- Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, has raised alarms that the violent protests in his country was meant to dislodge his government from power.
In a state address on national television, President Biya squarely blamed what he called "apprentice witches" for injecting Cameroonian youths to destabilise the country. He said perpetrators of the bloody protests wanted to achieve what they could not at the polls.
So far, 15 people have reportedly died in protests which cut across the country's major cities, including the capital Yaoundé.
President Biya wondered why a mere strike by transport workers should turn political. He said by all means any attempt to dislodge his government from power would fail because "every possible means would be used to restore law and order."
And as such, he said people should expect a heavy toll on human life and property.
Cameroonian opposition members said they supported the protests, although they had no hands in them. They questioned why fuel prices continues to rise at an alarming rate in a country that produces oil.
Dusk to dawn curfew has been imposed in the Central African country.
A strike by taxi drivers turned bloody after thousands of Cameroonians joined the fray, demonstrating anger over the government's hatched plans to tamper the constitution so that President Paul Biya contests for the 2011 elections.
Mr Biya, whose current term expires in three years time, has ruled Cameroon for 26 years. In his New Year's speech, the President said an amendment of the constitution was in tandem with Cameroonians' desire to see him back in office after his mandate expires.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.