September 14, 2021

Cameroon Military Denies Reprisal Attacks Kill Civilians

Witnesses in the northwest Cameroon town of Kumbo have accused the military of killing several civilians during retaliatory raids Monday on separatists. Cameroon’s military denies any civilians were killed. The clashes followed the deaths of seven troops when their armored vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. Cameroon’s Presbyterian Church is calling for an independent investigation into reports of civilian deaths.

Cameroon’s military said Monday that seven of its troops perished when their armored vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in the western village of Kikaikelahki.

The troops were part of a military convoy dispatched to fight separatists around the town of Kumbo.

The military says other troops have been deployed to find and kill the separatists who planted the explosive device.

Deben Tchoffo is governor of Cameroon’s northwest region where Kumbo is found. He says the troops also were ordered to search and seize weapons used illegally by separatists.

“The circulation of those arms were banned by the government, and we instructed administrative authorities and security forces to recuperate all those guns and ammunition that are circulating in the region. Many guns have been taken and are now kept at the level of administrative and security services. The process is ongoing.”

Cameroon military says in a reprisal after the seven troops were killed, government troops killed 13 fighters.

Philip Ndongwe is a teacher in Kumbo. He says one of the people killed is a popular motorcycle taxi driver. He says men who attacked the house they ran to for safety were dressed in Cameroon military uniforms.

“They actually jumped into the campus, shot in the air, and you could see panic and there was nothing I could do other than struggling to also save myself. I first hid myself under the table. It was so traumatizing.”

The Catholic Church in Kumbo on Monday condemned what it calls the killing of civilians and blamed both fighters and government troops for the violence.

Fonki Samuel Forba, moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Cameroon, says independent investigations should be carried out to find out if those killing civilians are fighters or government troops.

“There should be a cease-fire in this country. The barrel of the gun will not solve this problem. Until we sit down as a family and talk out our problems, we will not solve these problems. We are all waiting. We can only get a true story when a credible organization has done investigations of the situation. The culprits will be brought to book.”

The military has denied any involvement in the killing of civilians and insists that all those killed are fighters. The military says its troops are professional.

Violence erupted in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions in 2016, when teachers and lawyers protested alleged discrimination at the hands of the French-speaking majority.

The government responded with a crackdown that sparked an armed movement for an independent, English-speaking state.

Source: Voice of America

September 14, 2021

Somali President Appoints Commission to Investigate Death of Female Spy

Somalia’s president is forming a committee to investigate the case of a missing spy, declared dead by the country’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), though the time and circumstances of her demise remain unknown.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s security agency said earlier this month that intelligence agent Ikran Tahlil Farah, who went missing in June, was abducted and killed by al-Shabab militants.

However, al-Shabab has denied responsibility for Farah’s fate, while Farah’s mother blames NISA for her daughter’s reported death.

The mother, Qali Mohamud Guhad, rejected the president’s committee, which will include a representative from the intelligence agency.

“It’s nonsense, it’s obsolete,” Guhad told VOA Somali on Tuesday. “This is something he has not said a word about for the three months, I have been weeping. … It’s not something I accept.”

Guhad said she put her confidence in a military court investigating Farah’s disappearance.

Political analyst Abdimalik Abdullahi said only the military can handle such a case, arguing that other Somali courts cannot be neutral and will not deliver justice.

“It is only the military court that can handle mysterious and high-profile cases such as the one of Tahlil, who herself was a senior government official,” he told VOA.

The president, however, is pressing ahead with his committee. The head of state directed the five-member team to present a report after the investigation to ensure what he called the delivery of justice.

The press director for the president’s office, Abdirashid Hashi, said the commission of inquiry will be chaired by the attorney general, deputized by the chief military courts prosecutor, and will include representatives from the army, NISA and the police.

Source: Voice of America

September 14, 2021

Merhawi Kudus signs for EF Education-Nippo

After three years at Astana, Merhawi Kudus is moving on in 2022, signing for EF Education-Nippo.

The Eritrean climber, now 27, believes he has potential still to be tapped, and is convinced Jonathan Vaughters’ American squad is the place to do it.

“Here, I can achieve more, but I cannot do it alone,” Kudus said. “With teamwork you can achieve more and go further than you imagine and I have always seen strong teamwork within EF. I believe in the team’s spirit.”

Kudus, 27, came through the UCI’s World Cycling Centre development set-up and rode as a stagiaire with the team now known as Arkéa-Samsic in 2013 before turning professional with South African team Qhubeka-NextHash – then known as MTN-Qhubeka – in 2014.

He went on to make history as part of the team’s groundbreaking appearance as the first African trade team at the Tour de France in 2015, and spent five seasons there in total.

He moved to Astana in 2019, winning the Tour du Rwanda and placing third overall at the Tour of Turkey in his debut year before riding the Vuelta a España in 2020.

This season Kudus has placed fifth at the Tour of Turkey, eighth at the Route d’Occitanie, and second at Adriatica Ionica, as well as clinching the Eritrean time trial title.

“He’s a rider I was looking at for a long time and the pieces fell together. I’m really excited to have him on the team,” said Vaughters.

“He really wanted to be on this team and that’s something that really means a lot to me when somebody says ‘this is the team I want to be at because I feel like you guys are the ones that are going to take me furthest in my career.’ That’s music to my ears especially when I hear that from a guy like him because he’s had to break his way into cycling the tough way.

“I see him focused on mountain jerseys and stage wins. He can also do well in week-long stage races. And he’ll be great to help out guys that have GC ambitions. He’s a rider that can make that critical group of 20 to 30 riders in the mountains and be there to support.”

Kudus himself has not indicated a preferred race programme for 2022, nor has the length of his contract been disclosed, but he’s eyeing a return to the biggest race of all for the first time since that 2015 appearance.

“I want to support the team and also ride for myself, whatever that looks like,” he said. “A stage victory in the Tour de France, that is the ultimate dream.”

Kudus is EF-Nippo’s second official signing for 2022, following Esteban Chaves from Team BikeExchange.

They are losing Sergio Higuita to Bora-Hansgrohe and Mitch Docker and Tejay van Garderen to retirement, but have handed contract extensions to Neilson Powless, Alberto Bettiol, Hugh Carthy, Magnus Cort Nielsen, Ruben Guerreiro, and Simon Carr.

Source: Dehai Eritrea Online

September 14, 2021

Merhawi Kudus to join team in 2022

EF Education-NIPPO is proud to announce the signing of Merhawi Kudus. The Eritrean brings his climbing expertise to the team’s roster.

“I am a climber,” Kudus says. “I can climb for GC or I can climb to support someone for GC, but I am definitely a climber,” he laughs. Hailing from the Eritrean capital of Asmara, which sits at over 2,000 meters elevation, perhaps it’s no surprise he’s so comfortable in the mountains.

“I like to ride because it’s so common, so popular where I’m from, it’s just the obvious thing to do,” Kudus says. Not only is cycling a vital form of transportation in Eritrea, it’s also the country’s most popular sport with races shutting down streets in the capital city most weekends. “My cousin was a local amateur rider,” he recalls. “I went to see him in races and I looked up to him.”

Years later, Kudus is now the rider that everyone looks up to.

His palmares are impressive – a slew of GC podiums and stage results in races from Asia to Africa to Europe – but the 27-year-old believes he has more to give. “I think this team is the right place to explore my full potential,” he says. “Here, I can achieve more, but I cannot do it alone. With teamwork you can achieve more and go further than you imagine and I have always seen strong teamwork within EF. I believe in the team’s spirit.”

“He’s a rider I was looking at for a long time and the pieces fell together,” says team CEO Jonathan Vaughters. “I’m really excited to have him on the team. He really wanted to be on this team and that’s something that really means a lot to me when somebody says ‘this is the team I want to be at because I feel like you guys are the ones that are going to take me furthest in my career.’ That’s music to my ears especially when I hear that from a guy like him because he’s had to break his way into cycling the tough way.”

Kudus is an ideal fit with the team’s ethos. “I enjoy meeting people from different cultures,” he explains. “Yes, I like to ride and train hard and race and all the stuff that is part of the job, but with that comes laughing and traveling and enjoying which I like to share with new people.”

Looking ahead to the 2022 season, Vaughters envisions a clear path for the Eritrean. “I see him focused on mountain jerseys and stage wins,” says Vaughters. He can also do well in week-long stage races. And he’ll be great to help out guys that have GC ambitions. He’s a rider that can make that critical group of 20 to 30 riders in the mountains and be there to support.”

Kudus is open to new goals and challenges. “I want to support the team and also ride for myself, whatever that looks like,” he says. While he hasn’t yet decided which races he will target next season, he knows his ultimate goal. “A stage victory in the Tour de France, that is the ultimate dream.”

Since joining the school mountain biking team as a 14-year-old, Kudus has raced all over the world and been away from home for much of his life. While that can be hard, he doesn’t hesitate to say what makes it worth the sacrifice. “Cycling is my community, no matter where I am,” he says.

We couldn’t be happier to welcome you to the team, Merhawi.

Source: Dehai Eritrea Online

September 14, 2021

“Aim for the moon; if you miss, you will land among the stars”

Rufta Arefaine and Rahel Zewengiel, both members of the 34th round of National service, attended their 12th grade classes at Warsay-Yekealo Senior Secondary School in Sawa. Before leaving for Sawa, Rufta studied at Dembe-Sembel Secondary School while Rahel studied at Keyih-Bahri Comprehensive Secondary School in Asmara. They see Sawa as a haven of harmony among students from across the nation and a center of perseverance. These outstanding students are confident they would complete their higher education with distinction. The common idea they share about Sawa is that Sawa is unique in everything; it is a big social, academic and physical center of education. Rufta scored 4.0 GPA with straight ‘A’ in eight subjects she took in the matriculation exam, while Rahel scored 3.8 GPA. Here is an excerpt of an interview conducted with them.

• How does it feel to study in Sawa?

Rufta

Sawa is a place for sharing ideas and transfer of skills. How you feel about studying in Sawa depends on your mindset. For me, life in Sawa is not challenging and at the same time everything is not smooth. The experience you have in Sawa is a mixture of challenges and ease.

Rahel

Education in Sawa enabled me to be self-reliant. It is a center where individuals think independently and entertain their own ideas.

• What are the challenges and advantages of studying in Sawa?

Rahel

Studying far away from home for the first time is challenging. On the other hand, the challenge you may encounter in Sawa is a life changing experience. Time management is what I learned from my stay in Sawa and everything is done as planned. Sharing experiences is a blessing and a turning point in one’s life time. It is a perfect school for learning life skill. It is a place where one could strengthen social interactions with students from across the nation. Sawa teaches us perseverance and enables us to become strong in everything. No matter what the challenge is, the grand goals we intend to achieve are always the priorities.

• What are the things you experienced during your stay in Sawa?

Rufta

Social interaction is what I uniquely enjoyed in Sawa. I learned about how to deal with tough and easy going people. I learned a lot from both ends. It makes one come out stronger and capable to combat any challenge.

Rahel

Training is what makes one competent and versatile. I learned a lot from fellow students. We all have strengthened our social interactions. The relationship we have built with people we would otherwise not have been acquainted with in our life time had we not gone to Sawa is the biggest of all. The friendship we have built with students from all regions of the country is quite amazing and Sawa made it possible.

• What was your attitude before you left for Sawa?

Rufta

I had no preconceived thoughts about Sawa. I just wanted to experience things through seeing or living in the condition. I chose to deal with the situation with flexibility. Above all, education and discipline go in parallel. I believe a successful student is the result of good upbringing, and the credit goes to my parents. One has to excel in education for his/her own satisfaction first and for his/her family later, as well as for the benefit of the country and to use the accumulated knowledge for global benefit.

Rahel

Education is a priority for me. I believe the one who faces demanding tasks is always capable of dealing with bigger challenges. Our approach to difficulties is determined by the exposure we have to difficulties. What I learned in Sawa is that everybody has limitations. It is hard to be all-knowing. Individuals may have unique qualities in solving matters but at the same time, they are dependent on one another. We can see this from an anecdote.

There were a doctor and a swimmer. The doctor always brags about his knowledge and quite often undermines and humiliates the swimmer. But, there was a time for the doctor to understand his limitations. He was about to drawn while swimming and requested the help of the swimmer. “You are all-knowing and capable of doing everything, and so why don’t you try to spare your life,” was the answer of the swimmer. This story teaches us nobody is capable of doing everything alone for there are times we ask for help. So, Sawa is a place for win-win cooperation among students and this experience will last a lifetime. Studying together and dealing with challenges together is what has moved me. This is the attitude I now have about Sawa.

• How about your schooling?

Rufta

I was very competitive at school. I followed the footsteps of my elder brother. I’m a member of the 34th round of National Service and studied my 12th-grade classes in Warsay-Ykealo Secondary School. Our teachers in Asmara taught us all the 12th-grade subjects and studying in Sawa, for me, was a revision.

• How was the moment when you heard your matriculation exam results?

Rufta

I was reading a book. One of our dorm mates came in and told us that exam results had been posted in our cafeteria’s noticeboard. Even though I was confident about the result I would get, the fact that matriculation results determine one’s future educational career made it a little bit worrisome. I was not able to continue the reading because my attention was taken by the news of the announcement. I started to hear some competitor classmates scored full marks and some got diploma results. The students were overcrowded to see their results and amidst this, I read that I scored straight ‘A’ in the eight subjects I sat for the matriculation exam and I immediately texted my parents about the result.

• How was your parents’ response?

I was not able to say more than texting to my dad saying “I got straight ‘A’s.”

• What would you like to say to female students?

Rufta

When we speak about women, we need to understand that our mothers managed to overcome unimaginable hurdles and they made everything possible. What we experience today as women is quite little and insignificant. We are provided with all kinds of opportunities and everything is now easy. No matter how challenging the situation is there is a way out and everything is manageable and attainable. My ambition in education is limitless. I vow to myself to score higher marks in my studies and planned to transcend the limit. I have to score full marks and go beyond. “Aim for the moon; if you miss, you will land among the stars.” The female students need to have grand goals and they will definitely succeed in what they aspire to achieve. We should not limit our ambitions and everything is just the result of what we aimed to accomplish.

• What is your future plan?

Rufta

I have not yet decided in what field I would study. However, I am more inclined to engineering departments. I would like to work in both software and civil engineering and I am eager to see the result that came from blending the two fields. The courses we would attend in the first year will help me decide a better field.

Rahel

I am looking forward to joining college and I have already planned to study law. Defending the defenseless is what satisfies me most. Working for peace and security and becoming a motivational speaker is my dream. Working for the respect of women’s rights is also one of my biggest goals.

• Thank You Rufta and Rahel; we hope to see you join college.

Source: Ministry of Information: Eritrea