Monthly Archives: June 2016

24, June 2016

Cameroon and Israel to organize international scientific forum in Yaounde ⁰

Cameroon has reinforced cooperation ties with Israel in the domains of scientific research, technology and innovation. The revelations were made following a meeting between the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Madeleine Tchuente and the Israeli Ambassador to Cameroon, Ran Gidor on the 22^nd of June 2016 in Yaounde.

Cameroon Concord News gathered from government sources that Israel and Cameroon have made public plans to organize an international scientific forum in Yaounde. Minister Madeleine Tchuente told Ambassador Ran Gidor that there were many start-ups in Cameroon and youth involved in research and innovation who need exposure and help from the State of Israel.

The Minister also reiterated that all modern economies are based on science and innovation hence Cameroon must board the train.

Rita Akana (Cameroon Concord News Group)

24, June 2016

Control of the Avian Influenza: Prospects bright for poultry farming in Cameroon ⁰

The Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries and the Minister of Public Health announce recently in Yaounde that: In the framework of the Control of the Avian Influenza Virus H5N1 declared at the Mvog-Betsi Poultry Farming Complex in Yaoundé on the 24 May 2016, the Government took measures to control the spreading of the disease and to monitor the disease as well as people at risk. A decision of the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries declaring the infection was signed on the 26 May 2016. International organizations were notified.

Following national health surveillance and epidemiological investigations carried out, secondary outbreaks were identified in Mvila Division (South Region), Koung-Khi and Mifi Divisions (West Region), and in Djerem Division (Adamawa Region). To date, in the affected poultry farms, about Fifty-four Thousand (54 000) fowls have been slaughtered, denatured and buried. Decontamination and hygiene measures have been applied in these sources of infection. The different zones concerned are monitored daily.

Teams of the Ministry of Public Health have followed-up Four Hundred and Seventy-four (474) exposed persons and no case of human influenza from avian origin has been detected. The overall assessment presents a situation under control. The Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries and the Minister of Public Health welcomed the interministerial cooperation that prevails and thank friendly countries of Cameroon, international organizations and stakeholders in the poultry industry for their support and active participation in the fight against this disease.

Furthermore, the Government notes that in recent days, no new outbreaks have been detected, and therefore calls for greater vigilance and observance of health surveillance. And if the lull continues, additional necessary measures will be taken for the revival of activities disrupted by this worrying situation for the Cameroonian poultry activities in the affected areas.

Cameroon Tribune

24, June 2016

Boko Haram indicted in Cameroon ⁰

The nebulous terrorist sect, Boko Haram, has been indicted for gross violations of human rights in the Far North Region of Cameroon. “The Boko Haram sect has committed several violations of the rights to life and to physical integrity by roads ambushing, throat slitting, recurrent kidnapping of foreigners and nationals, planting landmines on roads…” the 2015 report on the situation of Human Rights in Cameroon presented yesterday June 23, 2016, by the Cameroon Bar Association states.

While condemning human rights abuses such as torture and inhumane treatment compounded by the security situation in the Far North Region, the report states that the situation in detention and prison cells, access to justice, Public Service amongst others, still leaves much to be desired. The 82-page document divided into four parts notably Civil and Political Rights, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Rights of Specific Groups and Cross-Cutting Issues respectively, there are several discrepancies between domestic laws and international law provisions leading to a difficult and haphazard implementation of human rights. This is evident in civil and political rights as well as rights of specific groups that are protected under international human rights laws.

Barrister Simon Pierre Eteme Eteme, head of the project dubbed “Bar Association-Governance and the Situation of Rights” supported by European Union, calls for the harmonization of international and domestic legal instruments in order to create an enabling environment for the promotion of human rights in Cameroon.

The President of the Bar Council, Barrister Ngnie Kamga, stressed the determination of the Bar Association to continue to press for the implementation of international legal instruments aimed at promoting human rights. Meanwhile, the President of the General Assembly of the Bar Association, Barrister Nico Halle, underlined peace, love, justice and harmony as the bedrock of human rights.

Cameroon Tribune

24, June 2016

Disgraced Makossa star to be heard by the Douala appeal court ⁰

There will be another hearing of the case Zakaria Abakar Terio, a Chadian businessman living in Cameroon against Ferdinand Din Din, alias Mota Nguigna- the celebrated Makossa star. A court in Douala announced on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 that the appeal will be heard on the 16^th of August by the Court of Appeal in the Littoral. Papillon was sentenced to 4 months in prison for fraud on May the 17^th. The star has reportedly presented some guarantees and is seeking his freedom.

Three years ago, the Cameroonian musician was accused of extorting money from Abakar Zakaria Terio, following an altercation between the Chadian resident and a Malian over a 23 million CFA francs deal that involved a job at the United Nations. Papillon arbitrated between the two men while posing as a police commissioner. He subsequently received 500,000 CFA francs and did promise the complainant to plead on his behalf to the State Prosecutor. Having realized it was a scam from the artist, Abakar Zakaria Terio filed a complaint to the Judicial Police, and the star was arrested.

Ebong Kingsley (Cameroon Concord News Group)

24, June 2016

Construction of Kumba-Ekondo Titi road awarded to a Tunisian company ⁰

Construction work on the Kumba-Ekondo Titi road has been awarded to Souroubat, Tunisian company. Cameroon Concord News was reliably informed that the contract worth 38.2 billion CFA francs. The road project which falls within the three-year emergency plan agreed last year by the President of the Republic will be executed over a period of 24 months.

It is the first time that Souroubat with expertise on roads, sewerage, drainage, bridges and buildings construction has won a Cameroon government contract. Several companies from several African countries, including Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, and Chad are already in the public works sector in Cameroon.

Sama Ernest (Cameroon Concord News Group)

24, June 2016

Equatorial Guinea: Teodoro Nguema Obiang to succeed the father ⁰

The son of President Obiang Nguema, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue is now the second personality of Equatorial Guinea. He was appointed Vice-President on Wednesday by presidential decree signed by his father. Cameroon Concord News learned that the decision was read over Asango TV antennas on national television.

As the Vice President of the ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea, the son of Obiang Nguema is evidently the successor to his father. Political observers see him as the future head of state of the small oil rich Sub Saharan country of less than one million inhabitants.

The 49 years old Vice President is wanted in France over allegations of “ill gotten wealth” which he dubiously acquired from Equatorial Guinea as a businessman.

Chi Prudence Asong (Cameroon Concord News Group)

24, June 2016

Cameroon ranks 17th in the classification of African countries using Face book ⁰

Cameroon has been ranked 17th in the classification of African countries using Face book. Cameroon Concord News gathered from the data released by Face book that over one million Cameroonians are registered on this social network. 620,000 are men (64%), and 340 000 of them (36%) are women.

Another study on the data presented by the social network Mark Zuckerberg noted that Cameroonian youth are those who are most interested in social media. 170 000 subscribers are between the ages of 13 and 19 years, 17%; 440 000 between the ages of 18 and 25 years (46%). The 35 years are only 156,000 people (16.25%).

The ranking is dominated by Egypt, South Africa, Morocco and Nigeria. However, the social network is attracting more and more companies.

Rita Akana (Cameroon Concord News Group)

24, June 2016

Fighting corruption: Special Criminal Court jails CPDM mayor ⁰

A well fed CPDM mayor of Mombo in the Mungo Division in the Littoral region and two of his colleagues have been sentenced to 12 years in prison by the Special Criminal Court for embezzling the sum of 32 million FCFA from the municipality.

Mayor Jean Claude Djouokou of Mombo and his cashier, Gérard Njanpouop Mbomda must also repay the sum of 18 million FCFA back into the treasury.

Sama Ernest (Cameroon Concord News Group)

24, June 2016

Penal Code Crisis: North West lawyers stage massive demo ⁰

Cameroonian lawyers from the North West region have staged a massive demo on Thursday morning in Bamenda, against the new Penal Code. Dressed in their black robes, the legal practitioners carried banners expressing their discontent and demand for the immediate withdrawal of the Penal Code adopted by the CPDM dominated National Assembly.

Late last week, the board of the Bar Association of Cameroon had urged the government to withdraw the document and submit the text to a national consensus.

Last Wednesday in the Chamber of the National Assembly, MPs of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) and the MRC walked out when their colleagues of the ruling CPDM were preparing to vote on the text. The opposition is demanding the removal of items that grant immunity to members of the government.

Cham Victor Bama (Cameroon Concord News Group)

23, June 2016

3 billion FCFA to help Congo Basin communities ⁰

Some prominent NGOs announced on Wednesday in Yaounde the nation’s capital that they will invest nearly 3 billion CFA francs to secure the livelihoods of communities in the Congo Basin.

The consortium of NGOs (Well Grounded, Forest Peoples Program, Fern, ClienEarth and Rainforest Foundation Uk), coordinated by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), launched on Wednesday, June 22^nd the project “Congos”, which aims to support sustainable development and secure the livelihoods of communities in the Congo basin.

Five countries are involved in the scheme. They include Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville and Gabon. Cameroon Concord News understands the total cost of the project is an estimated 3 billion CFA francs from the period 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2019.

Anang Valerian (Cameroon Concord News Group)