THE FALLEN PATRIOTS FOUNDATION

One of the greatest tragedies when Cameroon loses a soldier, is the family behind that soldier, and the son or daughter who loses their hero. It is true most of the time these families are well taken care of by the government; however, the goverment can't do it all; we as responsible citizens can do our tiny bit to add more value to their lives . The Fallen Patriots Foundation under the head of Laura Ndiwane (president) is aimed at raising funds to educate the children of Cameroonian soldiers who have died fighting against the terrorist  group Boko haram in the Northern part of the country.

At least 125  soldiers have died leaving behind close to 450 children without a parent and full parental support. These children need our support in order for them to achieve the dreams their parents had for them. If you  contribute in the education of these children, you will be appreciating the selfless sacrifices of their parents in your own little way. The  funds raised will be used to grant school scholarships to these children and will also be used to buy school materials like books, pens ,  pencils, uniforms, school bags etc for the coming school year in August. This assistance will go a long way to support these  children/families psycho-socially. Support these children today so that posterity will not blame us of not doing anything for these orphans.

For infomation on this please contact the followings:
Laura Ndiwane
Judith Maiphe Ndiwane Traore

Ethiopian 1st Airline in Africa to Receive Airbus A350XWB

Ethiopian 1st Airline in Africa to Receive Airbus A350XWB and First in the World to fly it in African Skies
28 June, 2016.

Ethiopian Airlines, the fastest growing and the largest African airline, stands as 1st Airline in Africa to take delivery of Airbus A350XWB on 28 June, 2016, in Toulouse, France.
Ethiopian is proud to be the first airline from Africa to take delivery of the A350 and excel in offering its passengers the ultimate travel experience on-board this aircraft ahead of other carriers. Ethiopian is also pleased to make all Africans proud by being the first airline in the world to fly this ultra-modern airplane in the African skies.

Ethiopian A350 XWB was built for passengers comfort and well-being. Wider seats in both Business and Economy classes, the lowest twin engine noise level, advanced air conditioning technology and full LED mood lighting enhance the comfort while reducing fatigue after a long flight.

"The fact that we are ushering in another first to Africa in a span of four years is an affirmation of our continuing pioneering role in African aviation. It is also a testimony of our commitment to give our passengers the very best travel experience, with the latest industry products and services. On behalf of all my colleagues at the Ethiopian family, I am delighted to see Ethiopian
to continue making Africa First in Aviation Technology," said Tewolde Gebremariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian.

All seats are fitted with the latest high-definition touchscreen personal monitors and a higher
selection of movies, television series and audio channels. Inflight Wi-Fi connection will be made
available on this aircraft in the future. Passengers with smart devices can connect to the world
while others can use the smart individual touch screens on their seats when the internet service
goes operational.


The A350XWB’s innovative technology improves performance in operation. Its revolutionary
airframe and simplified systems have optimized fuel burn, maintenance costs and reliability,
and its engines have the lowest carbon dioxide CO2 emissions of any in the wide body
category.


Ethiopian has ordered 14 Airbus A350XWB aircraft and will continue receiving the remaining
13 soon constantly raising number of Airbus aircraft in the fleet ensuring the extra comfort.

Source/Press Release: FabafriqMagazine

Twitter: @Fabafriq

Instagram: @fabafriq

www.fabafriq.com

Nigeria mourns 23-yr-old youth achiever who drowned at US waterfall

The tragic death of Nigerian student and youth achiever, John Paul Usman who drowned over the weekend at Virginia’s Cascade Falls in the United States has left his country in shock.

Many colleagues and friends as well as sympathisers of the final year student of the University of Ilorin and president of the UNESCO Clubs in Nigeria couldn’t hold back their sadness about his tragic death.

Tributes and messages of condolence have flooded his Facebook page as well as on Twitter. Source: www.africanews.com

John Paul Usman was selected for the 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, a flagship programme of President Obama, among a thousand young Africans who have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive change in their organizations, institutions, communities, and countries.

He was hosted with 25 other fellows from 21 countries early this month in the United States by the Virginia Polytechnic University for a six-week intensive civic leadership training course at the university’s Language and Culture Institute.

On Saturday, John Paul Usman went on a hike among 18 fellows accompanied by two university staff members towards the 66-foot waterfall near the university.

According to local media reports, he fell into the water and after he was retrieved, bystanders performed CPR on him for about 30 minutes before his death.

“Our thoughts are with John Paul’s family in this difficult time. We are devastated by this tragic event,” Don Back, the director of the Institute where Usman was studying said in a statement released by the University.

The United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria as well as the fellowship programme released statements mourning his death and extending condolences to his family.

Source: www.africanews.com

Dangote wants 50% of Nigeria's crude refined internally by 2021

Africa’s richest man disclosed in an interview with Reuters News Agency on Friday (June 24) plans to open Nigeria’s first private oil refinery estimated at a cost of $12 million dollars with the funds to be pooled from multiple sources. Aliko Dangote during a press briefing after touring the construction site of his refinery expected to begin operations in 2019.

“Our target is that in the next five years or so from now, we hope and we believe that half of Nigeria’s crude will be refined and exported rather than just exporting crude to go and create jobs elsewhere.”

He was accompanied on the tour by Nigeria’s vice president Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos State, where the refinery is being built and a number of key federal level ministers.

The refinery, which would be complemented by petrochemical, gas & fertilizer projects by Aliko Dangote at Lekki Free Zone (LFZ) in Lagos is expected to be completed in 2018 but start operations the next year.

The Governor of Nigeria’s commercial hub said “Firstly, there is a refinery project that is ongoing, second there is a petrochemical project that is also ongoing. There is pipeline transfer project that brings gas from Bonny down to Olokonla and down to Lekki and then the fourth one is the fertilizer project all in one location.”

Isabel dos Santos out of state oil firm

Pressure continues to mount on Angola’s Isabel dos Santos, to step down from her position as the head of Sonangol.

The latest call comes from renowned Angolan human rights campaigner, Rafael Marques, who has asked the country’s attorney general to revoke the appointment of Africa’s richest woman.

He accuses the president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Isabel’s father, of acting unconstitutionally by firing the board early this month, and putting his daughter in charge of the state energy firm.

“The appointments as a consequence of these reforms that are underway, are also unconstitutional because they are illegal. The president uses his decrees, his powers to award state contracts to his families,” he said.

Michelle Obama visited Liberia-based leadership camp for girls

Education for girls is at the heart of the of the first lady’s trip, which also includes stops in Morocco and Spain.

United States first-lady Michelle Obama on Monday visited a Liberia-based leadership camp for girls called, Let Girls Learn, as part of her Africa trip.

Michelle urged the teens, whose faces were glazed with smiles, in one of the world’s poorest countries to keep fighting to stay in school.

The Let Girls Learn campaign is the brainchild of Barack and Michelle Obama established last year

In connection with the first lady’s visit, USAID announced up to $27 million in funding in Liberia programming for Let Girls Learn, an initiative launched by the Obamas last year.

Liberia has suffered the horrors of war for more than a decade. Only 37% of girls aged 15 to 24 can read. The burden of Ebola has not make the situation any easier- schools were closed for months as a result of the epidemic

On early Tuesday, Obama and her two daughters arrived Morocco were welcomed by King Mohammed VI’s wife Princess Lalla Selma at the Merana airport airport.

Morocco, where she will provide details of nearly $100 million in funding from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a foreign-aid agency, to create a new model for secondary education.

Agencies

POLITICS: MONARCH AT IT'S BEST; EQUATORIAL GUINEA PRESIDENT PROMOTES HIS SON TO VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY

The President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema has promoted his son Teodorin Nguema Obiang to the position of Vice President in charge of defense and security, according to a decree read on Wednesday on state television.

“In accordance with the Basic Law of Equatorial Guinea, I appoint his Excellency Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue Vice President of the Republic,” the decree of President Obiang read.

Teodorin Nguema Obiang, who is 47 years old and a possible successor to his father, previously held the position of Second Vice President since 2012.

Recall: His son was under trial in France for fraudulently amassing wealth out of Equatorial Guinea’s public purse. The case was later dismissed.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NOT RECOGNISED AS CRIME IN CAMEROON

Domestic violence is not recognised as a specific crime in Cameroon and we don't have a legal definition of domestic violence. Cameroon does not have specific legislation by which domestic violence can be prosecuted; the criminal law is notoriously silent and victims are left to [rely] on the general law of assault. Thus, acts of domestic violence can be prosecuted using the Cameroon's penal code under the following articles:

Article 275 which punishes murder
Article 276 which punishes capital murder
Article 277 which punishes grievous harm
Article 278 which punishes assault occasioning death
Article 279 which punishes assault occasioning grievous harm Article 280 which punishes simple harm. Article 282 which punishes failure to assist women who have been abandoned by their spouses
Article 338 which punishes assault on woman with child whose aim is to protect pregnant women from assault.

Two sources indicate that spousal rape is not criminalized (US 11 Mar. 2010, Sec. 6; IPS 4 Nov. 2009). According to the Executive Secretary of CAWOLED, who is cited in the CRI Project country fact sheet, spousal rape is "generally" not considered an offence under customary law; it is rather understood that a married woman "consents to sexual intercourse with her husband at any time" (Nov. 2008, 7). An Inter Press Service (IPS) article also notes the following: Cameroon's penal code states that "whoever by force or moral ascendancy compels any female, whether above or below the age of puberty, to have sexual intercourse with him shall be punished with imprisonment for from five to 10 years." It further makes it illegal for a man to have sex with a woman under 16 years of age even if she consents to such intercourse. Despite these laws, few perpetrators of rape are ever prosecuted in Cameroon. Section 297 of the penal code, for instance, prevents prosecution for rape when marriage has been freely consented to by the parties involved, as long as the woman assaulted is over the age of puberty at the time of the offence.

Haven said all that progress is taking place. Counselling and advice are available to victims throughout Cameroon at social service centres provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs; social welfare services are available from the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family (Ministire de la Promotion de la Femme et de la Famille, MINPROFF), thus, Cameroon now has a call centers for abused women.

GERMANY DONATES €1m TO LIBYA TOWARDS KIDS IMMINIZATION

Germany is increasing its assistance to the United nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) towards expansion in the immunization of Libyan children.

This was disclosed after a meeting between the German Ambassador Christian Much and UNICEF Special Representative for Libya Ghassan Khalil after they signed an agreement to that effect on Monday (June 20)

The assistance would ensure a strengthening of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in Libya, where children constitute about 40% of the population.

SEVEN POLICEMEN KILLED DURING AN ATTACK AGAINST BOKO HARAM

Seven police constables were killed in a Thursday attack at the Nguagam camp hosting refugees and IDPs in southeastern Niger who are fleeing the Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram.

“Seven policemen were killed. They were buried today (Friday),” a source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The attack took place shortly after the passing of a high ministerial delegation which included MPs and representatives of the UN and humanitarian personnel in the region.

“At around 5:30 p.m., three Boko Haram vehicles came to this area … They went to attack the police position making them abandon their posts. They took the vehicles and set fire to the police camp,” Al Hadj Kilibou, one of the displaced persons at the Nguagam camp told AFP.

“They (Boko Haram) were wearing gendarmes and policemen uniforms aboard vehicles. I saw them with my own eyes. They passed by me. They told me: Do not run, stay, we do not kill the civilians,” he added.

Al Hadj Kilibou had fled the town of Bosso, scene of a massive Boko Haram attack of June 3 where 26 Nigeriens and Nigerian soldiers and civilians were killed and 50,000 people displaced.

NIGERIA GOVERNMENT CALLS PARENTS TO BE EXTRA VIGILANT AGAINST ISIS APP

The Nigerian Information Minister in an exclusive interview with Africanews says an alert issued over an ISIS app was critical in the fight against jihadists.

“I think the whole world should be worried about it, because it is an app that is very attractive, with very bright images but they use guns as some form of games,” said Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Some young people according to the minister have fallen prey to these indoctrination on social media, raising fears that the app disguised in a form of a video game to indoctrinate young people into jihad could worsen the already fragile situation.

MTN APPOINTS NEW CEO. FORMER VODAFONE EUROPE HEAD

MTN, Africa’s biggest mobile- phone operator has appointed Rob Shuter as the group president and chief executive officer. Rob, a South African national ,joins the telecom from Vodafone Europe where he was the head.

The appointment is viewed as a step toward overhauling the company’s governance standards while looking for new revenue streams as the market becomes more competitive.

The news sent MTN shares rising to as high as 151.70 rand in early trading at the JSE , before settling at 143.30 rand.

Earlier this month, MTN agreed to pay a reduced fine of 330 billion naira an estimated $1.7 billion, in a settlement with Nigerian authorities, over failure to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered mobile phone users in the country.

However, Nigeria’s senate on Monday accused the government of short changing the country by reducing the fine. Nigeria is MTN biggest market with over 60 million subscribers.

 

Source Africanews

CELEBITY PROFILING: SUPER STAR SOLANGE YIJIKA GETS THE BLOGGER TREATMENT

Once people reach the minimun level of success and recognition you almost expect them to change. With so much attention, it can be easy to fall into the traps of arrogance and obnoxiousness. However, although there are plenty of stuck-up stars, there are also plenty who haven’t let the fame go to their heads. These people have managed to stay grounded in an industry that tries to force them to be otherwise. Whether it be donating to charity, spending time with fans, or just flat-out being a good person, these people seem to have a pretty good understanding of what’s really important in life. As a result, they have gained the love and respect of millions. One who falls in this category is the beautiful Solange Yijika.

At Empower Success in Africa we want our stars to be STARS, all capital letters. Solange Yijika is someone who is known and recognised not only around Cameroon but Africa as a whole. She is a multiple award-winning actress, and a Box Office star; with films like DECODED staring along side Van Vicker; ROSE ON THE GRAVE staring along side Mega super star Lady Ponce, Syndy Emade and Epule Jeffery. Although she has traversed a vast range of different film types and roles, it is her latest incarnation as one of the promoter and ambassador of the CAMEROON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (side by side Ramsey Noah) that has truly thrust her into the African limelight.

Despite not having a proffessional acting background, Solange has managed to turn her life into an incredible atress success story. I don't think this boils down to just sheer good luck, attractive looks, or superior acting talent. I think that Solange has consistently managed to effectively leverage all her talents and capabilities through the years, and this boils down to sheer determination. If she needs to be charming, she can be. If she needs to be flirty or coquettish, she can be. If she needs to be aggressive or argumentative, she can be. If at any time she needs to hone her acting skills, she can. In fact, I think this is one of the traits that Solange has but that she plays down, and it may not be highly visible to the world. But if you evaluate all her personal, education and professional accomplishments, it becomes highly apparent that she is clearly a highly determined and motivated individual, it is really not all just down to sheer luck. She is approaching nearly 12 films and short videos to her credit. But, unlike other actresses or actors, if you take a look at the substantive content of her films, they are all very different to each other. From her earlier work to the recent, Solange Yijika has seemingly been determined to challenge herself to play very different characters in each role. Not only this, but in each role you can see that she was determined to portray the character as best as she could, and this shows on screen - she is not content to simply cash a pay cheque all the time.

Complete beauty; I am not referring to physical beauty here, which of course Solange has in overabundance, what I am talking about is what I call "complete beauty". For instance, some people may be physically beautiful, but I hate to say it, they may in reality be shallow or self-centred, or they may be arrogant or bitchy. For me, complete beauty is people just knowing that that person is just a completely beautiful person, inside and out, in everything they say or do, in the way they interact with people, or look after their own. They may not have started out like that, they may not even always be like that every second of every day, but at least most of the time they have become a person of complete beauty. This is not to say that they are completely perfect, but that they continually reflect high levels of positive human behavioural traits. Solange has slowly but surely managed to transcend herself from being a person of pure physical beauty, to someone who radiates complete beauty.

I think there is a great deal we can learn from her and who she is.

TALENT WITH HUMILITY

When talent is accompanied with humility, only an explosive recognition can be the possible outcome: beauty, classiness, a Clooney-esque desire to show case her talent by working extremely hard even if it means getting arrested by the worst comment from people who believe in their little minds that beauty alone is talent— perhaps the most important one is this: humility and authenticity.

At Empower Success in Africa we want our stars to be STARS, all capital letters and lit up in neon. But we also want them to be just like us. Humility is another word for humble. To be humble is to have a low opinion of oneself, especially when others have a higher opinion of one. There are talented people that are humble enough to think that everyone should live a good life. And one who fits into the category of humble talent is Reneta Nwonori Ndisang.

Knowing you has always been a great pleasure.  May the Lord all mighty grant your heart desire and nourish your creativity.

VICTIMS OF TOXIC WASTE SPILL SCANDAL IN IVORY COAST WON A HIGHT COURT CASE AGAINST BRITISH LAW FIRM.

The claimants complained that solicitors Leigh Day failed to ensure a compensation package of USD 8.6 million in damages reached them.

In 2009 the oil company had agreed to pay around $42.4 million to 30,000 people affected by the dumping of caustic soda and petroleum residues in the economic capital Abidjan in 2006.

I am extremely pleased for our clients, who have been waiting for seven years to get their compensation.

However, a group of 6,624 claimants received nothing from the settlement, after $8.6 million of the payout was fraudulently withdrawn.

Expert evidence showed that a health crisis ensued in which, according to official estimates, 15 people died and more than 100,000 sought medical attention after exposure to the waste fumes.

High Court judge Andrew Smith ruled on Thursday that the London-based legal firm Leigh Day, who represented the claimants, had been negligent in using an Ivorian bank account to park the lump sum, leaving it open to embezzlement.

“I am extremely pleased for our clients, who have been waiting for seven years to get their compensation,” the claimants’ lawyer Kalilou Fadiga, from legal firm Harding Mitchell, toldAFP after Thursday’s ruling.

AFRICA'S CHAMPIONS COFFEE MAKER PREFERS DR I KING TEA

It is no secret that Kenya is one of the hottest spots to grab a great coffee in Africa.

With the recent boom in roasteries and coffee shops there, more and more professional baristas are making an impression.

Standing out above the rest is 26-year-old Martin Shabaya, who recently won the Africa Barista Championships, and is now headed to Ireland to represent Kenya at the World Championships.

But despite all his successes, it turns out drinking coffee is not even his cup of tea.

KENYAN COURT DETAINS EIGHT LAWMAKERS OVER HATE SPEECH

Political tension continues in Kenya. Kenyan court has detained eight Members of Parliament for four days over charges of hate speech and incitement.

The court decision will allow further investigations into allegations of “hate speech” involving the eight MPs.

The development comes on the back of growing tensions in the country and weeks of violent protests with over a year to national elections in the east African country.

The Prosecution had pushed for a four-day detention, arguing that the period was sufficient for a forensic analysis of the statements by the MPs which were captured on video, in order to come up with foolproof charges to guarantee a conviction.

The eight MPs including four pro-government and four opposition members were picked up by police after they were alerted to remarks by the politicians said to be “laced with ethnic hatred, vilification and bordering on incitement”.

EX CONGO LEE ARMY GENERAL HAS BEEN JAILED FOR BREACHING NATIONAL SECURITY

Mokoko was jailed after being charged with “breaching internal state security and the illegal possession of weapons of war and ammunitions.

Lawyer for the former army general in the Republic of Congo, Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko says his client has been jailed in the capital, Brazzaville.

He was detained on Tuesday for questioning by security services.

The former army general had been grilled prior to the March 20 poll over a viral video in which he spoke about plans to overthrow the incumbent president, Denis Sassou Nguesso.

So could this arrest be for revenge purpose ...?

Wax Dey – 360 Degrees Album out now!

Award winning artiste and entrepreneur; Wax Dey, releases his new album titled; ‘360 Degrees. The album; 360 Degrees, is a bundle of melodies. It encompasses African music in many ways than one can say. Wax Dey succeeded to fuse music genres from all regions of Africa in this one album. It comprises of ‘House’ from South Africa, ‘Afro-beat’ from West Africa, ‘Zouk’ from the Carribeans, ‘Makossa’ from Cameroon, ‘Njang’ from Cameroon and ‘RnB’ and ‘Hip Hop’ from the West. Wax Dey reveals his soul in the album. He translates the influences he has gathered from the different places he has visited in Africa and the world in this album in a soulful way that is contagious.

The album has 11 tracks with collaborations from top artistes all over Africa; Yemi Alade, Omawumi, Banky W, Runtown, Kayswitch, and Shaydee from Nigeria; Cassper Nyovest, Nasty C, Simphiwe Dana, Lection, Jaden and Ruff Sketch from South Africa; and Stanis from Cameroon. He says the album was inspired by his collaborations with all these artistes.

It was first launched a couple of weeks ago via his record label; Calabash Music, in Nigeria, and then it was launched in Douala as well. There will be an album signing party on the 8th of July. Stay tuned for updates! In the meantime do well to purchase the album. It is available at all music distribution sales points in the country at a cost price of 1000frs, and on all digital music sites as well.

FASHION PROFILING: SANHDRA FONDUFE'S NATURAL HAIR GETS THE BLOGGER TREATMENT.

There’s nothing sexier than a woman embracing her own beauty. It seems the amazon best seller "YEFON  BOOK" author couldn't be more pleased with her natural texture and length. We don't blame her.

The actress keeps us spellbound with her everlasting beauty and covetable style, and now she’s really hooked us after seeing her gorgeous, all-natural mane for quite a while. Whatever she’s doing, it’s clearly working.

Not just anyone can transition seamlessly with a blown out Afro, but Sanhdra Fondufe isn’t just anyone. Love your confidence, girl.

WARNING PHOTO SENCITIVE: BABY DUMPED IN A WELL

Some atrocities should really never be forgiven. However view what is happening in that region I wonder if judgement should be passed.  Photos of a Newborn Baby Dumped Inside a Well, Rescued Alive in Niger State. Source: Lawrencia Udefe

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: HONDURAS IS DETAINING MORE THAN 100 AFRICAN MIGRANTS AND THIS INCLUDES CHILDREN

Honduras has detained more than 100 African migrants, including some children.

The detention was carried out on Tuesday near the border with Nicaragua as they tried to make their way to the United States.

The migrants entered Honduras through the border of La Fraternidad, San Marcos de Colon, in the south, it was reported.

Immigration officers spotted the group walking along the Panamerican highway that connects the country and Nicaragua.

Migration authorities did not specify which countries they had come from but some 100 of them were said to be from Africa.

“We want to get through. That is why we are asking for an opportunity to the citizens and president of Honduras to let us through, so that we are able to continue as soon as possible because we have been travelling for a long time,” said an unidentified migrant.

A recurring situation, most immigrants entering southern Honduras do so through the border post of Guasaule.

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH WANTS AN INDEPTH INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATH OF THE 400 I RIM PRO TESTERS IN 2015

Over 400 Oromo protesters were killed in November 2015, and thousands others were arrested by Ethiopian security forces during widespread protests against the government’s proposed expansion of the capital Addis Ababa expected to impact on Oromia farming communities.

These figures and other forms of abuses, disputed by the Ethiopian government, were detailed by Human Rights Watch in a reportthey released on Wednesday calling on the Ethiopian government to support an independent investigation into the killings, arrests and abuses.

The Ethiopian government strongly disputed the figures saying only 173 people died, including 28 policemen and officials as cited by a Commission on Human Rights, reportsAFP.

“The Ethiopian Council of Human Rights is not a friend of the government and has registered only 103 names (of victims) … Human Rights Watch is very generous with numbers when it comes to Ethiopia,” the spokesman for the Ethiopian government, Getachew Reda, said referring to another figure by the independent Ethiopian Council of Human Rights.

“Overall, the security forces behaved in a very professional and responsible manner, but there are always a few bad apples,” he added.

Human Rights Watch observed that while the protests have largely subsided since April, the government crackdown has continued as many of those arrested remain in detention and hundreds have disappeared.

34 MIGRANTS WITH 20 CHILDREN INCLUDED WERE FOUND DEAD IN NIGER DESERT

34 migrants were found dead last week in the Nigerien desert in an attempt to travel to neighbouring Algeria, the Nigerien Ministry of Interior said in a statement.

Among the 34 found near Assamaka, a border post between Niger and Algeria, are five men, nine women and 20 children who “probably died of thirst, as is often the case,” it was suggested.

The statement said only two bodies, a Nigerian and a 26-year-old Nigerien woman, were identified adding that between June 6 and 12, many migrants had been abandoned by smugglers on the desert.

The Nigerien ministry also cautioned illegal migrants about the risks they face in trying to “take this perilous path managed by criminal networks”.

Join Fotemah Mba to foster progress in Africa!

Although Fotemah’s story begins in Cameroon, West Africa, the book of his life and travels is much thicker than that. The son of a distinguished educator and diplomat he spent most of his young life traveling the world. Fotemah was exposed to the cultures of such places as Algeria, Belgium & the United States; for this reason is a fluent speaker of four different languages. Even as a youngster he had an ear for music and was energized by the diverse sounds made known to him through his travels.

FASHION PROFILING A-list Actor; producer and model Syndy Emade gets the blogger treatment

Cameroonian A-list Actor; producer and model Syndy Emade gets the blogger treatment with her striking makeup venture.

Great make up is one thing, but when great make up is teamed with great styling, a wonderful model and beautiful photography, we have editorial gold. This is what is demonstrated in most of Syndy's look. The makeup is not only clean and precise, it is also very fitting to the overall mood of the final images. She strikes perfect balance, matching glamor with a feeling of the everyday that makes this look work so well.

I couldn't help but notice how artfully, softly and precisely her makeup was applied. This is brilliantly done.

SAMUEL ETO'O: DONE AND DUSTED. SAMUEL ETO'O TIES THE KNOD IN VINTAGE ITALIAN STYLE

Cameroonian international and one of Africa’s greatest footballers, Samuel Eto’o, married the mother of his children, Georgette Tra Lou, at a church in Stezzano, northern Italy on Tuesday afternoon.

The white wedding seals the nuptial of the two reported to have been traditionally married since 2007.

Samuel Eto’o, known for his fashion taste and style, decided to go classic as he drove to the church in a vintage Fiat 500L car dressed in a grey three-piece suit and a waistcoat.

His wife also arrived in a classic Mercedes Excalibur convertible car wearing a radiantly beautiful long flowing white dress holding a bouquet of white lilies.

The pair walked down the white carpet in glamour as their high-profiled guests cheered them on. Former teammates and friends of Eto’o including Carles Puyol of Barcelona, Inter Milan owner Massimo Morrati among others.

GREEN LIGHT FOR VOLUNTARY RETURN OF REFUGEES IN CAMEROON

The Nigerian government says it has agreed to Cameroon’s voluntary return of some 80,000 Nigerian refugees who fled the Boko Haram insurgency.

Nigerian officials had said Cameroon was threatening to force the repatriation of tens of thousands of Nigerians.

Cameroon has previously dumped thousands on the border with Nigeria.

Nigerian emergency agency spokesman Sani Datti said on Sunday that Abuja signed an agreement with the UNHCR and Cameroon for the return of Nigerian refugees “voluntarily and in a dignified manner.”

Last month, Nigerians who had returned home were blocked from returning to Cameroon though they complained they did not have enough water as temperatures soared over 100 degrees.

The UN says some 600,000 Nigerians are displaced in the region.

Some 20,000 people have been killed and more than two million others made homeless since the beginning of the bloody Boko Haram militancy in Nigeria in 2009.

Source: newsagency

FASHION PROFILING: CRISP WHITE AND JEANS GET THE BLOGGER TREATMENT

White-on-white always feels fresh indeed. We can't get enough of Cameroon celebrities deep rooted in nollywood. The Style Scribe Joan Ngomba styled her white  jeans by pairing with a crisp white blazer and nude bag; she masters a light and airy take on a casual chic denim look. On the other hand, When I first noticed  Xtie Becca popping up in street style roundups, I was taken back by how different her style was from the usual crowd: opting for sneakers over everything and seamlessly merging urban and quirky pieces in the style of Rihanna. I must say her spring look is appealing.

SURFING, THE NEW EFFECTIVE HEALING TOOL FOR SOUTH AFRICAN STREET CHILDREN

A hitherto reserved sport – surfing – appears to be helping some of Durban’s street children overcome their troubled past.

Surfing was almost exclusively a white only sport under apartheid South Africa but with the end of the regime, came the end of its exclusivity.

Thanks to training from Umthombo Street Children, a community-based project working with underprivileged and homeless youth, several former street children are taking up surfing.

One of them Thabane Ndima, who was found by Umthombo, says he “tried soccer and cricket but when I did surfing I felt like something was being lifted from my heart and I found peace and harmony”.

“Every time I do surfing I get to forget about everything in my past that is painful and I get to focus on what I’m doing” he added.

But surfing does not only serve as an avenue for Thabane to escape his past, he says “surfing has made my life better”, a feeling he says is best appreciated by “those who understand what surfing is all about”.

BREAKING DAWN FOR OSCAR PISTORIUS SENTENCE HEARING

The sentencing trial of disgraced Olympian Oscar Pistorius is set to begin on Monday.

The sentencing is for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, after his original conviction was upgraded from the lesser charge of manslaughter last year.

Pistorius was denied a leave to appeal his conviction by the Constitutional Court, South Africa’s highest court.

Pistorius, widely known as the Blade Runner denies the charge. He faces a minimum 15-year jail sentence.

In April, both legal teams agreed on five days of argument to be heard from June 13 to 17. The pre-sentencing arguments will be heard at Pretoria High Court.

ATTACK: SUICIDE BOMBER HITS FIELD HOSPITAL NEAR LIBYA'S SIRTE

A suicide bomber has killed three people at a field hospital for forces fighting Islamic State in the Libyan coastal stronghold of Sirte on Sunday.

A security source said medical staff have appealed for help in treating the wounded.

The bomber also wounded seven others and caused extensive damage to the hospital, about 50km from the front line.

HUMANITARIAN AID: UNICEF GOODWILL AMBASSADOR DAVID BECKHAM TOOK A TRIP TO SWAZILAND THIS WEEK.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham travelled to Swaziland this week to inspect works on the David Beckham UNICEF ’7 Fund’ which is supporting and protecting HIV-positive children.

During his visit, Beckham also saw how a severe drought is threatening to wreak havoc on the lives of children and families.

“ I feel very proud to be in Swaziland to see how the money raised through the 7 Fund is helping to keep vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS healthy and safe. Many of the children I met, some of whom were the same age as my own children, had lost one or both parents to AIDS and are themselves now living with HIV. As a father of four, it was hard to hear their stories about the daily challenges they face, which are now being made so much worse by this devastating drought,” David Beckham said.

Beckham continued: “Children who are already incredibly vulnerable because of HIVare now at risk from a new crisis that could have a devastating impact on their lives. Across Eastern and Southern Africa millions of children are at risk from hunger, water shortages and disease. I am speaking out for these children to make sure they are not forgotten at a time when they so desperately need our help. I am urging the global community to do all it can to help UNICEFdeliver the life-saving food, medicine and clean water that these children so desperately need,”

CHILDREN: HAPPY WORLD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOUR

Over 160 million children are at risk or enslaved in forced labour- ILO

Child labour around the world has reduced by about one third in the last decade, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has said.

These revelations were made ahead of the World Day against Child Labour which is observed today June 12.

According to reports, over 160 million children are at risk or enslaved in forced labour. This has been heightened by crisis and conflict around the world.

this week the ILO said that international standards now in place have reduced child labour by about one third in the last decade, and that now, employers and businesses commonly expect to eliminate child labour from their supply chains.

“From enterprises, we need a clear message of zero tolerance of child labour; they need to know what is happening in their supply chains and to back that up with action in their business practices and dealings with suppliers,” said Guy Rider, the Director General of ILO.