Day: April 2, 2024

Addis Ababa: Thousands of people in various cities and towns of Oromia region of Ethiopia have staged rallies in support of the ongoing reform agenda and praising the achievements registered over the past years.

The rallies were held today in several cities of Oromia region in connection with the 6th anniversary of the far-reaching reform of the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The support rallies were held in major towns of the region including in Adama, Robe, Jimma, Negele Borana and other areas, as observed by ENA reporters.

Government officials and community members joined the demonstrations, which aimed at consolidating the reform activities and maintaining peace.

Accordingly, those rallies in many of the Oromia regional towns saw a significant turnout would be considered as a widespread support for the reform agenda.

The demonstrators have carried placards displaying slogans such as “We will safeguard our victory and work together for mutual success,!’ “Ethiopia will be bui
lt on the foundations of multi-national brotherhood,!” ”Peace to All, All for Peace,!” ”Shared Narration is a base for nation state building! and among others.The demonstrators in all towns and cities have pledged to further contribute to the peace efforts in their region and encourage the successes of the reform made over the past six years.

They also emphasized the need to sustain the ongoing national reform, promote unity, and ensure that development initiatives should not be disrupted by anti-peace forces.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

Maurice Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party, has taken legal action against prominent figures within the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM).

This action follows the resurfacing of allegations dating back to December 2019, when a local newspaper, La Nouvelle, claimed that CPDM leaders held a clandestine meeting in Baham with the purported aim of sabotaging the 2020 elections by dissuading voters from supporting Kamto.

Through legal channels on April 1st, 2024, Maurice Kamto summoned CPDM Scribe, Jean Kuete, Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, and Luc Sindjoun to address these lingering accusations.

The summons demands clarification on several crucial points, shedding light on the alleged meeting and its attendees. Kamto’s first query seeks confirmation of whether the CPDM leaders were aware of La Nouvelle’s publication since December 2nd, 2019.

The second point presses the CPDM figures to confirm the occurrence of the clandestine gath
ering detailed by La Nouvelle. If confirmed, Kamto seeks insights into the meeting’s purpose and the identities of its participants.

Also, Kamto’s legal summons questions whether Professor Maurice Kamto indeed found himself at Professor Luc Sindjoun’s residence on the mentioned date, as reported by La Nouvelle, alongside the summoned CPDM leaders.

To Maurice Kamto, the failure of the CPDM leaders to refute the claims laid out by La Nouvelle suggests a tacit acknowledgment of the alleged meeting’s occurrence, enhancing further speculation and scrutiny.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

The Association of Advertising Managers of Cameroon (ARPC) has raised concerns over alleged violations of advertising laws by the Yaounde City Council.

According to a press release issued by the ARPC, banners in Yaoundé have been spotted, intimidating and pressuring advertisers to pay advertising display rights exclusively to accredited advertising agencies approved by the Yaounde City Council.

In response, the President of ARPC emphasized that such practices are both anti-competitive and illegal, lacking any legal basis within Cameroon’s current laws and regulations governing advertising.

Citing articles 10 and 5(2) of the law passed on December 29, 2006, the ARPC noted that advertisers have the freedom to choose their advertising agency, as long as it is duly approved by the Minister of Communication.

The ARPC highlights the violation of legality, pointing out that any accreditation or approvals issued by an authority other than the Minister of Communication are unlawful. Moreover, it references Law No. 98/013 of July 14, 1998, which prohibits practices aimed at restricting competition within the internal market, including those witnessed in this instance.

Going further, the President of the ARPC urged stakeholders within the advertising sub-sector to remain calm and resist misinformation or intimidation tactics.

The association says it has initiated contact with relevant authorities, including the Minister of Communication, the Minister of Local Development, and the National Competition Commission, to denounce what it perceives as ‘anti-competitive practices’.

The Yaounde City Council is however yet to officially react to the recent outburst by the said association.

Source: Cameroon News Agency