U.N. worried over deportation of Cameroon separatists, faults Nigeria

The United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has officially commented on the deportation of Cameroonian separatists from Nigeria earlier this month.

In a statement published on February 1, 2018; UNHCR said it was worried that Nigeria decided to deport people who had applied for asylum and more so at a time when they were engaging with the authorities.

The statement faulted Nigeria for breaching international laws by forcibly deporting 47 suspected separatists. They also urged Yaounde to respect the rights of the detainees who are expected to be put before the courts.

Eritrean, Afghan migrants clash in deadly 'gang warfare' in French camp

Mayor of the French town of Calais says her town had been confronted by an all-out gang warfare after Afghan and Eritrean migrants in a camp faced off in a bloody brawl that left five dead and others seriously injured.

The Thursday incident which is said to have lasted almost two hours led the French Interior Minister, Gerard Collomb to spend the night in the camp with the promise to deploy more riot police. The crisis believed to be related to queuing for food handouts involved about 100 Eritreans and 30 Afghans.

Gambian president appoints head of truth and reconciliation commission

Gambian president Adama Barrow has appointed a former newspaper head and respected academician to lead the country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The president in consultation with the Minister of Justice and the Public Services Commission, last Thursday appointed Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow as the Executive Secretary of the commission meant to abuses by the erstwhile Yahya Jammeh administration.

The Jammeh regime has largely been accused of rights abuses, torture and disappearance of persons in detention. The commission is also meant to offer reparations to victims of the Jammeh era.

Zimbabwe should press on with fair land reform - Britain

Zimbabwe should press on with transparent and fair land reform, Britain said on Friday, as Harare’s new leaders look to overhaul policies that evicted thousands of white farmers without compensation.

Under former president Robert Mugabe, authorities carried out often violent seizures of white-owned farms in a bid to address what they called injustices during British colonial rule.

But new President Emmerson Mnangagwa – keen to boost the economy and mend ties with countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe – has said he wants to end discrimination between black and white farmers and is working to compensate those who lost their properties.

France condemns killing of three Cameroonian gendarmes, urges dialogue

France condemned on Friday attacks by suspected English-speaking separatists in Cameroon that killed three gendarmes on Thursday, but urged the Cameroonian government to engage in dialogue to stop an escalation in violence.

The separatists have taken up arms over the past year in an attempt to create a nation they call Ambazonia. The insurgency represents the gravest challenge yet to the 35-year rule of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya.