Central African Republic

Movie Review: ‘Strangers,’ an imperfect, emotional grass-to-grace story

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 18:10:01 +0000

Movie Review: ‘Strangers,’ an imperfect, emotional grass-to-grace story

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admin Sat, 06/18/2022 - 18:10

Saturday, June 11, 2022

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Arts & Entertainment - Premium Times Nigeria

Original Article

Movie Review: ‘Strangers,’ an imperfect, emotional grass-to-grace story

Movie title: Strangers

Date released: April 29, 2022

Running time: 1 hour 58 minutes.

Producer: Banji Adesanmi

Director: Biodun Stephen

Cast: Lateef Adedimeji, Bimbo Oshin, Bolaji Ogunmola, Debbie Felix, Femi Adebayo, Ndamo Damaris, Chris Iheuwa, Jide Kosoko, Bimbo Akintola, Mide Glover Nonso Odogwu, Waliu Fabemi, and Taiwo Ibikunle

‘Strangers’, in no strange way, is a roller coaster ride of emotions, with a straightforward narrative and apt delivery in both the acting and cinematography.

Unlike many big-budget Nollywood movies, ‘Strangers ’ has proven that you do not need a star-studded cast or, better still, a luxury setting or a twisted plot to make a great movie.

When ‘Strangers’ was yet to be released, the movie had already won the Gold award for Directing at the International Independent Film Awards held in Los Angeles.

A true-life event inspires the faith-based film. The movie follows the life of a remote village boy, untamed by civilisation but hit by catastrophic events that change the course of his existence.

Plot

The movie opens with the narrator’s voice-over, a letter on his journey through life.

The story is about Adetola, fondly called Ade, who lives in the beautiful remote village of Ireti, a hamlet somewhere in the heart of the Southwestern part of Nigeria, surrounded by a river that knits the entire town together in its naturally aesthetic landscape.

Adetola, fondly called Ade, lives with his pregnant mother, his elder sister and his grandfather, who is a witch doctor.

His journey through life all started with a dream. Ade dreamt that he was in turbulent water, a flood, and as he drowned, losing hope in life, he was rescued by a stranger. He shared his dream with his elder sister, who laughed at his goal hysterically, as she claimed that the dream was a result of hunger or malaria.

Days became weeks, and weeks ran into months. Ade had already forgotten the dream.

As usual, he went swimming with his friends, but he came home with a strange hitching on his leg this time. The hitching metamorphosed into a peculiar injury that defiled all herbal treatments his grandfather could administer.

While Ade is left in agony as his wound has grown to be complicated and a foul odour emanates from the injury, no one dares to come close to him, except for his struggling mother, who was in arduous distress and worse pain, as she helplessly watched her son slowing dying in her arms, what could be worst for a poor widow?

When they lost all hope and the family was prepared for the worst, a set of evangelists came visiting. Luckily for Ade, there was a medical outreach with foreign medical experts visiting the village.

They came to his age, but there was little or nothing they could do. Ade needed to be transferred from the village to the hospital in Lagos.

Thankfully for Ade, after the evangelists put up his story, a strange woman outside the country decided to help him through his surgery and get back on his feet, a feat that led his mother to Christ.

Years later, Ade’s story captivated the heart of his benefactor, who sponsored his primary education.

Ade started schooling at the age of 13, but he decided he would finish school and become a medical doctor despite the frustration. Unfortunately for Ade, his dream was cut short when his benefactor died, and the money she left could only take him through secondary school.

He graduated as the best student of his set and was set for the higher institution, but with what fund? Would this village boy reach for his dreams? What does life have in stock for him?

PROPS

‘Strangers’ is a movie that takes the viewers on a journey of emotions and deep thoughts.

The director’s choice of actor brings every character to life in a very demonstrative manner, and you can feel the passion, the agony, the stress, the pain and the joy in both verbal and non-verbal cues. You could even feel goosebumps.

Watching the movie, the viewers see a comic synergy between the characters, which will provoke intermittent laughter.

Strangers is another typical example of telling a story in its raw form, as evident in several Nollywood films of recent. From a rich blend of indigenous culture, a colourful transition from one decade to another, and character morphology, the director was spot on when he decided to create a narrative that evokes nostalgia.

The transition of the character “Adetola”, which starts with Lateef Adedimeji as the narrator, down to the younger versions portrayed by Daniel Bogunmbe and Mide Glover, was brilliant.

The transition took the audience through the life of Ade as a young boy up to his times and trials as a grown man, he was no stranger to pain, and the actors hardly took a foot wrong.

These three casts had in common that they walked in the same pattern and sounded much alike. After the younger Ade, played by Daniel Bogunmbe, had surgery on his leg, it affected how he walked.

Away from the acting, the different locations on their own were an integral part of the story, from the interior village to the hospital, the CGS school, to the University of Ibadan. There was little improvisation with the location, making the narrative very relatable.

The movie is educative, demonstrative and didactic. It takes the viewers from one leap of emotion to another, from jumpy histrionics to depressed defeatism.

Africa

Entertainment

Why I fought Lagos socialite Omolara Olukotun in public – Mercy Aigbe

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 17:40:01 +0000

Why I fought Lagos socialite Omolara Olukotun in public – Mercy Aigbe

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admin Sat, 06/18/2022 - 17:40

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Original Publisher

Arts & Entertainment - Premium Times Nigeria

Original Article

Why I fought Lagos socialite Omolara Olukotun in public – Mercy Aigbe

Famous Yoruba actress Mercy Aigbe has explained the reasons behind her fight with her erstwhile socialite friend, Omolara Olukotun, the owner of Larrit Shoe Village (LSV), at a public gathering.

A messy scene ensued Sunday evening when both women allegedly exchanged blows at an event.

The incident occurred at the launch of Remmy Gold, a famous businesswoman’s new plaza on Unilag Road, Lagos State.

Actress Iyabo Ojo who sat next to Larrit, took to her heels when she (Lara) threw a bottle at Mercy.

Several movie stars and socialites, including Eniola Ajao and Bimbo Thomas, graced the occasion.

Justification

After the fight, Mercy, on her Instagram story, explained her side of the story.

The 44-year-old actress said Larrit was in the habit of bullying her online and physically assaulted her at the event.

“ I have been bullied online several times by Larrit (Lara). She calls me unprintable names, unprovoked; yesterday, she took it a step further by physically assaulting me.”

The mother-of-two said that Larrit slandered her online and physically. The actress claimed she tried to reach out to Larrit, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.

“I have patronised her business, and she has done likewise. So I was surprised and confused as she suddenly became my enemy. I sent messages to her on Whatsapp and called a few people close to her to understand why she would be an antagonist. All efforts proved abortive,” she said.

Speaking about the fight at the party, the Edo State-born actress said Larrit was still antagonistic to her and started calling her names.

“At the party Yesterday, she started with the same energy, throwing words at me, calling me names and being disrespectful. Initially, I kept calm and didn’t respond to her, people around her appealed to her to stop, yet Lara wouldn’t stop. And so I decided to stand up for myself and retaliated with the same energy,” Mercy wrote.

Mercy’s response to Larrit did not go down well with the shoe merchant, which provoked a fight between the ladies at the event and resulted in fisticuffs.

The fight

A viral video surfaced online, establishing that the fight started after Mercy and Larrit got into a heated argument at the plaza.

During the party, Mercy conversed with Eniola Ajao about her husband, Kazim Adeoti, when Larrit, seated across her table, shaded her, saying she was just a second wife.

In retaliation, Mercy instructed the DJ to play songs to shade Larrit.

At first, it seemed as though Larrit was trying to maintain her calm, not until Mercy allegedly started calling her names.

It provoked Larrit to throw a bottle at Mercy in anger.

Mercy was later captured on video, leaving the party venue dishevelled while being assisted by onlookers and guests.

Video of actress #MercyAigbe and businesswoman, Laritt fighting at an event pic.twitter.com/akdnGmw322

— Instantgistng (@instantgistng) June 13, 2022

Mercy married Mr Adeoti, a famous Yoruba film producer and marketer, in January 2022.

While this is Mercy’s third shot at marriage, it is Mr Adeoti’s second marriage.

Mr Adeoti is a father of four, while his first wife, Oluwafunsho, who lives in Minnesota, U.S., is a notable fashion designer and owner of Asiwaju Couture.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dior Kujenya (@islandersevents_parties_)

Reactions

Following the fisticuffs between the actress and Lagos socialite, Iyabo Ojo shared photos of herself at the event as she reacted to the fight, which she described as a ‘vawulance’,

She wrote, ‘The look you give when you don’t support Vawulance”.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Queen Mother Alice Iyabo Ojo.. (@iyaboojofespris)

Meanwhile, the socialite posted a video on the Instagram page where she claimed that contrary to speculations, she was not in a contest with anyone for a man.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CevbrW1K0Uh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The socialite said she would not engage in a social media fight and rant with anyone, but she was ready to reply to any tantrum.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by larrittshoevillage (@larrittshoevillage)

Recently, Mercy has been making headlines after she unveiled her new husband.

The union news sparked several controversies since Mr Adeoti’s first wife, Oluwafunsho, accused the actress of betraying her trust and snatching her husband.

While Mercy argued that her husband, a Muslim, was entitled to more than a wife, Mrs Abeoti claimed that Mercy was always a problem in her marriage.

Africa

Entertainment

HouseOfAjebo, Broda Shaggi top YouTube’s 2021 Nigerian content creators list

admin — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 09:20:01 +0000

HouseOfAjebo, Broda Shaggi top YouTube’s 2021 Nigerian content creators list

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admin Fri, 12/10/2021 - 09:20

Saturday, December 4, 2021

Original Publisher

Arts & Entertainment – Premium Times Nigeria

Original Article

HouseOfAjebo, Broda Shaggi top YouTube’s 2021 Nigerian content creators list

YouTube has released its Top Ten creators lists aimed at celebrating the biggest moments on the platform in Nigeria in 2021.

This year, the country’s top 10 Nigerian creators on YouTube reflect the growing popularity of original content produced by Nigerian creators on the platform with HouseOfAjebo, official BRODA SHAGGI, APATATV+, BAKORI TV, Lightweight Entertainment, and MR MACARONI dominating this category.

The list largely consists of channels that share hilarious skits and movies.

HouseOfAjebo, the channel that topped the list, shares funny cartoon skits and is managed by popular stand-up comedian, Erem Emeka Nehemiah, also known as Ajebo.

Samuel Animashaun Perry, a Nigerian comedian, actor, songwriter, and musician who also owns the channel official BRODA SHAGGI, is another top creator on YouTube in Nigeria this year.

The selection of the top trending videos on YouTube for 2021 is based on a range of factors, beyond just viewership.

For example, YouTube also considers engagement while also looking at signals like shares and likes.

Below is the full list of the top 10 YouTube creators in Nigeria in 2021.

Topping the list of top trending videos in Nigeria is President Kuti, a movie starring Ibrahim Yekini, Bimpe Oyebade and Odunlade Adekola on Yorubaplus.

The comedy skit video, Tetracycline, and Septrin from HouseOfAjebo ranked second in the country.

Yoruba movies, ‘ABEBI’, starring Odunlade Adekola, and ‘Ete’, starring Bolanle Ninalowo were also among the trending videos that got Nigerians clicking “play”.

In addition, YouTube Nigeria also released the top 10 Breakout Creators list and the top 10 Shorts Creator list topped by HouseOfAjebo and SwagBoyQ respectively.

Chiké and Simi’s ‘Running to you’, Teni’s ‘For You’ featuring Davido, and WizKid’s Essence featuring Tems are the top three trending music videos this year. All three music videos lead the list of most viewed music videos by Nigerians in 2021 on YouTube.

Below is the full list of the top 10 creators in Nigeria in 2021.

HouseOfAjebo

Official BRODA SHAGGI

APATATV+

BAKORI TV

Lightweight Entertainment

MR MACARONI

TAAOOMA’S CABIN

Saira Movies

Yorubaplus

BrainJotter Comedian

Top 10 Breakout Creators in Nigeria

HouseOfAjebo

BrainJotter Comedian

Oga Sabinus

Zic Aloma

De General

NEPA BOYS

KieKieTV

Ling and Lamb

Isbae U

LordLamba

Julius Dein

LordLamba

Top 10 Shorts Creators in Nigeria

SwagBoyQ

Rosey Lucci

Daniel LaBelle

2Slim Musiktv

Nas Daily

SeanDoesMagic

Sunkkeysnoop

Julius Dein

Africa

Entertainment

Rebel attack kills 11 in C.Africa: official

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 10:30:01 +0000

Rebel attack kills 11 in C.Africa: official

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admin Sat, 10/09/2021 - 10:30

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Original Publisher

Africa – Capital News

Original Article

Rebel attack kills 11 in C.Africa: official

Bangui (Central African Republic) (AFP), Oct 6 – Eleven civilians were killed by rebels in eastern Central African Republic (CAR), where government forces are battling armed groups, a senior official said on Wednesday.

The attack occurred on Tuesday near Bambari, the CAR’s fourth-biggest city, when three cars came under fire, leaving a “toll of 11 dead and six wounded,” said Saturnin Nicaise Grepandet, the area’s deputy prefect.

A provisional toll earlier listed seven dead, while aid workers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at least 15 had died.

Central African Republic © AFP

The CAR, a landlocked and poverty-stricken country in the heart of Africa, has been locked in a brutal conflict since 2013 when its then president, Francois Bozize, was overthrown by an armed group drawn mainly from the Muslim minority.

The coup triggered a bloodbath with the so-called “anti-Balaka,” a force drawn mainly from the Christian and animist communities.

Bozize’s elected successor, Faustin Archange Touadera, has struggled to exert control and swathes of the country remain in the hands of armed groups.

In Bambari, a city lying 380 kilometres (240 miles) east of the capital Bangui, rebels from the Union for Peace in Central Africa (UPC), one of the biggest armed groups in the region, recently killed two government troops.

The authorities on October 1 extended a curfew period in response to the worsening security.

A coalition of six rebel groups last December advanced on Bangui in the runup to presidential elections, but were thwarted after Russia and Rwanda rushed military support for Touadera.

A UN report in March said hundreds of violations and abuses of human rights had been documented over the previous year, leading to at least 1,221 deaths, including 144 civilians.

Some of the cases were attributable to the CAR armed forces and “private military personnel,” it said, referring to the Russian paramilitaries.

The CAR government in a report last Friday acknowledged that some abuses had been committed by “Russian instructors,” but contended that the rebels were to blame for most of the cases.

Africa

News

President Samia's speech among seven most important at UNGA 2021

admin — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 08:30:01 +0000

President Samia's speech among seven most important at UNGA 2021

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admin Fri, 10/01/2021 - 08:30

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

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The Citizen

Original Article

President Samia's speech among seven most important at UNGA 2021

Dar es Salaam. President’s Samia Suluhu Hassan’s maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly (Unga), has been mentioned among the seven most important during the session.
On September 23, President Samia Suluhu Hassan addressed Unga’s 76th session in New York, USA this week.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s speech has been selected by American website ‘Foreign Policy (FP)’ among the most important addresses at the assembly and the only one from a female head of state.
Samia becomes one of the few female heads of State from Africa to address the UN General Assembly.
Other head of the whose Unga speeches have been highlited as important includes: the U.S. President Joe Biden, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
In their publication, Foreign Policy asked several of their columnists and contributors to weigh in on the speeches they found most compelling or most concerning.
When President Samia finally took the stage to deliver her speech at the Unga, she presented a distinctive contrast to the endless stream of all-male speakers who had preceded her to the podium on the third day of the General Debate.
In her maiden speech, Samia repeatedly praised multilateralism and the United Nations system. She noted her nation’s dependency on technical and financial support from external sources and admonished that “multilateralism cannot and should not succumb to the virus.”
She decried the COVID-19 vaccine inequality, noting that high and middle-income countries were now giving booster vaccinations while developing countries such as Tanzania had barely inoculated even 2 percent of its population.
“The level of vaccine inequity that we see is appalling. It is truly disheartening to see that most of the countries have inoculated less than 2 per cent of the populace and thus need to seek more vaccines for our people,”
“With the current pace, it is less likely that we will meet the WHO threshold of vaccinating at least 40 percent of people in every country by end of 2021, and at least 70 percent by the first half of 2022,” she said.
President Samia also spoke at length on gender equality, a cause she avidly advocates.
“As the first female president in the history of my country, the burden of expectation to deliver gender equality is heavier on my shoulders. Being passionate about gender equality is not sufficient and as such, my government is reviewing policy and legal frameworks in order to come up with actionable and measurable plans to ensure economic empowerment of women and other aspects pertaining to gender equality and gender parity,” she noted.
President Samia pointedly noted that ‘COVID-19 is threatening to roll back the gains made’ in gender equity and said she plans to implement policies aimed at female economic development and political and social advancement.
She assured the Assembly of Tanzania's commitment to remain a formidable member of the United Nations and a dependable supporter of multilateralism.
Other female presidents
Although most African countries joined the UN in the 1960s soon after they attained independence, with a few joining earlier than that or later, it wasn’t until 2006 that the first African female Head of State, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, addressed the UN General Assembly.
Currently, the 54 African member states of the UN make up to 28 percent of its overall membership. Before 2006, only male heads of State and governments had addressed the General Assembly.
Other African female heads of State that followed were Joyce Hilda Banda of Malawi in 2012, Catherine Samba-Panza of the Central African Republic in 2014, and most recently, Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia in 2019.

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African Heads of State Call for an Ambitious Replenishment of the IDA20 to Support Their Recovery Agenda

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 09:40:01 +0000

African Heads of State Call for an Ambitious Replenishment of the IDA20 to Support Their Recovery Agenda

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admin Tue, 07/27/2021 - 09:40

Friday, July 16, 2021

Original Publisher

Business – FrontPageAfrica

Original Article

African Heads of State Call for an Ambitious Replenishment of the IDA20 to Supp…

ABIDJAN – Thirteen African Heads of State and governments concluded their one-day meeting in Abidjan today with a strong resolution to accelerate economic recovery from the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, scale-up investments in human capital, and increase their job creation efforts. They called for a robust twentieth replenishment of the World Bank Group’s International Development Association (IDA20) to support these efforts.

In a joint declaration endorsed at the meeting, the Heads of State emphasized that economic recovery, job creation, and investments in human capital – including expanding access to vaccines – are critical to help people recover from the shocks of the pandemic, get out of extreme poverty, and build a more resilient and inclusive future.

“The funding process that begins in Abidjan this week, will conclude at the end of this year with a policy and financial package to support specific projects in the 74 IDA countries over the next three years. The goal to mobilize an IDA20 replenishment envelope of at least $100 billion, for three years, would be the largest amount raised in IDA’s history. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate that solidarity is effectively essential for the good of all and that we can act together to return to the path of income convergence that we were on prior to the pandemic and build a safer and prosperous world,” said President Alassane Ouattara of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. “We know that when the World Bank has the backing of all its stakeholders, it has the capacity and oversight to make a difference.”

On jobs, the leaders committed to job creation efforts by developing the private sector, with emphasis on improving productivity through broad based digitalisation, mechanisation, African manufacturing – including vaccines, and improved access to finance and better business environment.

On human capital, the leaders called for education systems that support the acquisition and use of skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow, and resilient health systems, adaptive safety nets and service delivery systems. On economic recovery, the Heads of State expressed their determination to support structural and spatial transformation of economies, through better economic diversification and regional development within countries and regions, coupled with macroeconomic stability with special attention to public debt sustainability, security and peacekeeping issues, as well as better preparedness to protect economies and populations from various crises.

Acknowledging the high financing volumes needed to match the level of ambition of their development agenda, the leaders highlighted the importance of maximising both domestic and external financing resources. They observed that with the continent’s additional financing needs estimated at

$285 billion over the next five years, to fight the pandemic, climate change, and accelerate economic recovery, their enhanced domestic resource mobilization efforts would fall short. They therefore called for an earlier IDA20 replenishment of at least $100 billion by the end of 2021 to meet with aspirations for the continent.

“Today we heard from the Heads of State how this pandemic has affected their countries and their need for stable future financing to meet their development ambitions. IDA is a big part of financing and recovery solutions for all these countries,” said Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Managing Director for Operations. “An ambitious IDA20 will be a powerful force helping countries with a green and inclusive recovery to get back to the 2030 goals.”

The meeting was attended by leaders of Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritania, Madagascar, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda, as well as Heads of regional commissions including the West African Economic and Monetary Union, Economic Commission for West Africa, Central African Economic and Monetary Community, and the African Union. The meeting was also attended by World Bank Group leadership and representatives of IDA donor governments.

About IDA

The International Development Association (IDA) is one of the largest sources of funding for fighting extreme poverty in the world’s lowest income countries. IDA provides zero- or low-interest loans and grants to countries for projects and programs that boost economic growth, build resilience, and improve the lives of poor people around the world. Since 1960, IDA has provided about $422 billion for investments in 114 countries. As an institution of the World Bank Group, IDA combines global expertise with an exclusive focus on reducing poverty and boosting prosperity in the world’s lowest income countries. Learn more online: IDA.worldbank.org. #IDAworks4Africa

The post African Heads of State Call for an Ambitious Replenishment of the IDA20 to Support Their Recovery Agenda appeared first on FrontPageAfrica.

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Business

C.Africa forces seize stronghold of ex-president Bozize

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 09:20:01 +0000

C.Africa forces seize stronghold of ex-president Bozize

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admin Thu, 02/25/2021 - 09:20

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Original Publisher

Africa – Capital News

Original Article

C.Africa forces seize stronghold of ex-president Bozize

Bangui, Central African Republic, Feb 24 – Pro-government forces in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Wednesday seized a stronghold of former president Francois Bozize, who was accused in December of plotting a coup, Prime Minister Firmin Ngrebada said.

“I hail the capture of the town of Bossangoa by our forces and allies today,” he said on Facebook, referring to a key pro-Bozize town 280 kilometres (175 miles) north of the capital Bangui.

“Allies” is a term used by CAR’s government for Russian paramilitaries and Rwandan troops who are supporting the beleaguered authorities against rebel groups.

“Never again will bandits disturb people in this part of the country,” Ngrebada vowed.

A senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said “fighting is still ongoing” but “resistance has been broken, the enemy is fleeing.”

In mid-December, six rebel groups united to launch an offensive against President Faustin Archange Touadera, just over a week before presidential and legislative elections.

The government said the rebels had acted in concert with Bozize, who seized power in 2003 and was ousted a decade later — an act that sparked a civil war along sectarian lines.

Russia and Rwanda flew in military personnel to shore up the CAR’s poorly- equipped armed forces, which are also backed by a 12,000 UN force, MINUSCA.

The rebels attacked a string of towns in January and twice came close to the capital, but the government and its allies went on the counter-offensive.

A string of towns — Boda, Boali, Bossembele, Bossemptele, Yaloke and Beloko — have been recaptured and on February 16, Bangui’s road lifeline to neighbouring Cameroon was reopened.

The following day, the government said it had “completely liberated” Bambari, CAR’s fifth biggest town, located in the centre of the country, and captured “numerous prisoners.”

– Shadow of Bozize –

Bozize fled abroad after being toppled in 2013.

He returned in late 2019, stoking fears that the troubled nation would be plunged once more into a full-fledged conflict as elections loomed on the horizon.

Violence remains endemic in a country where two-thirds of the territory is controlled by militia groups.

Touadera won re-election in the first round of the polls, according to official figures, but the turnout was just 35 percent as many voters were unable to cast their ballot.

Bozize denies giving any support to the six rebel groups, who teamed up in December under the name of the Coalition of Patriots for Change, or CPC.

On January 4, the government launched an inquiry into him for “rebellion.”

Thousands of people have died in the CAR since 2013 and more than a quarter of the population of 4.9 million have fled their homes.

Of these, 675,000 are refugees in neighbouring countries.

Africa

News

Conflict gold: New report urges tech, jewellery, financial, and auto industries to use ‘responsible’ sources

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 02:50:01 +0000

Conflict gold: New report urges tech, jewellery, financial, and auto industries to use ‘responsible’ sources

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admin Wed, 02/24/2021 - 02:50

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

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Radio Dabanga - Latest news

Original Article

Conflict gold: New report urges tech, jewellery, financial, and auto industries…

With more than $4 billion in gold flowing out of East and Central Africa into international markets annually, the technology, jewellery, financial, and automotive sectors are increasingly at risk of purchasing gold via Dubai that benefits armed groups responsible for mass atrocities in multiple countries in the region, including Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic (CAR), and South Sudan via Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a new report compiled by Sasha Lezhnev of The Sentry released yesterday.

Africa

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Africa's longest president, Paul Biya celebrates 88th birthday

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 11:40:01 +0000

Africa's longest president, Paul Biya celebrates 88th birthday

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admin Mon, 02/15/2021 - 11:40

Monday, February 15, 2021

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Original Article

Africa's longest president, Paul Biya celebrates 88th birthday

Africa's oldest and second longest serving leader, Cameroonian President Paul Biya, celebrated his 88th birthday on February 13.

Ceremonies were organized in Cameroon’s major towns, with loyal government ministers and young people pledging their support, while those opposed to his 50-year rule demanded the octogenarian hand over power. Biya is blamed by some for the several crises his country is facing but his supporters maintain that he is a godsent leader.

Thousands of youths at the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex sung an anniversary song wishing the 88-year-old long life and good health. The young people said they were invited for the anniversary celebration by Cameroon’s government.

Among them is 28-year-old Fatimatou Iyawa, president of the Cameroon National Youth Council. She said Biya works tirelessly to improve Cameroon.

"We are here to wish him a happy birthday because it is not everybody who is lucky to have his age. He is our patriarch, he is our example, he is a role model for the Cameroonian people. We have modern sports infrastructure that he put at the disposal of the Cameroonian young people. There are schools, universities with modern equipment that he put at the disposal of the Cameroonian young people," said Iyawa.

Ernestine Mokake, 24, another member of the youth council, said she does not see any reason to celebrate Biya’s 88th birthday. She says it is unhealthy for a man at an advanced age to hang onto power.

"He has been too long in power. Since 1982, we have had just one president. Look at a country like America, from 1982 to 2021, they have had seven presidents. In my country for the sake of democracy, governance, accountability, peace and nation-building, I would have preferred that at least we have a second president. At least for a change." she said.

Biya took office in 1982 from Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahijo. Biya had served as prime minister since 1975. He has won all multiparty elections since 1992, and the opposition has always complained of heavy election rigging by Biya.

In 2008, Biya abolished the constitution's two-term limit. Main opposition parties such as the Social Democratic Front and the Cameroon Renaissance Movement party of Maurice Kamto, say Biya is responsible for the several crises in Cameroon. Kamto claims he won the 2018 presidential elections and Biya stole his victory.

Cameroon has for four years been fighting a separatist movement that has left more than 3,000 people dead in its English-speaking western regions. Boko Haram terrorism on its northern border with Nigeria has displaced more than 20,000 people. The spillover of violence in the neighbouring Central African Republic creates tension in eastern Cameroon.

The opposition blames Biya for ordering his military to fight disgruntled separatists instead of opening what they call a true dialogue to solve the crisis. They also say Biya uses excessive force, and his military targets civilians suspected of collaborating with Boko Haram.

Addressing Cameroon youths on February 10, ahead of the February 11 National Youth Day public holiday, Biya blamed some young people for the crises the country is facing.

Biya said he regrets that some Cameroonian young people have decided to rally behind the demons of hatred and division to the detriment of national unity. He said such youths are driven by barbaric fanaticism nurtured from foreign countries or by a pervasive use of social media to undermine Cameroon’s unity. He said he is urging young people to avoid such negative role models.

At 88, Biya is Africa’s oldest president. He is the second longest serving leader in Africa after his neighbour, Thedoro Obiang Nguema, of Equatorial Guinea. Obiang has been in power since 1979.

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CAR to hold partial elections on March 14

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 19:00:01 +0000

CAR to hold partial elections on March 14

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admin Sat, 02/13/2021 - 19:00

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Original Publisher

Africa – Capital News

Original Article

CAR to hold partial elections on March 14

Bangui, Central African Republic, Feb 13 – The Central African Republic Saturday announced a second round of voting next month for legislative elections in some constituencies as well as a first round where a December ballot was disrupted.

One of the world’s poorest countries, the CAR has been locked in violence since 2013, when its then president, Francois Bozize, was overthrown.

The current government, despite being supported by UN, Russian and Rwandan forces, only controls around a third of the territory.

The second round was set for March 14, President Faustin Archange Touadera said in a decree on Saturday.

Those regions where the December 27 first round was disrupted by rebel violence and other factors will also vote on the same date, it said.

The campaign for the first round will open on February 27 and for the second round on March 6.

Barely a third of the potential ballots were cast in the December first round — and in the presidential election — because of voter intimidation in areas controlled by militias and rebel groups.

The Constitutional Court cancelled the first-round results in 13 out of 140 voting districts because of irregularities. There was no polling in about 50 others because of the security situation.

Only 22 deputies out of 140 won their seats outright in the first round, of whom only four are from Touadera’s party.

However the court confirmed last month that Touadera had won a second mandate in the first round, with 53.16 percent of the vote.

On February 2, a coalition of opposition parties (COD-2020) announced they were withdrawing from the elections, claiming massive fraud in the first round.

The day after however URCA, one of the main parties in that alliance, announced it would contest the second round parliamentary vote.

URCA is led by Anicet Georges Dologuele, who came second in the presidential election with 21.69 percent of the vote.

Touadera’s decree comes soon after the rebels’ 50-day blockade of the capital Bangui was broken with the arrival of the first aid convoy.

Russian paramilitaries and Rwandan troops have helped government forces recapture a series of towns recently held by fighters from an alliance of six militias, calling itself the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC).

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