Monthly Archives: April 2017

20, April 2017

Libreville: Goodluck meets President Ali Bongo ⁰

Former Nigerian Head of State, Goodluck Jonathan has met with the Gabonese leader, Ali Bongo. Accompanied by two of his advisers; Ali Illiasso Dicko and His Majesty A.L. Turner, the former president of Nigeria exchanged views on the multi-sectoral cooperation between Gabon and Nigeria and on current African affairs.

The Tuesday meeting that held at the Seaside Palace in Libreville came on the eve of the announcement of the composition of the four joint committees and the rapporteurs for the first plenary of the political phase of dialogue in Gabon.

For almost a month now, President Ali Bongo has engaged in reconciliation with opposition groups in his country. Committees composed of equal members of the opposition and the government – will work on specific issues related to the themes chosen for the Dialogue.

In all, 176 representatives of the opposition and the presidential majority were divided into four commissions: “reform of institutions and consolidation of the rule of law”, “electoral reform”, “modernization of public life” and consolidation Peace and national cohesion “.

By Chi Prudence Asong

20, April 2017

UN investigators unearth 17 mass graves in Congo ⁰

The United Nations says its investigators have discovered 17 mass graves in the central Democratic Republic of the Congo, increasing the number to 40 documented in an area that witnessed clashes between the army and a local militia. The UN said in a statement issued on Wednesday that the graves were reportedly dug by Congolese army after fighting with Kamuina Nsapu militia in Kasai Central province in late March.

“At least 74 people, including 30 children, were reported to have been killed by soldiers as a result of these clashes,” the statement added. The government has not commented on the report, but it has previously rejected the notion that soldiers have used disproportionate force against militia fighters and claimed the militia had dug the sites.

The Kamuina Nsapu uprising has become the most serious threat to President Joseph Kabila, whose refusal to step down following a defeat in the latest polls stoked chaos in the vast central African country. Kabila’s presidential term expired on December 19, 2016, but ruling officials have effectively prolonged his mandate until 2018, claiming that the government would not be able to arrange elections before then.

The government of Kabila reportedly reached an agreement with opposition parties to end the political crisis in the country over his decision to stay in power. Under the accord struck on December 30, 2016, by political parties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kabila will leave office following elections due to be held by the end of 2017. The fighting between Congolese troops and militia has escalated after government forces killed their chief tribal leader, Kamuina Nsapu, in late August 2016. More than 400 people have been killed since then.

Source: Presstv

20, April 2017

French Cameroun: Huge fire engulfs Etoudi market ⁰

Some ten shops have been destroyed by wild fire at the Etoudi market in Yaoundé. The flames that erupted in the early hours of Tuesday the 18^th of April 2017 were believed to have come from a poor electrical connection in the market.

Soldiers of the National Fire Brigade at Etoudi intervened and later received support from the Mimboman Fire Brigade to effectively contain the fire that engulfed a portion of the busy market.

No human lives were lost in the incident but millions of CFA francs of investments were reduced to nothing. The fire reportedly consumed mobile phone shops and some restaurants. Travel agencies situated behind the electronic section of the market also suffered some damages.

Traders were wailing in consternation as they helplessly watched their livelihood crushed away in huge fumes of dark smoke. The Etoudi market is located barely a few kilometer from the State House. It is currently under construction though parts of the uncompleted structures have already been occupied by traders.

Source: CRTV

20, April 2017

Detained Anglophone Lawyers distance themselves from Bar Council President ⁰

Detained Southern Cameroon Lawyers have distanced themselves from declarations made by the President of the Cameroon Bar Council on April 9,2017 in which he confirmed that after due consultations, Anglophone Lawyers have agreed to resume work on May 2.

In a Press Conference held in Yaoundé Tuesday April 18, 2017 the lead defense Counsel for the detainees, Barrister Bernard MUNA said his clients were not party to declarations coming from Barrister Jackson Ngnie Kamga and that the Batonnier did not consult those detained or their defense counsel and did not say what will happen to those imprisoned after courts reopen.

Cameroon Concord News gathered that the Biya Francophone regime has been wooing some young Anglophone lawyers in the South West who are suffering financially due to the strike action to resume work. Some of the legal minds in Limbe, Tiko and Buea are already flirting with the idea of getting back to court. However, one of the lawyers interviewed by our undercover reporter in Buea said Anglophone lawyers will only go back to court when certain conditions are met.

By Rita Akana

20, April 2017

La Republique: Inspector General at the Ministry of Finance owns a Qatari-type castle ⁰

The images of a castle reportedly belonging to Antoine Félix Samba, former Director General of Budget at the Ministry of Finance has ignited the web. It was an amateur photographer who captured the images of the house owned by Antoine Félix Samba currently serving as Inspector General in the same Ministry.

It is a residence made up of successive duplexes surmounted by dome roof and connected by suspended footbridges. Work has not even finished as there seem to be an extension as indicated in one of the videos posted. The whole house is bathed in an ostentatious luxury, with a recurrence of marble, gilding, precious wood, staff, glazing and wrought iron. The owner of the house has a taste for decoration, with a canvas depicting the Last Supper, where Jesus and his apostles took the last meal before the passion of Christ.

The owner also loves of art. A Bamileke mask is recognizable among many others, lions and goddesses are frozen in the marble of eternity in this environment that transpires the splendor. On one of the photos posted there is a swimming pool, the ultimate embellishment of a house that has nothing to envy the castles of Qatar emirs presented in documentaries dedicated to billionaires.

The estate built by Italian entrepreneurs, it is said to be located in the Nkolondom district in Yaoundé, on the flank of one of the seven hills of Yaoundé. The public now say Mr. Samba got the money as a result of bad governance, unfair distribution of wealth, laxity of our leaders and an irresponsible Cameroonian population.

19, April 2017

Former US President George H. W. Bush hospitalized again ⁰

Former US President George H.W. Bush has been re-admitted to a hospital in Houston, Texas, for a recurrence of a case of pneumonia. Bush, 92, has been at the Methodist Hospital since Friday, his spokesman Jim McGrath said in a statement on Tuesday.

A source close to Bush said he will probably be kept at the hospital for several more days for medical observation. Bush has suffered from poor health in recent years. In January, he spent 16 days at the same hospital in Houston being treated for pneumonia. During that time, he was on a ventilator and was in ICU.

He was also hospitalized in 2015 after falling at his summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine, and breaking a bone in his neck. In 2014, he was hospitalized in Houston for about a week for shortness of breath. He also spent Christmas 2012 in intensive care for a bronchitis-related cough and other issues. Bush has a form of Parkinson’s disease and uses a motorized scooter or a wheelchair for mobility.

The 41st president is also referred to as “Bush 41”, “Bush the Elder” and “George Bush Senior” to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who became the 43rd US president. Bush served as US president from 1989 to 1993, and was vice president from 1981 to 1989 during the 8-year administration of former President Ronald Reagan.

Presstv

19, April 2017

Daesh attack in Egypt’s Sinai kills 1 police officer, injures 4 ⁰

Armed men have attacked Egyptian security forces close to the St. Catherine Monastery in the country’s Sinai Peninsula, killing one police officer and wounding four more.

The Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the Tuesday attack on the security checkpoint, which is situated some 800 meters from the monastery.

St. Catherine is one of the world’s most important Christian sites and was built in the late 6th century and is registered as a UNESCO world heritage site.

The incident comes just over one week after the Takfiri terrorist group claimed responsibility for two deadly bombings on Christian churches in the country.

19, April 2017

Camair-Co to acquire 2 new Boeing A180 ⁰

Two new Boeing A180 aircraft will be acquired by Camair-Co for the purpose of strengthening its fleet. Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o, the Francophone Minister of Transport who has been hiding ever since the Eseka train disaster will today Wednesday in Yaoundé sign a contract with the partners of Cameroon, for the final acquisition of the two new aircraft, as part of the national airline’s recovery plan.

Since its creation, just over six years ago, the Camair-Co has been shaken by corruption, fraud and management problems that have paved the way for negotiations to adopt a recovery plan for the company. The numerous financial scandal that has rocked Camair-Co was debated in National Assembly during the last session.

Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o told parliamentarians that the state was ready to inject 60 billion FCFA for the re-launch of Camair-Co. In recent weeks, the airstrips of the Douala airport have been redesigned in view of the relaunch of the national airlines carrier.

19, April 2017

Doctors press on with strike as CPDM government plays hardball ⁰

The Syndicat des Médecins du Cameroun (SYMAC) has followed the example of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium by making public a situation report on its strike action that started on Monday throughout the national territory against the wishes of the Biya Francophone government. The trade union grouping medical doctors also say that the rate of disengagement in hospitals reached a satisfactory percentage.

Medical doctors in Cameroon were called to observe a strike call from Monday 17 April to Wednesday 19 April 2017 in all the hospitals of the country. The medics are clamoring for salary increment and the improvement of their working conditions. SYMEC members came to the conclusion during their Monday evaluation meeting that the strike was not fully followed but however announced that it was successful.

Below is a summary of the situation report in the hospitals at the end of yesterday strike action as revealed by Ndoudoumou Patrick Christian, General Secretary of SYMEC:

Maroua Regional Hospital: Consultation and appointments canceled

Garoua Regional Hospital: Consultations and Appointments canceled

Ngaoundere Regional Hospital: Ineffective strike

Bertoua Regional Hospital: 70% of doctors respected the strike

Yaounde Central Hospital: Strike in Maternity, Infectiology, Surgery, Diabetology, Neurology and Day Hospital Services

Yaounde General Hospital: Strike by all doctors except two external consultants

Yaounde CHU: Strike observed by all general practitioners

HGOPY: Strike observed by 50% of doctors

CURY: dedicated to emergencies therefore functional

Douala General Hospital: 60% of doctors on strike

Hôpital laquintinie: Several services including cardiology and pediatrics on strike

Bonassama District Hospital: Strike observed by all doctors

Nkongsamba District Hospital: Effective strike among all doctors

Ebolowa Regional Hospital: Strike observed by all doctors

Bamenda Regional Hospital: Strike observed by all doctors

Bafoussam Regional Hospital: Strike respected by 20% of doctors

Bagangté District Hospital: Strike respected by all doctors except the director

19, April 2017

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Francophone regime targets Moderator Fonki Samuel ⁰

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, the Rt. Rev Fonki Samuel has been summoned to appear at the Buea High Court on Monday April 24, 2017 to answer charges which at Press time have not been mentioned. However, local media sources say the issue is related to the so-called Consortium of Parents created by the Biya Francophone regime and headed by senior army officers.

The Information has been confirmed by a close aid of the Moderator and by the Communication Secretary of the PCC, Rev.MOKOKO Mbue Thomas who however said he has not yet read the summons but was aware that his Superior will appear in Court next week.

The Moderator reportedly posted a message to Christians in which he observed, “Dear all, I have been summoned at the Buea High Court on Monday 24th of April 2017.The summons is in my name. We need your prayers. Moderator PCC.”

Last week some Christians had dispelled rumors that the Moderator had been ordered to appear in court. A sister publication, Cameroun Info.Net reported that observers hold the affair may be connected with the non resumption of classes by Presbyterian Schools.

The summons comes barely one week after Roman Catholic Bishops in Bamenda received a ‘Direct Summon’ form from the CPDM Consortium of Parents claiming damages amounting to the sum of 150.000.000 FCFA.