Monthly Archives: August 2017

8, August 2017

AU and UN commit to enhancing African peace and security ⁰

The African Union and United Nations are working towards enhancing African peace and security capabilities as part of a shared interest in solving African conflicts.

Ambassador Smail Chergui, Commissioner for Peace and Security to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), last month told the Council that the African Union is an indispensable partner in promoting peace and security in Africa. “Over the last decade, the African Union has mandated or authorized the deployment of more than 100 000 uniformed and civilian personnel, many of whom are deployed in some of the most high risk and volatile environments.

“This has come at a huge cost to human lives. It is noteworthy to mention here that the number of casualties by African troops in peace support operations in the last decade exceeds the combined casualties experienced in UN peacekeeping missions over the last 70 years. This is a compelling reality to demonstrate the commitment of Africans and the African Union to durable peace and stability on the continent,” Chergui said.

“Despite these sacrifices and commitment, African troops are faced with some of the most challenging situations due to inadequate force enablers and multipliers, as well as financial resource gaps,” he told the UNSC.

Last month the African Union Peace and Security Council declared that AMISOM had successfully achieved its mandate over the last decade on the basis of a recently concluded lessons learned study by the African Union Commission. “Yet, AMISOM remains the least resourced mission in comparison with other deployed regional or international enforcement missions with similar mandates.”

As a result, Chergui made several proposals to the UNSC on how best to support African peace and security. The first entails the UN and international community promoting conflict prevention in Africa, as “conflict prevention remains the most cost effective conflict management tools but yet the least resourced,” he said, with the April 2017 Joint AU-UN Framework on the Enhanced Cooperation in Peace and Security a good foundation on this.

Secondly, Chergui called for the enhancement of the operational readiness of the African Standby Force. “The African Union and its Regional standby forces have put in tremendous efforts to develop and operationalize the African Standby Force (ASF) and its Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) as one of its conflict management tool, as enshrined in the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). This was evidenced by the declaration of Full Operational Capability of the ASF In January 2016 by the African Union (AU) Specialized Technical Committee on Defense Safety and Security (STCDSS).”

However, Chergui noted that even though the ASF has been declared operational, there are challenges with the mandating process, funding and logistics support. The Maputo Five Year Workplan on the enhancement of the ASF will go a long way to addressing these concerns.
Chergui noted that a High Level Technical Team is currently undertaking the verification of the capabilities of the five brigades of the ASF.

Chergui expressed concern about the spread of violent extremism but applauded the recent authorization of regional coalitions such the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and the G5 Sahel force. “The African Union Counter-terrorism Fund, as well as activities of the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism, the Nouakchott and important coordination platforms through which the supported and in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

Lastly, Chergui said the financing of peace support operations is a perennial issue. “It is clear that Africa will not be able fund peace initiatives on its own… We, therefore look forward to further deliberation and possible decision by this Council in September 2017, on the dedicated support from the UN to all UNSC-mandated African peace support operations.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres agreed to strengthen the partnership between the AU and UN. “I firmly believe the international community needs to change the narrative about Africa and to establish a higher platform of cooperation that recognizes Africa’s enormous potential and promise.

“In the area of peace and security, the African Union and United Nations have a shared interest in strengthening mechanisms to defuse conflicts before they escalate, and to manage them effectively when they occur. “Enhancing African capacities is essentially both in the context of our collective response to international peace and security challenges as well as for the self-reliance of the African continent.

“This is why, on April 19, I joined with the Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat to sign a Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security”. The Framework includes four key action areas: first, preventing and mediating conflict and sustaining peace; second, responding to conflict; third, addressing root causes; and fourth, the continuous review and enhancement of our partnership.

Guterres pointed out it is critical that the UN and AU work together to solve disputes. “In The Gambia, for example, the strong leadership of West African nations — with the support of ECOWAS, the African Union and United Nations – contributed significantly to find a peaceful settlement to the political crisis.

“And in South Sudan, IGAD, the African Union and the United Nations are actively coordinating efforts to find a durable peace – including through a joint call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and a comprehensive and inclusive political dialogue.

“The African Union and the sub-regional organizations have deployed tremendous efforts to develop and operationalize the African Standby Force and its Rapid Deployment Capability. Under our new Framework, we look forward to further supporting the strengthening of this Force and to exploring synergies with the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System,” Guterres said.

Culled from Defenseweb

7, August 2017

Nigeria: Protesters demand Buhari return or resign ⁰

Nigerian protesters have demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari, receiving treatment in London for an undisclosed ailment for more than three months, either return or resign. Buhari left for the British capital on May 7 on what is his latest medical trip, appointing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to act on his behalf.

Dozens of protesters marched in heavy rain to the presidential villa in Abuja with banners urging that the 74-year-old retired general, who headed a military regime in the 1980s, return.

“Resume or resign, Nigerians say enough is enough,” one said, with others stating: “If president Buhari cannot return to Nigeria after 90 days, then he should resign and go home”, and “Buhari, where are you? Nigerians want full disclosure. What is wrong with our president?”

The peaceful march was organized by a coalition of civil society groups under the supervision of security agents. “We are here today because the president of Nigeria has absconded from duty,” said Deji Adeyanju, one of the organizers.

Protesters carry placards to demand that ailing President Mohammadu Buhari resume work or resign in Abuja, on August 7, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

“He has not only absconded, he has continued to lie to us. This year alone the president has been away for 144 days. “He was away for 52 days in January and he has been away again today for 92 consecutive days. This cannot continue.”

Buhari has been dogged by speculation about his health since June last year when he first went to London for treatment of what the presidency said was a persistent ear infection. He then spent nearly two months in London in January and February and said on his return in early March that he had “never been so ill”.

Last month, members of the ruling party and the opposition went to see him in London and even took pictures in an attempt to douse public anxiety. The health of Nigeria’s leader has been a sensitive issue since the death in office of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010 after months of treatment abroad.

Buhari’s main opponents in the 2015 election that brought him to power claimed he had prostate cancer. He denied the claim.

(Source: AFP)

7, August 2017

Consortium intensifies ghost town operation in Southern Cameroons ⁰

The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium have declared support for the non resumption of schools in Southern Cameroons and extended ghost town operations. In a press release signed by the Deputy Secretary General of the Consortium, Barrister Eyambe Ellias and Tassang Wilfred, the Programme Coordinator, the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium stated that as from August the 14th, ghost towns will be staged from Mondays to Wednesdays.

The Consortium also called for a strict boycott of Francophone businesses operating in Southern Cameroons territory. The leadership of the Consortium further pointed out that the new ghost town policy is to enable the Southern Cameroons people to engage in civil obedience to resist recent anti Anglophone moves adopted by the Biya Francophone government.

The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium also appealed to the peace loving people of Southern Cameroons to avoid during ghost towns marketplaces, transportation stations, churches and mosques.

The Consortium decision came just days after the interim leader of the Southern Cameroons Governing Council noted that Southern Cameroons was at war with La Republique du Cameroun. The extension of the ghost town operation represents the beginning of the end for the regime that governed the Southern Cameroons by the force of arms destroyed its resources and looted its bounties.

Our senior political commentator opined at the time of filing this report that August the 14th must be the beginning, not the end of resistance and we must organize ourselves at all levels in order to cause a complete paralysis at all La Republque’s facilities. Other Southern Cameroons groups have supported the Consortium and said the call for intensive ghost town comes in line with its efforts to free British Southern Cameroons.

The Southern Cameroons Diaspora communities in South Africa, Nigeria, UK, Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, the US including Canada have all praised the decision to extend the ghost town and considers it unrivaled success and an initiative worthy of support and have accepted to work with Southern Cameroonians back home to ensure the success of this giant move in order to gain freedom and self determination.

The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium communiqué described the ghost town as an effective tool to resist the totalitarian Yaounde regime, saying the Southern Cameroons people have used it during the 1953 Eastern Regional Crisis at Enugu, Nigeria.

Since last week French Cameroun government ministers had downplayed the call for ghost town, expecting it would fail and are in missions abroad claiming to explain measures taken by the Biya Francophone regime to resolve the Southern Cameroons crisis.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai
Cameroon Concord News

7, August 2017

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Another Biya regime delegation expected in Canada ⁰

Another Francophone CPDM delegation is expected in Canada despite stiff opposition demonstrated by Southern Cameroonians against the political move by President Biya.

Since the end of last week, several members of the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo government have been on mission to Europe, Nigeria, the Republic of South Africa and the US claiming to inform West Cameroonians of the Diaspora about the situation in Southern Cameroons.

The Southern Cameroons Diaspora communities have acted angrily against the action to send these Francophone surrogates abroad. The anti-Anglophone Minister for Justice, Laurent Esso and a certain Paul Ghogomu were jeered and booed in Brussels and Washington.

In a press release made public by the High Commissioner of La Republique du Cameroun in Canada, the members of the Francophone CPDM delegation will be meeting the Diaspora on Thursday the 10th of August, 2017.

By Chi Prudence Asong
Cameroon Concord News

7, August 2017

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Minister Dion Ngute escapes beatings in South Africa ⁰

Minister Dion Ngute was forced to flee from the building hosting the Cameroon embassy in South Africa during a town hall forum decreed by President Biya. Dion Ngute who was representing the 84 year old French Cameroun dictator had traveled to the Republic of South Africa to explained the so-called actions taken by the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime towards resolving the Southern Cameroons crisis.

The Francophone regime’s action was interpreted by many Southern Cameroonians in South Africa as a pretentious and mocking endeavor to tilt the situation back home and instead engage in a diplomatic mission to convince Cameroonians in the Diaspora to support the ruling CPDM crime syndicate. Dion Ngute who moonlights as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of the Commonwealth and his CPDM gang had a handful of people and other invited individuals in the hall.

Cameroon Intelligence Report understands protesting Southern Cameroonians who came massively in their numbers were prevented from entering into the embassy. However, some forced their way into the embassy after bringing down the embassy gate, chanting songs of freedom and marched into the hall where the meeting was scheduled to take place.

(Southern Cameroons interim leader)

The junior Anglophone cabinet minister who hails from the oil rich Ndian constituency in West Cameroon, Bakassi Peninsula included was told to go back home, seek dialogue, free Southern Cameroons political prisoners and ensure school resumption in Southern Cameroons.

A sister publication Cameroon Info.Net reported that there was total chaos in the hall as the food, drinks and other entertainment items that were reserved for the Cameroonian delegation and their guests were completely destroyed by the angry crowd.

A frustrated Dion Ngute, attempted to engage the protesters in a conversation but was almost lynched. The humiliation suffered by the French Cameroun delegation was complete and total. He reportedly escaped unable to resist the mounting anger and pressure from Southern Cameroonians.

Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report

7, August 2017

AFCON 2019: CAF Inspection team to visit Cameroon ⁰

A Confederation of African Football-appointed inspection team will visit Cameroon for eight days from 20 August 2017 to assess the country’s progress as it prepares to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary announced the details, saying organisers should not worry.

“This inspection mission, like those that will follow throughout the process towards the deadline of the event, is not aimed at sanctioning,” said Tchiroma.

“On the contrary, it is an opportunity for any changes and consultation in order to ascertain the state of preparedness and to readjust as necessary the strategy for the full success of the event,” he added.

The 2019 tournament in Cameroon will feature 24 teams instead of 16 for the first time in history and will be held in June and July rather than January and February. Cameroon, as well as being hosts, will be the defending champions having won the 2017 title earlier this year in Gabon.

Cameroon government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary (centre) announcing details of the Caf inspection visit

Speaking in Yaounde, Tchiroma cautioned the media to stop sending out negative signals which he said undermine Cameroon’s ability to stage this event.

He warned that such an “unjustified attitude” had led some countries to think they could step in for Cameroon to host the 2019 event, and said that sending out misleading allegations is “unacceptable, a betrayal and an act of hostility” against their fatherland.

Last month, Cameroon’s Sports Minister Ismael Bidoung assured the public that Cameroon would be ready on time. Tchiroma reiterated this, and stated that the Cameroonian government, in collaboration with the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) will work closely with President Paul Biya as well as the Prime Minister, other companies and partners who he said are all committed to providing a good standard of infrastructure by their deadline.

“The mission will visit each of the sites selected for the event and inspect all infrastructure involved in the organisation of the event in terms of sport, hotel, roads, airport, hospitals, and telecommunications. “Each time there is an assessment, it will be followed by a general report on future deadlines,” said Tchiroma.

Culled from the BBC

6, August 2017

Stoke agree deal for Choupo-Moting ⁰

Stoke have agreed a three year deal for Schalke forward Jean-Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The Hamburg-born Cameroon international is out of contract and will join on a free transfer.

Choupo-Moting is 6ft 3ins tall but quick, technically good and can play as a left winger or secondary striker. He was at Stoke today ahead of completing his move.

Manager Mark Hughes wants versatility in his front line after selling Marko Arnautovic and Jon Walters and the 28-year-old Choupo-Moting can provide that.

Source: Dailymail

6, August 2017

Mandela’s grandson urges Israeli envoy’s expulsion from S Africa ⁰

The grandson of South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician, Nelson Mandela, has called on South Africa’s government to expel the Israeli ambassador to Pretoria and sever all diplomatic and business relations with the Tel Aviv regime.

On Sunday, Mandla Mandela, who is a member of parliament for the ruling African National Congress (ANC), urged ANC caucus in legislature to pressure the government to send Arthur Lenk out of the country, and recall South Africa’s Ambassador to Israel Sisa Ngombane, and cut all ties, Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency reported.

“History calls upon us to take similar measures to those taken by freedom, justice and peace loving communities that supported the global anti-apartheid movement against the brutal and illegitimate South African regime,” he said.

Mandela also praised the decision made by a group of ANC lawmakers to turn down an Israeli delegation’s request to meet. “Parliament has stayed true to Nelson Mandela’s commitment to stand by the Palestinian cause until Palestine is free,’’ he said in a statement.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) also welcomed the measure. “Cosatu joins solidarity organizations, human rights bodies and other groups in welcoming the decision by the parliament of South Africa to turn down a request to meet with a visiting delegation from Israel,” the group said in a statement.

South Africans march in solidarity with the besieged Gaza Strip, in Cape Town on August 9, 2014.

Most South Africans have historically supported the Palestinians due to similarities between the Israeli occupation and South Africa’s apartheid era. Mandela said in 1997 that “our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

South African Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu said in 2002 that his trip to Palestine had reminded him “so much of what happened to us black people in South Africa.” The Israeli regime on the one side and Egypt, Jordan, and Syria on the other fought the Six-Day War on June 5-10, 1967.

At the end of that war, Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem al-Quds, the Gaza Strip, and parts of the Golan Heights. Israel later withdrew from Gaza but has kept the coastal enclave under a crippling siege since 2007.

Palestinian authorities want the resolution of the conflict with Tel Aviv based on the so-called two-state solution along pre-1967 boundaries, but Israeli officials have so far refused the call.

Source: Presstv

6, August 2017

French Cameroun: Suicide bombing rocks Far North region ⁰

8 civilians were reportedly killed and 4 people seriously injured in an alleged Saturday attack by Boko Haram in the locality of Ouro-Kessoum, Mayo Sava Division, some few kilometers from Amchide, a neighboring town close to Nigeria.

A securing source in the Far North region that confirmed the Boko Haram suicide bombing, also said one Cameroonian service man was killed in the incident. A Cameroon military source also hinted of another suicide bomb attack carried out by suspected Boko Haram militants still on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at Waza in the Logon and Chari division that left the suicide bomber dead and 5 other civilians seriously injured.

The Far North Region of Cameroon, especially areas along the border with Nigeria, regularly experience significant violence, attributed to Boko Haram militants. While Boko Haram’s main stronghold is in Nigeria, the group has increase its attack along the Logon and Chari, Mayo Sava and Mayo Tsanaga Divisions of the Far North.

Source: Cameroon Info.Net

6, August 2017

London: Usain Bolt beaten by Justin Gatlin in 100m final ⁰

Justin Gatlin tore up Usain Bolt’s farewell script as he stole world 100m gold with the run of his long and controversial career.

Bolt was left with only a bronze in his final individual 100m race as 21-year-old Christian Coleman made it a USA one-two.

The 35-year-old Gatlin, twice banned for doping, came through almost unnoticed in lane seven in 9.92 seconds, with Coleman’s 9.94 holding off the greatest sprinter of all time.

Despite struggling for fitness and form in his valedictory season, Bolt had still been favourite to secure his 20th global gold.

It was supposed to be Gatlin’s year in 2015, when the American went to the World Championships in Beijing on the back of a 28-race unbeaten run.

Bolt produced his great miracle to beat him that night in the Bird’s Nest, but in the stadium where he won 100m Olympic gold in 2012, he could not provide the perfect ending to a perfect career.

Culled from the BBC