A lawyer says Cameroon’s police detained two employees of a human rights organization for three days in connection with the killing of a prominent gay rights activist earlier this month, sparking criticism over how the investigation was being handled. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
By The Huffington Post News Editors
DAKAR, Senegal — A lawyer says a court in Cameroon has found two men guilty under the African country’s harsh law banning gay sex, the latest in a string of recent convictions.
Michel Togue, a lawyer representing the suspects, said judges Tuesday sentenced 48-year-old Joseph Omgbwa to two years in prison, while 19-year-old Nicolas Ntamack received a one-year term.
Read More…
More on Civil Rights
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Huffington Post
A lawyer says a court in Cameroon has found two men guilty under the African country’s harsh law banning gay sex, the latest in a string of recent convictions. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
FIFA on Monday lifted its suspension of Cameroon’s football association, saying the organisation had addressed its concerns over government interference. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
Cameroonian rights groups on Saturday pressed the government to carry out a proper investigation into the gruesome murder of a prominent gay rights activist. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
Cameroon has criticized the media’s reporting on the killing of a prominent gay activist that drew statements of concern from the U.S., France, Britain and the U.N.
In the first official response to the killing of Eric Ohena Lembembe, government spokesman Issa Tchiroma said Friday that journalists aided by civil society groups “have launched attacks on our nation, dragging its image into the mud.”
Lembembe was found tortured and killed Monday, just weeks after he spoke out against the threat posed by “anti-gay thugs” in Cameroon, where gay sex is a criminal offense. One friend said the activist’s neck and feet looked broken and he was burned with an iron.
Tchiroma said the case was being investigated, but rights groups said previous investigations of anti-gay violence have not been thorough.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
A rights group says a prominent gay rights activist in Cameroon has been tortured and killed just weeks after issuing a public warning about the threat posed by “anti-gay thugs.”
Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that friends discovered the body of Eric Ohena Lembembe at his home in the capital, Yaounde, on Monday evening after he was unreachable for two days.
One friend said Lembembe’s neck and feet looked broken and that he had been burned with an iron.
Lembembe was executive director of CAMFAIDS, a human rights organization. In a July 1 statement, he condemned recent break-ins by “anti-gay thugs” at the offices of groups advocating for gay rights.
The precise motive for Lembembe’s killing was unclear Tuesday. HRW urged officials to launch a thorough investigation.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
By Mark Russell A French family of seven, kidnapped in February by Islamic extremists in northern Cameroon, was freed last night, reports the AP . Officials from neither France nor Cameroon have yet offered any details about their release, but Cameroonian TV captured the family exiting an airplane, all thin but walking steadily; a…
From: http://www.newser.com/story/166510/kidnapped-french-family-freed-in-cameroon.html
Cameroon‘s government says a French family of seven kidnapped there two months ago while on vacation has been freed. Neither the French nor Nigerian governments, who were thanked in the statement Friday from the office of the president, could confirm the information.
The Feb. 19 kidnapping came as thousands of French troops were deeply involved in a military intervention against Islamic extremists in the West African country of Mali.
The French gas group GDF Suez has identified the captives as an employee working in Yaounde, the Cameroon capital, and his family. French media say the children are between 5 and 12 years old. They were vacationing in northern Cameroon, near the border with Nigeria.
Cameroon‘s state radio read the statement from Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the chief of staff.
From: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/world/~3/gBQRkRQD2vo/
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Kosmos Energy Establishes New Exploration Positions in Porcupine Basin, Offshore Ireland
DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Kosmos Energy Ltd. (“Kosmos”) (NYS: KOS) announced today that it has entered into two farm-in agreements, whereby Kosmos is acquiring an interest in multiple blocks in the prospective Porcupine Basin, offshore the west coast of Ireland. The farm-in agreements were executed with Antrim Energy Inc. (“Antrim”) covering Licensing Option 11/5 and with Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) plc (“Europa”) covering Licensing Options 11/7 and 11/8.
Per the agreement with Antrim, Kosmos is acquiring a 75 percent participating interest and operatorship in the approximately 1,410 square kilometer Licensing Option 11/5 in exchange for carrying the full costs of a planned 3D seismic program on the block. In addition, the Company will reimburse Antrim for a portion of previously-incurred exploration costs.
Kosmos is also acquiring an 85 percent participating interest and operatorship in Licensing Options 11/7 and 11/8, an area totaling 2,000 square kilometers, in a separate agreement with Europa. According to terms of the agreement, Kosmos will fully fund a planned 3D seismic program on each block and will reimburse Europa for a portion of its previously-incurred exploration costs. Contingent upon an election by Kosmos and Europa to enter into a subsequent exploration drilling phase on one or both of the blocks, Kosmos will also fund 100 percent of the costs of the first exploration well on each block, subject to an investment cap. The per-well investment cap for the first well is $90 million on Licensing Option 11/7 and $110 million on Licensing Option 11/8.
Paul Dailly, Senior Vice President and Chief Geoscientist, commented, “The addition of these highly-prospective blocks offshore Ireland represents further opportunity to leverage our understanding of Cretaceous-age combination structural-stratigraphic plays in overlooked and underexplored basins. With a number of significant leads already identified on 2D, our plans are to commence 3D seismic acquisition over portions of these deepwater acreage positions later in 2013, subject to finalizing the areas as Frontier Exploration Licenses. Combined with our positions offshore Morocco, Mauritania, and Suriname and onshore Cameroon, we are building out a premier exploration portfolio and exposing Kosmos to substantial upside exploration value.”
The completion of the farm-in agreements remains subject to Irish government approval and other customary closing conditions. Following approval, Kosmos and co-venturers will pursue converting the Licensing Options to Frontier Exploration Licenses and seek approval of a work program.
A map of the acreage will be available under the Operations tab at www.kosmosenergy.com.
From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/18/kosmos-energy-establishes-new-exploration-position/
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Kosmos Energy Will Host First Quarter 2013 Results Conference Call and Webcast on May 9
DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Kosmos Energy (NYS: KOS) will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, May 9, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. Central time (11:00 a.m. Eastern time) to review its first quarter 2013 results. The dial-in telephone number for the call is +1.877.407.3982. Callers outside the United States should dial +1.201.493.6780.
A live webcast of the event can be accessed on the Investors page of the Company’s website at www.kosmosenergy.com.A replay of the webcast will be available on the website for approximately 90 days following the event.
About Kosmos Energy
Kosmos Energy is a leading independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on frontier and emerging areas in Africa and South America. The Company’s asset portfolio includes existing production and other major project developments offshore Ghana, as well as exploration licenses with significant hydrocarbon potential offshore Mauritania, Morocco and Suriname and onshore Cameroon. Kosmos is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol KOS. For additional information, visit www.kosmosenergy.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The Company’s estimates and forward-looking statements are mainly based on its current expectations and estimates of future events and trends, which affect or may affect its businesses and operations. Although the Company believes that these estimates and forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are made in light of information currently available to the Company. When used in this press release, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” “will” or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
Central African Republic‘s self-appointed leader says he’s created a new council that now will choose a president to lead the country until elections can be held.
Michel Djotodia, whose fighters moved into the capital on March 23 and eventually overthrew the president of a decade, issued the order on Saturday.
Under the arrangement, the interim president will serve until elections can be held. Djotodia says a vote will take place within 18 months after initially saying he would hold power until 2016.
The shortened timeframe follows pressure from regional neighbors, who held a summit in Chad several days ago on the political crisis.
Djotodia’s advisers have said he is not excluded from being considered for the interim presidential position.
Former President Francois Bozize fled to neighboring Cameroon after being overthrown.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
The coup leader in Central African Republic who has declared himself president now says he’ll also serve as the country’s defense minister.
The announcement came in a decree read on state radio Sunday that also outlined other roles within the country’s new unity government.
Self-declared President Michel Djotodia has said he intends to stay on as president until the next elections, which are not due until 2016.
His rebel alliance known as Seleka also was awarded several other essential posts in the government, including the minister of mines and the minister in charge of security and public order.
Djotodia’s rebels overthrew President Francois Bozize on March 23 after he had spent a decade in power. He and his family fled to neighboring Cameroon as thousands of rebels invaded the capital.
The government of Benin says ousted Central African Republic President Francois Bozize is seeking exile in the tiny West African nation.
Benin‘s Foreign Affairs Minister Nassirou Arifari Bako confirmed late Thursday that Bozize had asked to come there after initially fleeing to Cameroon, though Bako said nothing had been decided yet.
Thousands of armed rebels invaded the capital of Central African Republic last weekend, and Bozize and his family fled amid the chaos.
Bozize, who himself took power after a rebellion a decade ago, had signed a peace agreement in January with the rebels. The deal fell apart and rebel leader Michel Djotodia has now declared himself the new president of Central African Republic.
Pope Francis has called for an end to the violence and looting that has accompanied the weekend coup in the Central African Republic in his first such appeal for peace since becoming pope.
During his inaugural general audience Wednesday, Francis called for an immediate political solution to the conflict.
More than 1,000 armed rebels from the alliance known as Seleka attacked the capital Bangui on Saturday, forcing longtime President Francois Bozize into exile in neighboring Cameroon. Widespread looting followed, including of hospitals.
Francis, who named himself after St. Francis of Assisi who worked for peace and the poor, has said he will prioritize the poor and disadvantaged during his papacy.
The U.S. and some of its allies are considering plans to increase anti-piracy operations along Africa‘s west coast, spurred on by concerns that money from the attacks is funding a Nigerian-based insurgent group that is linked to one of al-Qaida’s most dangerous affiliates.
Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has escalated over the past year, and senior U.S. defense and counter-piracy officials say allied leaders are weighing whether beefed up enforcement efforts that worked against pirates off the Somalia coast might also be needed in the waters off Nigeria.
There has been growing coordination between Nigeria-based Boko Haram and al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which was linked to the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, last September that killed four Americans, including the ambassador. Military leaders say AQIM has become the wealthiest al-Qaida offshoot and an increasing terrorist threat to the region.
It has long been difficult to track whether there are terrorist ties to piracy in the waters off Africa. But officials are worried that even if Boko Haram insurgents aren’t directly involved in the attacks off Nigeria and Cameroon, they may be reaping some of the profits and using the money for ongoing terrorist training or weapons.
No final decisions have been made on how counter-piracy operations could be increased in that region, and budget restrictions could hamper that effort, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about emerging discussions between senior U.S. military commanders and other international leaders.
But officials say the solution could include continued work and counter-piracy training with African nations. The U.S. participated last month in a maritime exercise with European and African partners in the Gulf of Guinea.
“Maritime partnerships and maritime security and safety are increasingly important in the Gulf of Guinea region to combat a variety of challenges including maritime crime, illicit trafficking and piracy,” said Gen. Carter Ham, head of U.S. Africa Command.
In recent weeks, Ham and other U.S. military commanders have bluntly warned Congress that the terrorist threat from northern Africa has become far more worrisome.
“If the threat that is present in Africa is left unaddressed, it will over time grow to an increasingly dangerous and imminent threat to U.S. interests, and certainly could develop into a threat that threatens us in other places,” Ham told Congress earlier this month. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News
A rebel leader who seized the capital of the Central African Republic made a public announcement on state radio saying he has dissolved the country’s constitution and will rule by decree.
According to excerpts of the broadcast late Monday carried by RFI, Michel Djotodia, one of the leaders of the Seleka rebels, said he plans to stay in power for the next three years, the length of time left in the term of ousted President Francois Bozize. The embattled leader fled the presidential palace over the weekend, seeking refuge in the neighboring nation of Cameroon, as the South African troops guarding him came under an onslaught of fire, losing 13 soldiers.
Seleka is a loose coalition of fighters, many of whom have fought in previous rebellions.
Officials say gunmen attacked a remote town in Nigeria‘s northeast, killing 25 and freeing 120 inmates.
Adamawa State‘s head of prisons, Andrew Barka, said Sunday 120 inmates were freed in the Friday night raid in Ganye near the border with Cameroon.
Police spokesman Mohammed Ibrahim said 25 people were killed after the assailants also attacked a bank and a drinking spot.
The attacks come a week after men claiming to be members of the radical Boko Haram Islamist network said in an unverified video that they would not free a kidnapped French family unless Nigeria and Cameroon freed all the group’s members from their jails.
Police disclosed Friday that a Chinese tycoon whose disappearance threatened to disrupt deals with mining companies in the United States and Australia is being held on suspicion he helped hide a brother who is a murder suspect.
A newspaper reported this week that Liu Han, chairman of Sichuan Hanlong Group, was detained in mid-March by police in Beijing but a two-sentence statement Friday by the police ministry was the first official word about him.
Liu is under investigation on charges of harboring a fugitive and other unspecified “serious offenses,” the statement said. It announced the capture of his brother as a “major murder suspect” but gave no other details.
Police spokespeople in Chengdu, where Liu lives, said they had no more information. Phone calls to the police ministry in Beijing were not answered.
Liu’s company said this week it was unable to reach him by phone.
Hanlong owns a 13 percent stake in General Moly, a miner of molybdenum, a mineral used to harden steel. Hanlong was arranging financing for a mine in Nevada.
General Moly said Wednesday it had suspended work on a $665 million loan for its Mt. Hope mine from the state-run China Development Bank until it receives clarification from Hanlong.
Hanlong also owns 14 percent of Australia‘s Sundance Resources, which is developing an iron mine in Congo and neighboring Cameroon in central Africa.
Hanlong is offering 1.5 billion Australian dollars ($1.5 billion) to acquire the rest of the company. Sundance said this week the deal has yet to receive final approval from China‘s economic planning agency.
Sundance asked Wednesday for trading in its shares on Australian markets to be suspended while it sought information about Liu.
Liu was No. 148 last year on Forbes magazine’s list of the richest Chinese businesspeople, with a fortune estimated at $855 million.
Hanlong was founded in 1997 and has interests in mining, construction of hydroelectric power, highway and tourism infrastructure and other businesses with a total workforce of more than 12,000 people, according to its website
It is part of a wave of Chinese energy and mining companies that are buying assets abroad in Australia, Africa and elsewhere in hopes of profiting from growing global demand.
Liu also is chairman of Sichuan Jinlu Group, which produces polyvinyl chloride and other chemicals.
Liu told The Wall Street Journal in 2010 that an investor once shot up his car after suffering losses in a deal. He called himself “Liu Han, the only survivor.”
Human Rights Watch says people accused of being gay in Cameroon are being tortured in prison and mocked by judges in court.
A 61-page report released Thursday documents abuses undertaken by officials pursuing cases under Cameroon‘s notorious Article 347.
The law criminalizes sexual activity between members of the same sex, punishable by up to five years in prison.
Cameroonian officials could not be reached for comment Thursday on the report.
HRW researcher Neela Ghoshal said there had been a noticeable drop-off in arrests in recent months. But she said the criminalization of homosexuality nonetheless makes gay men and lesbians vulnerable to extortion and other forms of abuse.
Homosexuality is illegal in many African countries, though Cameroon has been especially active in prosecuting and convicting people.
