingy in a narrow passageway that only the rangers of the island are accustomed to.

With 10 seabird species having made this inner island their home, Aride is seen as one of the most important seabird colonies in the Indian Ocean. Some species such as the frigate bird and roseate tern are rarely seen on other inner islands of Seychelles. Aride is also home to five species of endemic land birds such as the Seychelles warbler and the magpie robin.

With such an abundance of key species, ICS is therefore keen to upscale conservation work and start new projects whilst the island is closed to visitors.

The Seychelles Magpie Robin is among the five species of endemic land bird on Aride. (Island Conservation Society) Photo License: CC-BY

The director of science and projects of ICS, Greg Berke, expressed that during the closure to visitors, however, “we will still have visiting research teams coming to the island to collect valuable data.”

“We also have maintenance of the island such as vegetation management and restoration and maintenance of our facilities. All of these will keep our team occupied and will enhance the visitor’s experience when we reopen later this year,” said Berke.

He added that “as a nature reserve, it is only right that we look after the biodiversity of the island as it is this key ecological aspect that has made Aride such a unique experience that draws visitors to the island each year which in turn allows Aride to raise funds for its conservation activities.”

Due to a prolonged Southeast monsoon last year, which eroded the only beach on the island, Aride stayed closed to visitors until November. As of November 2022, a total of 3,000 visitors got the chance to the see what natural wonders Aride holds.

Most of the visitors were from cruise ships and tour operators but given its proximity to Praslin, small boat operators and Seychellois residents also visited.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Makueni Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) learners are now benefiting from digital learning through EIDU technology that aim to improve the quality of education across the centers region wide. The technology provide learner exercises, assessments, teacher training, ECDE officers training, and tools for data collection and monitoring using digital devices through the support of EIDU Kenya in partnership with the government. The devices are only configured for digital learning, ensuring the safety of the learners and are aligned with Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) requirements. ‘I am confident that this digital learning platform will ignite a fresh passion for learning in our young children,’ said Makueni Governor’s spouse Anita Mutula while officially launching the program on Friday at St. John Malivani Primary School in Makueni Sub County. Mrs. Mutula added that the initiative will enhance learning outcomes by integrating digital learning into classrooms hence improving school attendance. She later commissioned a modern ECDE center at the school.Speaking at the same function, County Executive Committee Member ICT, Education and Internship Elizabeth Muli said 67% of schools have been activated where a total of 35,574 learners have been familiarizing with the devices.. On her part EIDU Kenya senior programs officer Clara Cruize, said the organization is committed in ensuring every child access quality education using technology. ‘We are here today because we have a common vision for quality education for all children to get a quality future in the digital World and it starts at ECDE level,’ noted Cruize. Cruize said the program will give the children strong foundational and professional skills to reach the full potential in life. She added the organization has implemented the pilot digital learning phases in six counties including Kiambu, Muranga, Embu, Mombasa, Machakos and Makueni. The event was graced by Wajir County Governor’s wife Rukia Abdinasir and National and county government officials.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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